Russia had placed an iron mop in the hands of Ana Pauker, its No. 1 Rumanian Communist, and Ana was busy mopping up. A fortnight ago, the leaders of the liberal National Peasant Party had been arrested (TIME, July 28). Aging (74) ex-Premier Juliu Maniu was in Malmaison Prison. Jon Mihalache had been moved to the cellar of the Ministry of Interior. Last week a rubber-stamp parliament outlawed the National Peasant Party, Rumania's majority party (70% of voters).
Communist Interior Minister Teohari Georgescu's home-grown version of the Soviet MVD snatched some 5,000 persons from offices, homes and streets. They were...