Paris Peace Conf. 183.7/2: Telegram
The Chargé in France ( Bliss ) to the Acting Secretary of State
6700. Following joint telegram from Allied Ministers at Jassy dated Bucharest January 7th:
“The President of the Council has summoned us this morning to inform us of the violent emotion which he felt upon receiving a telegram from Carnavon [?] according to which Belgium and Servia would alone be admitted to the Peace Conferences with the four great powers of the Entente. We have taken it upon ourselves to declare that such information cannot but be inaccurate. Mr. Bratiano replied that the fact is that ‘Roumania is treated like a poor wretch deserving pity and not like an Ally who has a right to justice.’ He repeated that up to the present time we had not been permitted to declare that the treaty of 1916 remains in full force. He confirmed that if Roumania does not receive satisfaction on this point his Government would have to withdraw. He gave us the following statement (see my telegrams making this declaration) [words missing] from which it is our duty to bring to the most serious attention of our Governments the following considerations:
- First, In circumstances which it is superfluous to recall, the Entente has not been in a position to fulfill her engagements undertaken towards Roumania under the Treaty of August 17th 1916. In the first place the Saloniki offensive that was to begin a week before the entrance into war of Roumania did not take place. Nevertheless Roumania exceeding her obligations, risked her all at the appointed date with absolute loyalty. Besides she kept up the fight after the complete falling down of Russia whose aid was promised her [words missing] the Entente and although the new Russian Government had declared war on Roumania the Allies having done nothing to prevent or smooth down the conflict.
- Two, [Second,] It is absurd, as we have already pointed out, to assimilate the situation of Serbia with that of Roumania. First Serbia had war thrust on her whilst Roumania was drawn into it by us on the faith of the promises of the Entente. Then Serbia has ever been in touch with the Allies which had harbored her Government and her army while Roumania, on the contrary, finding herself in a total isolation between two foes and in such a state that it was absolutely impossible, as was recognized by all allied representatives, for her to withdraw her troops into Russia.
- Third, As to the Bucharest treaty which one might be tempted to invoke to declare our promises null and void, we recall that it never had any legal value considering that it was voted by [Page 266] an unconstitutional parliament; that it has never been sanctioned by the King nor ratified despite all the means of intimidation employed by the enemy and the sufferings resulting therefrom to the country.
- Fourth, This view point which is clear upon the evidence is of unanimous opinion. We must put our Governments on guard against personalities that have lost all touch with their country for many months and whose language is inspired by party spirit or by mental reservations of personal ambitions. Our Governments must realize that the question today is to know whether the Entente will maintain its influence in this country which by the very nature of things and in virtue of our principles will number tomorrow eighteen million inhabitants or will alienate it by what everybody here would consider revolting injustice and an act of evident bad faith. We confirm that in the present circumstances Mr. Bratiano’s withdrawal would precipitate the country into anarchy whilst we are obliged to appeal to his aid to restore order in Russia.”