G

ERMAN POLICY AND THE DIPLOMATIC AGENDA OF ROMANIAN NEUTRALITY (1914-1916). THE PROSPECTS FOR AN ALLIANCE WITH SWEDEN

 

Claudiu-Lucian Topor

 

“Al. I. Cuza” University of Iasi, Romania, claudiulucian@yahoo.com

 

Acknowledgements

This paper has been presented at the Second International Conference on Nordic and Baltic Studies in Romania:Black Sea and Baltic Sea Regions: Confluences, influences and crosscurrents in the modern and contemporary ageshosted by the Romanian Association for Baltic and Nordic Studies, Târgoviste, May 20-22, 2011.

This work was supported by the Human Resources Development Operational Programe within the following project “Development of the capacity for innovation and increasing the impact of post-doctoral research programs”. “Al. I. Cuza” University of Iasi, POSDRU/89/1.5/S/49944.

 

Abstract:

In the summer of 1915, concerned about Italy's entry into the war in alliance with the Entente powers yet encouraged by the victories of its armies on the Eastern Front, the German diplomacy attempted to encourage Sweden and Romania to abandon their neutrality in order to give a decisive blow to Russia. In several reports dispatched from Berlin, Alexander Beldiman, the envoy to Germany who was also Romania’s representative in the Scandinavian countries, raised the possibility of Sweden’s entry into the war on the German side. After he had identified Russia as the common historical enemy of the two countries, the Romanian diplomat suggested forging an alliance under the leadership of Germany. A strong alliance was thought to ensure Sweden’s ascendancy in Finland and the Baltic states, and Romania’s supremacy in the East at the Black Sea. Although this plan was rejected by the liberal government, Beldiman’s initiative in a period of neutrality remains an alternative in the Romanian political circles to Entente supremacy.

 

Rezumat:

În vara anului 1915, îngrijorata de intrarea Italiei în razboi  în alianta cu puterile Antantei, dar încurajata de victoriile armatelor de pe Frontul de Est, diplomatia germana încearca sa determine Suedia si România sa renunte la neutralitate pentru a da o lovitura decisiva Rusiei. În mai multe rapoarte trimise de la Berlin, Alexandru Beldiman, ministrul care reprezenta România în Germania si pe lânga statele scandinave, invoca posibilitatea intrarii Suediei in razboi de partea Imperiului German. Dupa ce identifica Rusia ca dusmanul istoric comun al celor doua tari, diplomatul român sugereaza posibilitatea încheierii unei aliante sub conducerea Germaniei, o liga puternica ce urma sa asigure preponderenta Suediei în Finlanda si în provinciile baltice si suprematia României la Marea Neagra. În final, acest plan a fost respins de catre guvernul liberal, dar initiativa ministrului român la Berlin ramâne o alternativa la suprematia Antantei în cercurile politice românesti din perioada neutralitatii.

 

Keywords: neutrality, alliance, diplomacy, Romania, Sweden, World War I

---

 09. Topor.pdf