Paris Peace Conf. 871.00/9: Telegram
The Chargé in France ( Bliss ) to the Acting Secretary of State
6707. Identical telegram from Allied Ministers at Jassy dated Bucharest January 6th:
“The President of the Council has called us in meeting this morning to communicate to us the following declaration:
‘The Roumanian Government continued the struggle as long as it was possible even after the total defection of Russia and in spite of the hostility of that power whose cooperation constituted an important promise of the Entente. Roumania did her full duty and fulfilled to the extreme limit her obligations to her allies. The suspension of arms represented by the treaty of Bucharest which was never sanctioned by the King ceased without a day’s delay as soon as the Army of the East was in position to take the place abandoned by the Russian Army at the Roumanian frontier. The Royal Government therefore does not doubt that the treaty of August 17th, 1916 is fully in force. However, in a sentiment of solidarity with the general interests which the Allies have at heart it is ever disposed to facilitate their work. To that end and taking into consideration the new condition of Russia which precludes the danger of her intervention in the affairs [apparent omission] it would have no further objection to calling arbiters designated by the Allies to examine the Serbian population of Banat, that of Roumania, of Serbia, and of the Macedonians to be equally investigated according to the same principles.’
Mr. Bratiano has again called our attention to the extreme gravity of the internal situation which is resulting from the famine and from the menace of Bolshevism. There would be no way out of it, he says, if difficulties of an external order were added to it. In this case he would not know how to advise the King on the choice of his successor. In fact the party of Mr. Take Ionescu has not in the country a sufficient basis for permitting him to assume the power without the concurrence of General Averesco. Now this latter seeks to impose himself by demagogical means and is said to have had clandestine relations with the enemy. Moreover, these two personalities inspire an equal distrust to the King. We hope very sincerely that our Governments will receive favorably the above declaration. It furnishes the sole means of avoiding a redoubtable crisis by saving Roumania from what everyone here would consider as a disgrace and Roumania it is said would be dishonored before history as not having fulfilled her agreements if the treaty of 1916 were annulled by the Allies. This formula moreover leaves a door open to concessions which would be judged necessary. It is also important to give no [Page 407] pretext for recriminations which would not be without foundation. Aside from other serious griefs against the Allies it is repeated here that the first cause of the country’s disaster was the impotence of the Entente to [apparent omission] her formal engagement to undertake the offensive of Saloniki one week before the entrance into action of Roumania.”