Hello! In this episode we will find out how the union with Bessarabia was seen from Romania and what were the aces of the Romanian government

Ep 4: Peace and Bessarabia

At the begining of 1918 the Romanian army entered Bessarabia with the goal of reestablishing order.

At that moment the province was important for the security of Romania because it was bringing grains to the drained reserves of Moldavia and was offering space for moving and evacuating in case of hostilities with the Central Powers.

The Focșani armistice didn't guarantee that the war was over. And in fact the peace was dependent of pleasing the Germans and Austro-Hungarians during the negotiations with Romania at Buftea.

They put heavy peace conditions that the Romanian delegates didn't negociate too harsh so that the treat looks like a diktat and Romania to pose as a victim of German aggression in order to befriend the allies who didn't saw it's withdrawl from the war as a good thing.

Ionel Brătianu: Let's accept and then complain that it's a diktat

King Ferdinand: I accept everything because I won't ratifiy it anywhay.

Alexandru Averescu: The army is ruined, Resistance will be futile.

Alexandru Marghiloman: Give me the government and i'll bring you better conditions.

What imposed condition are we talking here?

First of all Romania had to cede all of Dobruja till the Danube Delta, the inner slopes of the Carphatians and a piece of Dorohoi county.

Second of all it had to lease the oil fields to some German societies on a period of 90 years, to let the German and Austrian monopoly on the oil market and to give a lot of privileges for the German and Austro-Hungarian navigation on the Danube.

From a territorial point of view Romania would have gotten out seriously amputated after the piece.

But the representatives of the 2 great powers, count Ottokar Czernin and Richard Von Kühlmann gave the Romanian government unoficiallly freedom in Bessarabia.

As the first and most important negotiaton round with the Central Powers the strategy of the Romanian government was to shut up about Bessarabia.

Constantin Argentoianu: If we want Bessarabia? No whay! But speaking of it....

So the enemies won't get an occasion to consider it a compensation and to ask in consequence more from Romania.

Meanwhile the Romanian troops in Bessarabia were not messing around and were influencing the unionist orientation trough arrests, expulsions and executions of the Socialists opposition.

Moldovan Socialists: Bessarabia for Bessarabians! We condamn the Romanian intervention!

Romanian army: We have a label for you: Bolsheviks!

Or at least trough their simple presence which encouraged Romaniophile agitation or could silence the opposition.

Unionists: Union! Union!

Besides, the Romanian government left to the understanding that even if the Bessarabians fom the Country Council would oppose, the union would have still happend trough annexation.

King Ferdinand: If you don't want me, I want you...

After such a sever defeat, Romania really wanted this consolation prize.

Moldovan Unionists: Come on, stop being sad....

The 2 Romanian representatives who contributed to the union the peaceful way were a really good diplomat and a really good speaker: Alexandru Marghiloman and Constantin Stere.

Alexandru Marghiloman from the position of PM managed to convince the Bessarabian delegates that the Moldovan Democratic Republic was a country too weak to reject Romania's protection.

Alexandru Marghiloman: The union will stop Bassarabia from falling apart

And that Romania will respect the particularities of the province.

Alexandru Marghiloman: Your rights will be respected except for the women.

Constantin Ster, a famous Bessarabian exiled in Romania returned to Chișinău and managed in short time to get on the side of the union enough undecided Moldovan deputies so that a single majority will be formed for the vote on 27 march 1918.

Constantin Stere: Let the Moldovans come to me. 28 union speeches in 48 hours.

That day, Marghiloman and Stere were the first to speak in the Country Council and gave the tone to the music that was about to begin: The union of Bessarabia with Romania.

Alexandru Marghiloman: The Union of Bessarabia with the Mother country is a necessity

Constantin Stere: We want to enter as masters in our house.