Russian-French Contradictions Concerning the Possibility of Romanian Army’s Evacuation in Russia in the Year 1917
Russian-French Contradictions Concerning the Possibility of Romanian Army’s Evacuation in Russia in the Year 1917

Summary/Abstract: This study deals with the possibility of the Royal Romanian Army’s evacuation in the Russian territory for reorganization. This problem generated tension in the relations between the Allies, especially between France and Russia. During 1917, this represented a key-problem of the discussions between the three diplomacies (French, Russian and Romanian) and the military representatives. Of course, each party wanted to promote its own interest. These interests were influenced by the situation on the front, by the evolution of the military operations. There were also disputes and different points of view on this matter, which altered the quality of the cooperation. The Russian proposal concerning the evacuation of the Romanian Army, authorities and population was rejected from the very beginning by France. General Henry Mathias Berthelot, Chief of the French Military Mission in Romania, expressed a strong point of view against the withdrawal to Russia. The psychological condition of the Romanian troops would have been seriously affected. For French diplomacy and French officers, the reorganization of the Romanian Army on the Moldavian territory represented a guarantee of its utility. Romania’s King, Ferdinand energetically rejected the idea of the evacuation. The French Minister from Iaşi, Count Charles de Saint Aulaire also persuaded the Romanian Government leaded by Ion I.C. Brătianu that the evacuation had been a hazardous operation. On the other hand, the Russians insisted for the solution of withdrawal. It is possible that they attempted to subordinate the Romanian Army. Finally, the Romanian Army and authorities remained on the national ground.

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