Des considérations sur les relations roumaino-russes et roumaino-bulgares au début de la Première Guerre mondiale. Quelques témoignages documentaires
Some Remarks Concerning the Romanian-Russian and Romanian-Bulgarian Relations at the Beginning of the First World War. Romanian and French Documentary

Summary/Abstract: This article is a short analysis of the relations between the Romanian Kingdom and the Russian Empire and between Romania and Bulgaria in the eve of the World War I and at its beginning. It is based mainly on the documents from Romanian and French archives. The Balkan geopolitical region was found in an endless turmoil so we attempted to point out the special dynamic of this space and the new balance of power after the second Balkan war and the peace treaty of 1913, signed in Bucharest. Methodologically, we used a “triangular” approach referring to the relations between Bucharest, Petrograd and Sofia. Due to the historical events in the past and the obvious Russian expansionist tendencies, Romanian authorities had no confidence in the Empire of the tsars. After 1913, when Romania obtained South Dobrudja (Cadrilater) from Bulgaria, the relations between the two countries worsened. The Governement leaded by Vasil Radoslavov wanted to revise the Treaty of 1913. The Entente and the Central Empires used “divide et impera” principle, trying to obtain military aid from the neutral Balkan states, as Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia. Another way to maintain the balance of power referred to territorial compensations in the favour of these states. But the territorial compensations involved reciprocal concessions and the Balkan states were reluctant to this subject. These concessions would determine the normalization of the relations between Romania and Bulgaria on the one hand and between Bulgaria and Serbia on the other hand. If the relations between Bucharest and Petrograd became better at the beginning of the First World War, Romania's relations with its Southern neighbour remained strained. Finally Romania and Bulgaria adhered to rival belligerent blocks.

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