Victor Antonescu and Romania’s Foreign Policy Readjustment, September 1936 to December 1937

Abstract

With the dismissal of Titulescu in the cabinet reshuffle of 29 August 1936, King Carol finally secured his authority over the direction of Romania’s foreign policy. Although the new foreign minister, Victor Antonescu, had been minister in Paris from 1922–5, he had little of Titulescu’s international influence and prestige. In contrast to Titulescu, Antonescu and all subsequent foreign ministers were ultimately dependent upon King Carol in the execution of foreign policy. The king’s appointment of the francophile Antonescu suggested that the orientation of the country’s diplomacy would remain pro-French, as it had been under Titulescu. Indeed, scrutiny of Victor Antonescu’s public declarations during his time as foreign minister from 1936 to late 1937 certainly seem to confirm that Romania’s foreign policy remained securily based on her traditional alliances.¹