British-Romanian relations, 1944-65
Throughout the period 1944-65, Britain confined itself to protecting its direct interests in Romania and these were fairly narrowly defined. Moreover, relations with Romania were always dominated by wider considerations of foreign policy and the state of the domestic economy. Thus from 1944 to 1948, they were determined by London's desire firstly to maintain the Anglo- Soviet alliance against Hitler and afterwards to achieve a post-war modus-vivendi with Moscow which would preserve British influence in the Mediterranean. British policy makers were therefore keen to avoid any East-West tension over political developments in Romania. While there was some British interest in resuming trade, possibilities were severely constrained by Soviet economic domination of the country. Romanian expropriation without compensation of British commercial assets in 1948, together with the regime's failure to honour pre-war debts and wartime damages obligations provided an irritant to British-Romanian trading relations, which was only partly resolved by the 1960 trade arrangement and payments agreement. This accord was the result of increased interest by both Britain and Romania in bilateral trade from the late 1950s, when Bucharest's
Percival, Mark Landon
USSR; East-West relations; Human rights
British-Romanian relations, 1944-65. Throughout the period 1944-65, Britain confined itself to protecting its direct interests in Romania and these were fairly narrowly defined. Moreover, relations with Romania were always dominated by wider considerations of foreign policy and the state of the domestic economy. Thus from 1944 to 1948, they were determined by London's desire firstly to maintain the Anglo- Soviet alliance against Hitler and afterwards to achieve a post-war modus-vivendi with Moscow which would preserve British influence in the Mediterranean. British policy makers were therefore keen to avoid any East-West tension over political developments in Romania. While there was some British interest in resuming trade, possibilities were severely constrained by Soviet economic domination of the country. Romanian expropriation without compensation of British commercial assets in 1948, together with the regime's failure to honour pre-war debts and wartime damages obligations provided an irritant to British-Romanian trading relations, which was only partly resolved by the 1960 trade arrangement and payments agreement. This accord was the result of increased interest by both Britain and Romania in bilateral trade from the late 1950s, when Bucharest's
british romanian relation throughout_period britain confine protect direct interest romania fairly narrowly define moreover relation romania always dominate wide consideration foreign_policy state domestic economy thus determine london desire firstly maintain anglo soviet alliance afterwards achieve post_war modus moscow would preserve british influence mediterranean british_policy maker therefore keen avoid east_west tension political_development romania british_interest resume trade possibility severely constrain soviet economic domination country romanian without compensation british_commercial asset together regime failure honour pre_war debt wartime damage obligation provide british romanian trading relation partly resolve trade arrangement payment agreement accord increase_interest britain romania bilateral trade