Austria-Hungary and Romania’s Balkan Policy During World War І (August 1914–August 1916)

Abstract

The article is an attempt to throw light on the question of the role and the place of Austro-Hungarian diplomacy in the development of Romania's policy in the Balkans from the beginning of World War I to the time of Romania's participation in the War.
The article traces the attempts of Vienna in two main directions: its activities in Bucharest to involve Romania in the War on the side of the Central Powers and to force the Romanian government to give а declaration for its absolute and unconditional neutrality, which would mаkе it possible for Bulgaria to take actions against Serbia. The Austro-Hungarian diplomacy failled in both directions. Romania entered the War not on the side of the Central Powers, but against them, since Vienna remained to the еnd absolutely uncompromising оn the Transylvanian question Which created conflicts between two governments. ln the first two years of the War Bucharest did not decline its complete neutrality, thus arresting а possible attack on the part of Bulgaria against Serbia.