Romanian diplomats in the Scandinavian countries (1916-1947)

• Published in: Revista română de studii Baltice şi Nordice Vol. 6; no. 2; pp. 147 - 167
• Main Author: Vițalaru, Adrian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Asociatia Romana pentru Studii Baltice si Nordice 15.12.2014; Romanian Association for Baltic and Nordic Studies
• Subjects: Diplomatic history; Recent History (1900 till today); Diplomat; diplomatic mission; Scandinavian Countries; Romania
• ISSN: 2067-1725; 2067-225X
• DOI: 10.53604/rjbns.v16i2_11

The main object of the present paper is to introduce the diplomats sent to represent the Romanian state in Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki and Oslo, as heads of diplomatic missions. Did they have professional or human connections with the Nordic states? Were they moved from one legation in the Scandinavian world to another? In other words, were they specialists in Scandinavian matters? Were the Nordic states a professional attraction /a trampoline in the career of Romanian diplomats or were they `quiet` diplomatic missions, marginal in importance, less attractive to diplomats? In my attempt to provide an answer to these questions I found that most of those who took turns as head of legation in the Scandinavian countries had not previously been trained at the same missions. Only three ministers had two missions as heads of legation in the region and only two of them had, throughout their career, held positions in missions in the Scandinavian states. In addition to this, the fact that for 10 of the 23 ministers plenipotentiary being appointed as head of legation in the Scandinavian world was their first experience of the kind stands to attention. This proves that the diplomatic missions in Northern Europe can be perceived, in general, as a place to test/promote talented or experienced diplomats with a tortuous career path as envoys extraordinary or ministers plenipotentiary, positions which entailed higher responsibility for their occupants. Aside from these remarks, it must be emphasized that two of the legation holders that succeeded each other throughout more than three decades in the Scandinavian capitals, held, for a brief while, the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs.