1939: Balkan Entente

The Balkan Entente, created in 1934 by Rumania, Greece, Turkey and Yugoslavia, was formed to guarantee mutually the security of their frontiers and thus was directed largely against Bulgaria. It provided for common consultation and discussion in connection with any actual or proposed changes of Balkan frontiers or of political action among the four states, and was open to adherence by any Balkan country. During 1939 it held one formal meeting Feb. 20-22, at Bucharest, when the group agreed upon de jure recognition of the Franco Government in Spain, but to act individually. They emphasized the solidarity of the member states and set the next conference for February 1940, in Belgrade. In March its permanent council expressed the determination of the four states to maintain absolute respect for their frontiers.

Beginning in the late spring, Balkan affairs received increasing attention in the growing European tension; by autumn a Balkan bloc to preserve the neutrality and independence of that area became a major subject in European politics. Discussion covered, among other things, the possibilities of a pact among the Balkan States themselves without the interposition of a great power, a bloc supported by Italy or Russia or Turkey, and the rival claims of a Black Sea bloc (of Russia, Turkey, Rumania and Bulgaria) as against a counter-plan which might include Italy, Greece and Yugoslavia, as well as Rumania and Hungary. In all negotiations among the Balkan States themselves and between them and other states, there were affirmations of constant support and belief in both the value and the steadfastness of the Balkan Entente. Bulgaria, despite friendly gestures and statements, continued to be a stumbling-block; it would not give up its claims to the Dobruja section of Rumania, nor would the latter satisfy Bulgarian aspirations; it had some revisionist desires also against Greece and Yugoslavia. Yet steady improvements in friendly relations were reported as late as the end of November. Earlier, King Carol of Rumania was said to be attempting to change the Balkan Pact into a military alliance in order to resist any outside aggression in the area. Such a plan was reported to be favored by Hungary and Bulgaria and to have Turkish support. In the meantime, Italy's efforts towards directing a Balkan bloc appeared to be making progress through more friendly relations with Greece, Bulgaria, Rumania, Yugoslavia and Hungary; concretely, this headway took the form chiefly of trade agreements, while similar attempts on the part of Germany seemed to be achieving less success.

Throughout these activities economic problems dominated the political, and chief among them was control of the basin and mouth of the Danube River. German needs, Russian desires, Italian claims — Italy's possession of Albania gave it an actual foothold in Eastern Europe — and Turkish alignment with Great Britain and France, make well-nigh impossible the continuance of the Balkan Entente or the creation of a neutral and independent Balkan bloc for the Balkans themselves. Since the danger threatening their security now comes from outside the area, the Entente has lost much of its importance. Meanwhile, Bulgaria is friendly but remains intransigent. And Rumania resists return of the Dobruja to Bulgaria, Transylvania to Hungary, and Bessarabia to Russia, and by closing the Danube as far as possible in December hopes to control its relations with Germany. See BULGARIA; GREECE; ITALY; RUMANIA; TURKEY; YUGOSLAVIA.