Romanian National Committee
Encyclopedia
Romanian National Committee was an anti-communist organization of Romania
n post-World War II exilés in the West
. It claimed to represent a government in exile
.
by the General Nicolae Rădescu
, one of the premiers of Romania after the overthrow of dictator Ion Antonescu
by Mihai I of Romania and the opposition parties. He was also the last premier of Romania not to be affiliated with the Communists. The committee was one of nine organizations that made up the Assembly of Captive European Nations
. At the time of establishment, the committee consisted of ten members from three major pre-war Romanian parties, the National Peasants' Party
, the Liberal Party
and a faction of the Socialist Party
that rejected its merger into the Romanian Workers' Party. Former king Mihai I, who had abdicated in 1947, supported the new organization.
The co-founders of the organization were Cornel Bianu (the envoy of Iuliu Maniu
to London during World War II), Alexandru Cretzianu (former Romanian minister in Ankara
and initiator of secret negotiations with the Allies in Cairo in 1944), Mihail Fărcăşanu
(president of the Romanian Liberal Youth Organization), Grigore Niculescu-Buzeşti
(former Minister of Foreign Affairs), Augustin Popa (former member of the Parliament of Romania
), Constantin Vişoianu
(former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and participant of secret negotiations with the Allies in Cairo in 1944), Iancu Zissu (member of the Independent Socialist Party), Nicolae Caranfil (former Minister of Aviation) and Grigore Gafencu
(former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania), the last two having served as ministers during the pre-war dictatorship of King Carol II. Historian Neagu Djuvara
, himself an exilé at the time, mentions a slightly different composition, excluding Bianu and Buzeşti, but including Peasants' Party's Emil Ghilezan, liberal Vintilă Brătianu and trade unioninst Eftimie Gherman. However he acknowledges the important role of Niculescu-Buzeşti in the creation of the organization.
also mentions the dispute around the inclusion in the committee of a former Romanian minister to Washington as a further cause of the split. Constantin Vişoianu became the new president, either by election or, as Djuvara suggests, appointment by the former king. New members included George Assan, Alexandru Bunescu, Dumitru Ciotori, Anton Crihan
, Sabin Manuilă, and Mihai Rautu.
The committee members split the responsibilities and developed relations with the U.S. State Department, United Nations
, foreign ambassadors, other Eastern European national committees; published and disseminated propaganda material about CNR, worked with the media.
which also funded the Assembly of Captive European Nations and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, decreased its funding in 1960's due to new American policy of building bridges with the Communist governments of Eastern Europe. In the beginning of 1970's, it was revealed that the National Committee for a Free Europe was actually a CIA-sponsored organization. In 1972, CNR already lacked any external financial support and had to dissolve.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n post-World War II exilés in the West
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
. It claimed to represent a government in exile
Government in exile
A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a country's legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. Governments in exile usually operate under the assumption that they will one day return to their...
.
History
The committee was established in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
by the General Nicolae Rădescu
Nicolae Radescu
Nicolae Rădescu was a Romanian army officer and political figure. He was the last pre-communist rule Prime Minister of Romania, serving from December 7, 1944 to March 1, 1945....
, one of the premiers of Romania after the overthrow of dictator Ion Antonescu
Ion Antonescu
Ion Victor Antonescu was a Romanian soldier, authoritarian politician and convicted war criminal. The Prime Minister and Conducător during most of World War II, he presided over two successive wartime dictatorships...
by Mihai I of Romania and the opposition parties. He was also the last premier of Romania not to be affiliated with the Communists. The committee was one of nine organizations that made up the Assembly of Captive European Nations
Assembly of Captive European Nations
Assembly of Captive European Nations was an organization founded on September 20, 1954 as a coalition of representatives from nine nations in Central and Eastern Europe under Soviet domination after the World War II...
. At the time of establishment, the committee consisted of ten members from three major pre-war Romanian parties, the National Peasants' Party
National Peasants' Party
The National Peasants' Party was a Romanian political party, formed in 1926 through the fusion of the Romanian National Party from Transylvania and the Peasants' Party . It was in power between 1928 and 1933, with brief interruptions...
, the Liberal Party
National Liberal Party (Romania)
The National Liberal Party , abbreviated to PNL, is a centre-right liberal party in Romania. It is the third-largest party in the Romanian Parliament, with 53 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 22 in the Senate: behind the centre-right Democratic Liberal Party and the centre-left Social...
and a faction of the Socialist Party
Romanian Social Democratic Party (defunct)
The Romanian Social Democratic Party was a social-democratic political party in Romania. It published the magazine România Muncitoare, and later Socialismul, Lumea Nouă, and Libertatea.-Early party:...
that rejected its merger into the Romanian Workers' Party. Former king Mihai I, who had abdicated in 1947, supported the new organization.
The co-founders of the organization were Cornel Bianu (the envoy of Iuliu Maniu
Iuliu Maniu
Iuliu Maniu was an Austro-Hungarian-born Romanian politician. A leader of the National Party of Transylvania and Banat before and after World War I, he served as Prime Minister of Romania for three terms during 1928–1933, and, with Ion Mihalache, co-founded the National Peasants'...
to London during World War II), Alexandru Cretzianu (former Romanian minister in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
and initiator of secret negotiations with the Allies in Cairo in 1944), Mihail Fărcăşanu
Mihail Farcasanu
Mihail Fărcăşanu was a Romanian journalist, diplomat and writer. He was president of the National Liberal Youth from 1940 to 1946. Pursued by the authorities due to his anticommunist actions, he managed to flee the country in 1946, and was later sentenced to death...
(president of the Romanian Liberal Youth Organization), Grigore Niculescu-Buzeşti
Grigore Niculescu-Buzeşti
Grigore Niculescu-Buzeşti was a Romanian politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania....
(former Minister of Foreign Affairs), Augustin Popa (former member of the Parliament of Romania
Parliament of Romania
The Parliament of Romania is made up of two chambers:*The Chamber of Deputies*The SenatePrior to the modifications of the Constitution in 2003, the two houses had identical attributes. A text of a law had to be approved by both houses...
), Constantin Vişoianu
Constantin Visoianu
Constantin Vișoianu was a Romanian jurist, diplomat and politician....
(former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and participant of secret negotiations with the Allies in Cairo in 1944), Iancu Zissu (member of the Independent Socialist Party), Nicolae Caranfil (former Minister of Aviation) and Grigore Gafencu
Grigore Gafencu
Grigore Gafencu was a Romanian politician, diplomat and journalist.-Political career:Gafencu studied law and received his Ph.D. in law from the University of Bucharest. During World War I, he participated as a lieutenant and received the Mihai Viteazul Order for courage in battle...
(former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania), the last two having served as ministers during the pre-war dictatorship of King Carol II. Historian Neagu Djuvara
Neagu Djuvara
Neagu Djuvara is a Romanian historian, essayist, philosopher, journalist, novelist, and diplomat.-Early life:A native of Bucharest, he descended from an aristocratic Aromanian family...
, himself an exilé at the time, mentions a slightly different composition, excluding Bianu and Buzeşti, but including Peasants' Party's Emil Ghilezan, liberal Vintilă Brătianu and trade unioninst Eftimie Gherman. However he acknowledges the important role of Niculescu-Buzeşti in the creation of the organization.
Charter and members
The charter of the CNR stated that the purpose of the committee was to represent the Romanian nation and defend its national interests until the "national liberation"; take actions by any possible means to "liberate" Romania and to reestablish a democratic government in the country; coordinate and support the welfare of all Romanian refugees; manage cooperation of Romanian diaspora abroad to arrive at the fulfillment of their purposes. In light of conflicts over administration of controversial funds of the organization four members of the committee (Rădescu, Gafencu, Fărcăşanu, and Caranfil) resigned in summer of 1950. Neagu DjuvaraNeagu Djuvara
Neagu Djuvara is a Romanian historian, essayist, philosopher, journalist, novelist, and diplomat.-Early life:A native of Bucharest, he descended from an aristocratic Aromanian family...
also mentions the dispute around the inclusion in the committee of a former Romanian minister to Washington as a further cause of the split. Constantin Vişoianu became the new president, either by election or, as Djuvara suggests, appointment by the former king. New members included George Assan, Alexandru Bunescu, Dumitru Ciotori, Anton Crihan
Anton Crihan
Anton Crihan was a Bessarabian politician.- Biography :Anton Crihan served as Member of the Moldovan Parliament , Parliament of Romania, and Government of Romania...
, Sabin Manuilă, and Mihai Rautu.
The committee members split the responsibilities and developed relations with the U.S. State Department, United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, foreign ambassadors, other Eastern European national committees; published and disseminated propaganda material about CNR, worked with the media.
Activities
The committee collected data and wrote reports for both U.S. and international officials on political, economic, and social relations of the People's Republic of Romania. Its reports were published in newsletters Romania and La Natione Roumaine. One of the main purposes of the organization was also lobbying for sanctions against the communist authorities’ abuse of human rights. The committee gradually started using its importance throughout the years and its main sponsor National Committee for a Free EuropeNational Committee for a Free Europe
The National Committee for a Free Europe was an American anti-communist organization, founded on March 17, 1949 in New York, which worked for the spreading of American influence in Europe and to oppose Stalin's Soviet occupation and dictatorship...
which also funded the Assembly of Captive European Nations and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, decreased its funding in 1960's due to new American policy of building bridges with the Communist governments of Eastern Europe. In the beginning of 1970's, it was revealed that the National Committee for a Free Europe was actually a CIA-sponsored organization. In 1972, CNR already lacked any external financial support and had to dissolve.