Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 1994. [Vol. 2.] Eger Journal of American Studies. (Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 22)
STUDIES - Tamás Magyarics: The (Re) creation of the Relations between the US and the Successor States in Central Europe after the First World War
and has sought to comfort them in other ways ..." 6 1 To be on the safe side, the Americans put some more pressure on the Rumanian government Possibly by way of leaking to the opposition press, there appeared articles about Jay's reported recall to Washington. The opposition press jumped at the occasion: it demanded the dismissal of the Bratianu-government and the termination of the policy pursued by it, including the nationalization campaign. 6 2 Despite all these efforts, the King signed the bill on July 3 and the Minister of Industry and Commerce once again told the oil companies to rely on the "goodwill" of the Rumanian government and not to pay too much attention to the letter of the law. 6 3 What the Americans did not want to perceive was that the Rumanian government had got into a sort of trap: on the one hand, there was the international pressure to force them to leave the foreign interests intact, while on the other, had they backed out of their nationalization program, their own public would have been angered. In order to calm down the Americans —and to divert attention from the oil issue —the Rumanians signed the "long-delayed extradition treaty as an evidence of good will" at the end of July 6 4, and also agreed with Baldwin Locomotive Corporation and postponed the proposed lawsuit against it. 65 After all, the relations between the two states remained strained; the bulk of the diplomatic corespondence was about mutual grievances and protests. 6 6 Finally, we may consider the American Service stationed at Bucharest While in other countries of the region there were at least four or five members at the legations, here —besides PA Jay —there was only Lawrence Dennis, in the rank of a Third Secretary and Lt. Col. Robert C. Foy as the Military Attaché in 1924 signalling the fact that Rumania —even among the relatively neglected East European countries —was not thought 6 1 Ibid., 613—4. 871.6363/176: Telegram. 6 2 Cf. Jay's 871.6363/181: Telegram to Hughes on July 13, 1924, ibid., 616. 6 3 Jay to Hughes on July 17, 1924. ibid., 617. 871.6363/186: Telegram. 6 4 On the diplomatic correspondence on the Treaty see ibid., 664—74. 6 5 Jay to Hughes on July 25, 1924. ibid., 619. 871.6363/196: Telegram. 6 6 For instance, see the Protests by the U.S. Against Rumanian legislation Restraining American Creditors from Collecting Debts Owed in American Currency, ibid., 648—663. 92
