"Here is the list of cabinet appointments for this term. Your Royal Highness, please review it and see if anything is amiss," Prime Minister Bretianu said, lowering his stance before the Crown Prince. This was a practice he had adopted from his predecessor, Sturley, who had skillfully managed to control the Romanian government for a decade. Prime Minister Bretianu was not averse to learning from such a seasoned politician.
Crown Prince Eder took the list from Prime Minister Bretianu and scrutinized it. The new prime minister had been astute in his selections. He retained all the individuals that Eder valued and had promoted, placing them prominently on the list, which gave an impression of deference to the Crown Prince's preferences.
After reviewing the cabinet list, Eder nodded and signed it, then handed it back to Bretianu. "Your Excellency, I trust that under your leadership, Romania will grow stronger."
"His Royal Highness, the success of our government will still depend heavily on your guidance," Bretianu replied, acutely aware of the need to subtly affirm his allegiance to the Crown Prince while also recognizing his own need to make autonomous decisions—a balancing act that, if mismanaged, could shorten his tenure as Prime Minister to merely a year.
Sitting behind his desk, Eder fixed his gaze on Bretianu and posed a thoughtful question. "Mr. Prime Minister, what do you consider the most pressing issue for Romania at this moment?"
Bretianu, sensing an opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities, organized his thoughts before responding. "Your Royal Highness, I believe that our immediate focus should be on strengthening our key industries—like domestic automobile manufacturing, the internal combustion engine sector, and the petrochemical industries, which have all shown promising performance. Additionally, although Romania is a major producer of agricultural products, our per-acre yield still lags behind other countries. Enhancing agricultural productivity is imperative."
After discussing domestic issues, Prime Minister Bretianu shifted the conversation to foreign affairs. "Your Royal Highness, the current situation in Europe is quite tense. We must avoid aligning too closely with any one bloc to prevent being drawn into unwelcome alliances. It is essential to extend goodwill to every country that can assist us."
Eder understood the Prime Minister's implications. He agreed that overly close relations with Germany could be detrimental to Romania's national interests and that improving diplomatic ties with the Allied countries should be a priority—a point on which both he and the Prime Minister concurred.
Observing Bretianu articulate his governance philosophy, Eder thought to himself that the Prime Minister was indeed a shrewd individual. However, Bretianu still lacked a deeper understanding of Eder, a man of a later era. "Your Excellency, I am satisfied with your response, but I would like to add a few points. Firstly, in agriculture, we must not only increase output but also expand the cultivated area. This requires enhancing our agricultural techniques. The current system has reached its limits and needs to be transformed. Mechanization will be the next breakthrough."
"Your Highness, upon my return to the office, I will assemble a team to explore this issue and develop a plan promptly. However, I will need your support with the machinery," Bretianu responded, aware of the new machinery factory the Crown Prince had established, whose agricultural equipment was becoming increasingly popular. If the Crown Prince could prioritize Romanian needs, it would significantly ease his task.
"I will direct the Ploiesti Machinery Plant to reserve more agricultural machinery for national use," Eder assured the Prime Minister.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your benevolence towards the people of the kingdom," Bretianu said, with a hint of flattery.
With the Prime Minister receptive to the agricultural initiatives, Eder continued, "Secondly, the government must also focus more on the health and education of our citizens."
"Your Highness, I will give these areas the attention they deserve. However, given our limited government finances, I can only promise to make incremental improvements," Bretianu cautiously replied, aware that the combined budgets for health and education already surpassed military spending, and any significant increase would be a substantial financial undertaking.
Eder, noting Bretianu's hesitation, moderated his request. "Then let us prioritize medical and health improvements first, so that our citizens can truly feel the benefits of Romania's progress."
"It shall be done. The people will indeed see the change in Romania," Bretianu agreed, relieved that the financial implications were manageable.
After this exchange, Eder felt reassured about his control over the government. This meeting had been a test of Bretianu's alignment with his vision, and he was satisfied with the outcome.
Prime Minister Bretianu, with the approved list in hand, exited the palace, letting out a sigh of relief once outside. The rumors were true—the Crown Prince was astute and not easily deceived. Bretianu was thankful for his preparedness; his proposals were genuine and not mere flattery. Now, with the additional tasks from the Crown Prince, the pressure on him had indeed doubled.
As Bretianu emerged, a group of Liberal Party leaders, including his cousin Wendiller, quickly surrounded him. "How did your audience with the King go?" Wendiller inquired, curious about the outcome.
"His Royal Highness approved the cabinet list," Bretianu informed them, which brought a wave of relief and happiness among the senior party members. Previously, cabinet lists had been rejected and sent back for revisions.
Wendiller, noting his cousin's use of "His Royal Highness," realized that it was the Crown Prince who had approved the list, a significant detail given his current authority. "Was it the Crown Prince who approved the list?" he asked for clarification.
"Yes, His Majesty instructed me to submit the list to the Crown Prince for approval," Bretianu confirmed.
The news prompted a flurry of whispers among the group, all pondering the implications of this development. As they prepared to leave, Wendiller decided to share some important news with Bretianu once they were alone in the car.
"Cousin, the ambassadors from Britain, France, and Russia have expressed their desire to meet with you," Wendiller disclosed.
"After I return, I will inform them that I am very much looking forward to their visit," Bretianu stated, ready to navigate the complex web of international diplomacy that awaited him.
After a fruitless negotiation with a group of high-ranking officials, Prime Minister Bretianu and his cousin Wentiler left the meeting. As they boarded their carriage, Wentiler leaned in and quietly informed his cousin, "They said they hope to come and visit tomorrow night."
"Okay, I will wait for them at home," Bretianu acknowledged, instantly understanding that his cousin referred to the ambassadors of Britain, France, and Russia. For these nations, persuading Romania to maintain neutrality was a diplomatic triumph, especially given Germany's significant economic and military influence in Romania—a fact underscored by Germany's investment of 36.7 million pounds in Romanian industries up to 1910.
The news of the Crown Prince's endorsement of the cabinet list was already circulating, but it hardly stirred the top leaders of all parties, who were prepared and continued their duties as usual. It was the lower-level officials who buzzed with discussions about the development.
The following day, after a long day at the government office, Prime Minister Bretianu returned home in the evening, anticipating the visit from the three ambassadors. Promptly at 7 o'clock, the distinguished guests arrived, and Wentiler went out to receive them.
Greeting the ambassadors as they entered, Prime Minister Bretianu stood and welcomed the British Ambassador Richardman first. "Ambassador Richardman, hello. Welcome to my humble residence."
Richardman, who had recently succeeded Ambassador Liszt—a man who had made little progress in Romania—smiled warmly. "Congratulations, Mr. Bretianu, on assuming the role of Prime Minister. Under your leadership, Romania is sure to flourish."
"Thank you for your kind words and your concern for Romania," Bretianu replied, before turning to greet the French Ambassador Jeanbad and the Russian Ambassador Ferralovsky.
Once everyone was comfortably seated in the living room with tea served, Bretianu initiated the conversation. "Mr. Ambassadors, how do you view Romania's current situation?"
Ambassador Richardman spoke first, reflecting on Romania's recent achievements. "Your Excellency, Romania has shown impressive progress in the past few years. Many of your products are enjoying good sales across Europe. Before my appointment here, I even drove a Volkswagen," he shared, eliciting a round of polite laughter from the group.
Bretianu responded diplomatically, "Thank you, Ambassador Richardman. Indeed, under the guidance of the former Prime Minister Sturlier and with support from friends like yourselves, Romania has reached its current state."
The conversation then took a slightly tense turn when Ambassador Ferralovsky commented on Romania's diplomatic alignments. "Prime Minister, it seems Romania's diplomacy has been somewhat unbalanced lately, which might not bode well for the country."
French Ambassador Jeanbad quickly intervened, suggesting Ferralovsky was being overly critical. "Mr. Ferralovsky, perhaps you're being a bit hasty. Every country faces periods of inconsistency."
Ferralovsky immediately apologized, bowing slightly. "Sorry, Prime Minister, I spoke out of turn."
Bretianu graciously accepted the apology, ensuring the conversation remained amicable. "Not at all, Mr. Ambassador. We value your concern."
As the discussion continued, Ambassador Richardman candidly addressed the concerns about Romania's close ties with Germany. "While your economic relationship with Germany has brought about significant industrial growth, it's also important to consider diversifying your diplomatic engagements."
Bretianu acknowledged the point, explaining, "Our relationship with Germany grew primarily because of their substantial investments and financial aid which transformed our economy from primarily agricultural to increasingly industrial."
The ambassadors understood Bretianu's position but knew their countries had to offer something compelling to sway Romania towards a more neutral stance.
Ambassador Richardman then proposed British assistance in improving Romania's medical infrastructure. Following suit, Ambassador Jeanbad from France mentioned his intent to secure a low-interest loan to foster economic development, and Ambassador Ferralovsky from Russia offered to negotiate better prices for Romanian imports of coal and iron.
After the meeting, Bretianu sent a detailed note of the discussions to the royal palace for approval, aware that such diplomatic shifts required the Crown Prince's consent.
Upon reviewing the note, the Crown Prince, Edel, recognized the potential benefits of these new alliances and promptly sent his approval back to the Prime Minister.
Subsequently, formal agreements were reached, and on March 4, 1911, it was publicly announced that France would provide Romania with a low-interest loan of two million pounds, the United Kingdom would assist with medical infrastructure, and Russia agreed to reduce tariffs on certain imports.
As these diplomatic engagements unfolded, the reactions from Germany remained to be seen, but Prime Minister Bretianu was hopeful about Romania's path forward, balancing its historical ties with Germany and fostering new relationships with the Allied Powers. This strategic diplomacy aimed to position Romania advantageously on the European stage, ensuring its growth and stability amidst the complex geopolitical climate of the early 20th century.
Kaiser Wilhelm II, visibly agitated, confronted his Prime Minister, Bernhard von Bülow. "How could Romania betray our trust after all the support we've given them?" he demanded, his voice reverberating in the grandeur of his office.
Prime Minister Bernhard, though internally dismissive of the Kaiser's frustration, maintained a composed exterior. In his view, the dynamics of international relations were dictated by interests, not emotions. Yet, he knew better than to voice these thoughts. Instead, he carefully chose his words to pacify the Emperor. "Your Majesty, it is not that you have been too generous towards Romania, but rather that their current actions reflect their own needs more than any dissatisfaction with Germany."
Kaiser Wilhelm II mulled over Bernhard's words. It was true; he had seldom denied Romania's requests in the past, believing firmly that Romania was securely within Germany's sphere of influence. This unexpected turn of events, however, had caught him off guard, shaking his confidence.
"Should we retaliate against Romania for this?" the Kaiser muttered to himself, pondering his next move.
Prime Minister Bernhard, overhearing this, quickly interjected, "Your Majesty, after all, it is merely a loan they are seeking from others. A confrontation could prove detrimental to both our countries."
Calmed by these rational words, Wilhelm II recognized the truth in them. He had been ruling Germany for over two decades; such a rash reaction was beneath him. After a moment of reflection, he decided against any drastic measures, but his frustration needed an outlet. Spotting a telegram on his desk, he snapped, "Send a censure to our ambassador in Romania! What exactly is he doing over there?"
"Immediately, Your Majesty. I will instruct the Foreign Ministry to dispatch the censure," Bernhard replied, understanding that sometimes a show of displeasure was necessary, even if it meant reprimanding an ambassador who had little control over Romania's decisions.
For Ambassador Baslob in Romania, the news was disheartening. Despite his efforts, he was just a diplomat, not a ruler of the country. He couldn't dictate Romania's actions. Yet, he dared not defend himself against the censure from his emperor.
Meanwhile, in Romania, Edel, a key figure in the royal palace, learned of the German ambassador's reprimand. He wasn't concerned about the ambassador's plight but rather what this censure implied about Germany's stance. "This means our recent actions are still within their limits of tolerance," he concluded, sharing his thoughts with the head of his guard. "This is favorable news for us."
The head of the guard, Carust, expressed his concerns, "Your Highness, does this not risk our relationship with Germany, considering their significant economic influence here?"
Edel dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand. "We are merely witnessing a reprimand to an ambassador, nothing more."
In his mind, Edel was prepared to distance Romania from Germany if necessary. The shifting alliances and the escalating naval arms race between Britain and Germany underscored the volatility of relying too heavily on one side. The British Parliament had just approved funding for new warships, and Germany was responding in kind. This tit-for-tat in naval power expansion was a clear indicator to Edel that aligning decisively with Germany could be precarious.
Back in Bucharest, Prime Minister Bretianu was in a meeting with his cousin Wendyle, discussing the delicate balance Romania needed to maintain. Despite their recent financial engagements with Britain, France, and Russia, it was crucial to keep Germany reassured.
"Germany's subdued response suggests they're still tolerating our actions, but we must tread carefully," Bretianu advised. "We must avoid provoking them unduly."