Annals: Series on History and Archaeology (Academy of Romanian Scientists) (Nov 2019)
DR. CONSTANTIN ANGELESCU, THE FIRST ROMANIAN DIPLOMAT IN WASHINGTON
Abstract
USA’s entry into the war as part of the Allied Powers called for Romania to open a diplomatic channel with its new ally. The first chief of the Romanian Legation in Washington was Dr. Constantin Angelescu, who presented his letters of credence to President Wilson on January 15th, 1918. On the basis of the available literature and, in particular, the documentary materials from the manuscripts funds of the Library of the Romanian Academy, this paper presents Dr Constantin Angelescu’s diplomatic work, aimed at convincing Washington of the legitimacy of the national aspiration for a United Romania. In this sense, it was necessary to inform and, perchance, win over the American public, etc. This objective could have only been achieved with the support of the Romanian-American community, reason for which Angelescu carried out a sustained propaganda campaign involving numerous travels, meetings and public conferences with the influential echelons of the Romanian diaspora in the US. During his stay in the U.S.A, Dr C. Angelescu oversaw and advised the Patriotic Mission sent by the Romanian Government, which consisted of the Transylvanian-Romanian priests Vasile Lucaciu and Ion Moța and active soldier Vasile Stoica
