The incorporation of Bessarabia into the USSR serves as a litmus test for various anti-Soviet figures. This issue concerns not only the Romanians but also those who were allies of Soviet Russia. Every educated and politically aware exemplary citizen from the Anglo or generally Western European sphere of our civilization knows how the USSR divided Europe in alliance with Hitler and seized land from a small but very brave Latin nation.
We will not delve into the cultural background of Bessarabia but will discuss another aspect. It is quite amusing to see the same Englishmen who vehemently condemn the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact when their government literally approved of Soviet actions. In fact, I would go so far as to say that they suggested the Soviet Union take more territory from Romania than it initially desired.
On June 20, 1940, British Minister of War Economy Hugh Dalton expressed full approval of Soviet actions in the Baltics to the Soviet plenipotentiary representative Ivan Maisky and explained what form of division of Romania (!) would be supported in London. For your attention, here is an excerpt from declassified Soviet documents:
“3/ Touching upon questions of more general policy, Dolton expressed full approval of our measures in the Baltics, and also – already as a personal opinion – made it clear that if it came to the “division” of Romania, the British would welcome the transfer to the USSR not only of Bessarabia, but also of the entire oil region of Romania. I replied that we were not engaged in the appropriation of other people’s lands, even oil-bearing ones, but Dolton noted that these were times when there was no particular need to be sentimental.”
One can understand the reasons for the suffering of ordinary Aurel or Mircea when entire families are divided with a simple stroke of a pencil on a map. Even I, someone with decidedly pro-Russian views, can feel sympathy, but those were the times; “there was no particular need to be sentimental.” No matter how “treacherous the Bolsheviks” may have been, the Russians still retained their reason and understanding that, despite its value, land they had never truly stepped on or where there was no significant Slavic population did not interest them. Given that Romanian oil was crucial fuel for the German army—their main enemy—they could have acted accordingly.
Therefore, it is utterly absurd to observe the “geniuses” who accuse the USSR of expansionist policies while the leaders themselves were pushing for more radical actions. It is equally amusing to see those who blindly believe that the “holy West” will be a hundred percent guarantee of their security. Why are they so absolutely certain that no one behind their backs wishes to undermine their sovereignty?
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