Treaty of Paris 1920

The Treaty of Paris of 1920 was a diplomatic act concluded in the aftermath of the First World War with the purpose of recognising the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Romania over the region of Bessarabia. Signed on 28 October 1920 in Paris, the treaty formed part of the wider post-war settlement negotiated by the victorious Allied Powers. Despite its formal signing, the treaty never entered into force due to the failure of one of the signatory powers, Japan, to ratify it. Consequently, the international legal status of Bessarabia remained disputed throughout the interwar period.

Historical Background

Bessarabia, a territory situated between the Prut and Dniester rivers, had been annexed by the Russian Empire from the Ottoman Empire in 1812. Following the collapse of the Russian Empire during the First World War and the outbreak of the Russian Civil War, political authority in the region disintegrated. Amid this instability, Romanian forces entered Bessarabia in early 1918, citing the need to restore order and protect the local population.
On 27 March 1918 (9 April 1918, New Style), the regional assembly known as the Sfatul Țării voted in favour of union with Romania. The resolution passed with 86 votes in favour, three against, and 36 abstentions. While Romanian authorities viewed the act as a legitimate expression of self-determination, Russian and later Soviet authorities regarded it as the result of military occupation and therefore illegal. This divergence of interpretations became central to subsequent diplomatic disputes.

Purpose and Parties to the Treaty

The Treaty of Paris of 1920 was intended to provide international recognition of the union between Bessarabia and Romania. It was signed by:

• The Kingdom of Romania
• France
• The United Kingdom
• Italy
• Japan

These states represented the principal Allied Powers involved in shaping the post-war European order. The treaty aimed to formalise Romania’s sovereignty over Bessarabia and to integrate this territorial change into the broader system of international law established after the war.

Key Provisions

The treaty formally recognised Bessarabia as an integral part of the Kingdom of Romania. It affirmed that Romania possessed full sovereignty over the territory, thereby endorsing the decision taken by the Sfatul Țării in 1918. Like several other peace settlements of the period, the treaty incorporated the Covenant of the League of Nations, reflecting the post-war emphasis on collective security and international cooperation.
The inclusion of the League’s Covenant also linked the treaty to the wider framework established by the Treaty of Versailles and related agreements. However, this connection had important consequences for ratification, particularly in the case of the United States.

Issues of Ratification and Legal Status

Despite being signed, the Treaty of Paris of 1920 never entered into force. The principal reason was Japan’s failure to ratify the agreement. Under international law at the time, unanimous ratification by all signatory powers was required for the treaty to become legally binding.
The United States also declined to ratify the treaty. One of the principal objections raised by American policymakers was that the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic had not been represented at the conference. As the successor state to the Russian Empire, Soviet Russia contested Romania’s claim to Bessarabia and rejected the legitimacy of the treaty. The United States’ refusal was consistent with its broader reluctance to endorse certain European territorial settlements that excluded key stakeholders.
As a result, the treaty remained diplomatically significant but legally ineffective.

International Recognition and Opposition

Although the treaty did not come into force, the union of Bessarabia with Romania was recognised de facto by several major powers. The United Kingdom, France, and Italy accepted Romanian sovereignty over the region and treated it as part of Romania in diplomatic practice.
In contrast, Japan’s non-ratification prevented the treaty from acquiring universal Allied endorsement. More importantly, the Soviet Union never recognised the union of Bessarabia with Romania. Soviet authorities consistently maintained that the 1918 vote had been conducted under military pressure and that Bessarabia remained rightfully Russian territory. This unresolved disagreement became a persistent source of tension in Eastern European politics.

Comparison with Other Post-War Treaties

The Treaty of Paris of 1920 shared several characteristics with other post-First World War settlements, particularly the Treaty of Versailles. Both included the Covenant of the League of Nations and were shaped by the principle of national self-determination, albeit applied unevenly. However, unlike Versailles, the Paris treaty concerning Bessarabia lacked the universal backing of the major powers and faced direct opposition from a neighbouring successor state.
This contrast highlights the fragility of the post-war settlement in Eastern Europe, where borders were often contested and dependent on shifting diplomatic alignments rather than uncontested legal authority.

Long-term Significance

The failure of the Treaty of Paris of 1920 to enter into force had lasting consequences. Although Romania exercised control over Bessarabia throughout the interwar period, its sovereignty remained vulnerable in international law. This ambiguity contributed to future instability, culminating in the Soviet annexation of Bessarabia in 1940 following an ultimatum issued to Romania under the terms of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact.