The Romanian Question in Italy after the Treaty of Bucharest (1918). Press and Propaganda

In the spring of 1918, the Romanian Question became more popular than before in the Italian public opinion. The critic conditions of the Country, dominated by Germany and her allies, associated to the uncertain situation on the Western front, gave Romania a special importance to Italian observers. In summer 1916 the Italian press had welcomed the Romanian entry to the war. It was seen as a new ally that had finally decided to join the right side of the fight. In this paper, the imagine of Romania is presented in the Italian society during the spring of the year 1918, when a huge propaganda campaign was set up by Italian authorities to give strength to the military forces on the war front. The famous Congress of nationalities oppressed by Austria-Hungary (held in Rome in April) is just an example. Still there are other and less known cases of demonstrations in favour of Romania along those months, above all in May after the signature of the Treaty of Bucharest. Departing from some considerations about Italian politics towards South-Eastern Europe, the paper examines how Italian press presented the Romanian cause and which have been the propaganda initiatives to push the Country to the rescue, since the treaty of Bucharest was seen as „shameless and disgraceful peace”. The case of the demonstrations in Rome by the end of May is particularly interesting because they were planned by Women Associations in collaboration with the Municipal Administration and supported by Italian government as some archives materials now reveal.