871.00/8–2345: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 23—3:50 p.m.]
8577. With regard to King Michael’s recent actions (your 7108, August 21) Foreign Office official today said the following:
British Government is entirely willing to have consultations at any place selected.56
[Page 589]It does not seem likely that question will be discussed by Allied Control Commission in Bucharest and even if it were it is doubtful if any satisfactory steps would be taken.
Foreign Office does not believe that Russian Government will agree to any consultations but sees no harm in approaching it with this in view.
Questions of Rumanian Government undoubtedly will come before the meeting of Foreign Ministers in London because peace treaties with Rumania would be discussed.
Foreign Office commented that the King’s action was ill timed as it would have been more effective if it had coincided with meeting of Foreign Ministers. Furthermore today a great celebration was scheduled to take place on the anniversary of Rumania’s break with Germany. For past 10 days Soviets have been pouring tanks into Bucharest for celebrations and now that they are on the spot vigorous intimidation is not difficult.
- Telegram 8537, August 22, 7 p.m., from London, reported that Sir Orme Sargent, British Deputy Under Secretary of State, had expressed concern over the failure of the United States and the United Kingdom to coordinate action in Rumania and had stressed the need for coordinated action in the face of Groza’s refusal to resign and the King’s appeal to the Allied Control Commission (871.00/8–2245).↩