871.00/8–2645: Telegram
The Acting American Representative in Rumania (Melbourne) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:35 p.m.]
609. Deptel 457, Aug 26. At every stage of the current Rumanian political crisis all local elements were constantly reminded of the Dept’s view that a solution could only be found if acceptable to the three Allied Govts.
However, in executing the instructions in Deptel 416 of Aug 11, I was handicapped because in view of stringent local censorship the Rumanian public was ignorant of fundamental publicized statements of American policy (see my despatch 465, Aug 1667 called “Rumanian Censorship of Potsdam Declaration and President Truman’s Report to Nation”). In verbally and frankly communicating the American view of the Groza govt and Dept’s hope to reestablish diplomatic relations with a more representative regime I emphasized that this method was necessary because of the impossibility of having Rumanian leaders and the public learn directly through the local press and radio.
The action in communicating verbally the American position is naturally known to Soviet officials and Rumanian Communists. In this connection the respective views of the three ACC representatives were outlined in their meeting of Aug 23 and reported in General Schuyler’s telegram M–1474.68
[Page 597]Aside from seeing Titel Petrescu privately at his request to secure the vital Social Party statement (mytel 592, Aug 24) I have refrained from contact with political officials since the delivery of the King’s note to the ACC representatives.
The King and his advisers have always fully realized that he should not provoke Soviet officials unnecessarily and consequently several times has shown his good will. (Mytels 576 and 600, Aug 21 and 25.69) Yet he has felt impelled after requesting Groza’s resignation to make his position clear on official public occasions (mytel 589 of Aug 2370). To counter this attitude the NDF (National Democratic Front) Cabinet has utilized the controlled press and radio to color the news of events to give the false impression that the King did not request the Govt’s resignation and to insinuate that he is being controlled by external forces. As an example, the press today publicized the award by the Premier to two Soviet generals of the Rumanian orders bestowed upon them by the King with the implication that the latter also was present. (Re paragraph 1 mytel 597, Aug 24.)71
Aside from General Schuyler’s telegram M–1468, Aug 22, there have been no further indications to the King regarding his personal position. General Schuyler and I fully understand that asylum arrangements for the King (Deptel 86, Feb 23) remain unchanged.
In reply to the Dept’s inquiry I would like to mention that on publication of the Secretary’s statement concerning the appeal of the King to the three Allied Govts, I immediately gave a copy to an emissary of the King.
Repeated to Moscow as 108 and London as 3.
- Not printed.↩
- Dated August 23, not printed; it transmitted a brief summary by General Schuyler of the meeting on August 23 of the three Chief Representatives on the Allied Control Commission for Rumania (Department of Defense Files). For record of that meeting, see p. 589.↩
- Neither printed. Regarding telegram 576, August 21, see footnote 50, p. 585. Telegram 600, August 25, reported that the King’s aide-de-camp had been invited to the Soviet Embassy where Soviet Ambassador Kavtaradze talked for more than an hour in eulogy of the King and the Queen Mother, emphasizing the King’s good qualities and expressing confidence that the current political difficulties would be overcome (761.71/8–2545).↩
- Not printed; it reported on parades and ceremonies organized by the Groza regime to celebrate the first anniversary of the Rumanian coup d’état of August 23, 1944, and the King’s non-participation in these government-organized celebrations (871.00/8–2345).↩
- Not printed; it reported that the King had declined to bestow decorations upon two Soviet generals (871.00/8–2445).↩