871.00/11–845: Telegram
The American Representative in Rumania (Berry) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 8—6:30 p.m.]
863. This morning church services were held for the King in many places throughout the capital and early in the morning strong detachments of police and soldiers patrolled the palace square and its approaches. At about 10 o’clock numerous trucks laden with workers circulated in the square shouting for Groza and disrupting groups of citizens beginning to congregate there. Police and soldier detachments disappeared upon the arrival of these trucks. However, the crowds of citizens increased with fresh influxes waving banners until it is estimated the people shouting “King and Country” formed as large a demonstration as any in Bucharest during the past year.
About noon gendarmes in the Interior Ministry building began shooting into the ground and in the air and ricocheting bullets wounded several. These shootings occurred after the cordon of police had cut off approximately 150 persons and taken them into the Interior Ministry under arrest. Intermittent shooting continued during the next few hours near the Interior Ministry while a large crowd filled the square and surrounding streets. Soldiers at one point fired upon demonstrators and killed two and wounded three others. By mid-afternoon [Page 624] the crowd had gradually dispersed and cordons of soldiers across the square prevented any further demonstrations before the palace. However, groups carrying banners were later seen parading through main streets of the city.
A crowd of demonstrators appeared before this Mission, the Military Mission as well as British Headquarters, cheering the King, the US and requesting aid in releasing those arrested today.
A report received this evening shows that 7 persons were killed and 61 hospitalized as a result of the day’s activities.19
This is 863 from Berry; repeated to London as 880; and Moscow as 257.
- Telegram 865, November 9, from Bucharest, reported that the number of dead had reached 13 (871.00/11–945).↩