602.6611/5–1550: Telegram
The Minister in Romania (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
plain
852. Following is translation Rumanian Foreign Office note May 13 received 5:35 p. m. May 15 re official visas.
“Ministry of Foreign Affairs of RPR presents compliments to Legation USA Bucharest and in reply note No. 889, March 15 [14], 19501 in which Government of USA poses problem of granting visas to new diplomatic personnel of US Legation Bucharest and fixing size of personnel of that Legation has honor on behalf of Government of RPR to communicate following:
“Re problem of visas for personnel of US Legation Bucharest, Government of RPR reminds Government of US present size of personnel at Legation is many times greater than size of personnel of Legation before war. In years 1936–37 diplomatic personnel of US Legation Bucharest comprised six members including MA who was at same time accredited to Athens and Belgrade where he maintained his permanent residence. In post war period total size of personnel US Legation Bucharest including large number employees of former American element of ACC in Rumania who normally would have been [Page 1063] required to leave country on termination of work of that commission numbered as many as 53.
“This increase in personnel does not correspond at all to relations created by unfriendly policy carried out by US Government towards RPR.
“The great number of members of Legation cannot be considered separately from hostile policy carried out by Government of US against RPR and manifested in espionage activity carried out by some members of Legation of USA in Bucharest as proved in treason trials of leaders of former National Peasant Party, Auschnitt-Popp-Bujoiu, band of conspirators and group of spies of American and British Information Offices2 in repeated attempts to mix in internal affairs of RPR, slanderous attacks against RPR, hostile attitude toward RPR interests displayed by delegates of USA in UNO and official support accorded all the traitors who have fled from RPR.
“The reference of Government of USA to principles of courtesy and reciprocity is entirely out of place when US Government has refused steadily to accord visas for personnel to replace members of RPR Legation Washington who in last two years have stopped working at that Legation though Government of RPR even in year 1949 has granted visas for several replacements for members US Legation Bucharest until intention of American Government to obstruct activity of RPR Legation Washington became apparent.
“For all these reasons Government RPR requests US Legation Bucharest to reduce number of its personnel to 10, it being understood that parity with respect to number of members of RPR Legation Washington is put forth by RPR Government as a condition for this solution of problem of number of members of American Legation Bucharest.
“Bucharest May 13, 1950.”