Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Central and Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

124.66/6–2350: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Legation in Romania

confidential

Washington , June 24, 1950—2 p. m.

228. Urtel 471, Jun 23¹ and previous. Rum Min² summoned by Dept for appt today with Asst Sec Perkins³ re courier impasse in context complex of restrictions imposed by Rums on Leg. Perkins characterized Rum Govt’s refusal visas to couriers and its indicated intention limit our service six week intervals as incomprehensible in conduct dipl relations. He stated that US Govt takes very serious view this latest Rum action, and indicated that these and other Rum measures oblige US to review whole question of its relations with Rumania.

Magheru professed ignorance details courier issue. When informed he gave as his personal view that Rum action fitted framework reciprocity for “various restrictions imposed in recent times” on Rum Leg here.

Perkins replied that it was certainly not we who had begun this business, to which Magheru retorted that there was disagreement on that point as in his conversation last November (Deptel 397, Nov 21, 1949⁴). Perkins dismissed further discussion this regard as useless. He raised also matter of Rum procrastination on issuance requested visas for replacements Leg’s staff and emphasized that he wished Rum Min convey to his Govt gravity with which this Govt views trend of developments affecting Leg for which Rum Govt is responsible.

Conversation concluded with Magheru’s agreement communicate Dept’s views to FonOff.⁵

Serious consideration will be given comments urreftel in shaping future course our action.

Acheson

1. Supra.
2. Mihail Magheru.
3. Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs George W. Perkins.
4. Foreign Relations, 1949, vol. v, p. 543.
5. On July 28 the Department of State sent a note verbale to the Romanian Legation reminding it of the serious view which the United States Government took of the various harassments and restrictions imposed upon the American Legation in Bucharest, particularly the indicated intention of Romanian authorities drastically to limit courier service to that Legation. The Department of State stated that it was still awaiting a response to its protest and a clarificaion of the Romanian Government’s intentions (124.66/7–3150). There appear to have been no responses by the Romanian Legation to these protests and demands for clarification.