File No. 662.7131/1
The Minister in Roumania (Vopicka) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 29.]
Sir: Referring to current political events in Roumania, I have the honor to report that upon investigation I learn that the newly concluded commercial treaty between Roumania and Germany is in general as follows:
The conditions of the treaty are not obligatory on either side, but the executions of the said conditions are expressed as to be carried out so far as may be possible; in fact, it is a treaty of possibilities rather than of obligations. Roumania shall be supplied, by purchases made in Germany so far as may be possible, with whatever raw [Page 32] material for manufacturing or finished products may be needed. These raw materials (premieres matières) are notably soda, sulphuric acid, iron, steel, and unmanufactured pharmaceutical substances. Finished products are fewer and are chiefly cloth, thread, and pharmaceutical preparations.
While certain countries of the Entente look upon this treaty as having political significance, the Roumanians are taking pains to explain that it is only a treaty of necessity, and that these exchanges with Germany are absolutely necessary, since investigation on the part of their Government has proved that there is practically no possibility of making sufficient importations via Russia.
Consequently the export of these cereals, over and above the previous transactions reported upon to the Department, is only a method of payment and cannot be understood to have any political significance.
In addition to the exportation of cereals made from time to time by sales to Germany and Austria-Hungary and sales made to the Entente powers—notably to England—by which latter cereals are to remain in the country until after the conclusion of the war, it may be of interest to the Department to know that in the negotiations carried out during the last ten days with Roumanian millers on behalf of Turkey looking to considerable exports of flour to the latter country—where a shortage of foodstuffs is much felt—there seems to be a struggle proceeding in which the Entente powers appear to be gaining in their efforts to prevent such transactions. The representative of the Entente powers considers this successful effort on their part is of much value, inasmuch as a continued and increasing distress on the part of the Turkish empire is counted upon to have a strong effect towards inducing the Turkish Government to conclude a separate peace with the Entente.
I have [etc.]