File No. 871.51/47

The Chargé in Rumania ( Andrews ) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

80. Your 1423, May 21 to the Embassy St. Petersburg. In my opinion money should certainly be advanced Colonel Miclescu to pay munitions and equipment bought by him. Reorganized Roumanian Army lacks only equipment and munitions to become valuable to [Page 724] Allies in holding Roumanian front especially in view Russian military uncertainty. Saving time in dispatch and arrival supplies from United States to Roumania vitally important.

Minister for Foreign Affairs asks me inform Department in detail as follows:

Roumanian Government has received telegram from Colonel Miclescu stating he had only asked information as to possibility of Roumania receiving loan upon same terms as other Allies for purpose hastening common victory: that it was in reply to a question that he had specified $4,000,000 as needed payment material bought and for transportation and insurance.

Minister for Foreign Affairs refers to action taken by Roumanian Government through Ministers France and England in Jassy to have these Governments arrange Washington loan $200,000,000 upon terms the United States Government is making to other Allies, namely, at par with interest at 2½ [] per cent: that Roumanian Government had taken same step through its Minister in London directly with British Government. Minister for Foreign Affairs considers that until such loan definitely arranged American Secretary of the Treasury might make provisional advance $4,000,000 for urgent payments. British Government did likewise at the time of making informal negotiations for loan.

Minister for Foreign Affairs requests me to express earnest hope of Roumanian Government that when the United States Government makes its forthcoming declaration regarding national aspirations of Italy, Poland, Alsace-Lorraine, it will not fail to mention the Roumanian race in Hungary. He states their case the same as that of Italians in Trentino. See my 81 to follow.1

Andrews
  1. Not printed.