File No. 763.72119/1621
The Consul General at Moscow ( Summers ) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 27, 1918, 2.28 a.m.]
397. Following is résumé interview with Rakovski, chief, Rumanian department, Russian Commissariat Foreign Affairs, published 19th, Svoboda Rossii, formerly Russkoe Slovo:
Exact information Rumanian situation lacking but apparent that owing German influence Rumania is unable conduct affairs independently or beneficially to herself. Treaty gives Central powers extraordinary right export grain, naphtha, and most probably power to quote own prices.1 This economic dependence seriously affects interests Rumanian peasants. Rumania has lost all Dobruja and part Wallachia to Austria, thus establishing direct communication Bulgaria, with total loss 35,000 square kilometers. Most important loss economically Black Sea coast although Danube frontiers not yet decided. Possible this territory to Bulgaria but more likely Sulinsk Canal district to Austria, as advices from Jassy indicate Germany considers Bulgaria stronger than intended which explains occupation Sulinsk and Sulina by Austrian troops.
Frontier Bessarabia, as ceded to Rumania, running along Dniester cannot be considered final as Rumanian interests identical with those Ukrainian Rada which is chiefly interested [in] annexation provinces Akkerman and Khotin while Austria also desires latter. Kiev Rada now negotiating with Rumania regarding these provinces but whatever agreement reached will not receive sanction international jurisprudence as Bessarabia is part of Russia and sanction People’s Commissars necessary; moreover, population will oppose cession, while for Rumania annexation of millions of revolutionary peasants means spread of civil war to Rumanian soil.
Same journal publishes telegram from Chicherin to Prime Minister, Rumania, which characterizes annexation Bessarabia as challenge to Russian Republic and complete violation treaty which provides evacuation within two months, also as an act of violence against population which telegram says protested unanimously against Rumanian occupation and insisted upon evacuation Rumanian troops at meeting peasants Moldavian republic at Kishinev [in] January.
- Treaty of Bucharest between Rumania and the Central powers, signed May 7, 1918; see Foreign Relations, 1918, Supplement 1, vol. i .↩