Paris Peace Conf. 181.9202/37: Telegram
General Bandholtz to the Commission to Negotiate Peace
[Received August 23—9:45 p.m.]
22. Roumanian Commissioner Diamandi and General Rudeanu appeared before Interallied Military Mission, Italian representative presiding, 20 minutes late this morning. Diamandi said he had received instructions from his Government, that they desired to work in accord with Allies, that we must consider deplorable transportation condition in Roumania, that Roumanians found much of their own material here in Hungary showing a few first aid packets, etc., as proof, that [Page 651] Roumanian property thus found must naturally be subject to their unqualified seizure, that seizures would be limited to strict necessity but they must beg Conference to allow them to seize an additional 30 percent to fill up places in Roumania pillaged by the Huns, that Roumania had 1,200 locomotives at beginning of war and now had only 60, that it would be difficult to furnish a list of material seized in Hungary, that they could pay for seized automobiles, etc., with bonds as did the Central Powers, that they wanted to know who would guarantee their getting their share after they left Hungary, that it would be better to leave property in the hands of truthful allies than in the hands of an enemy who never kept any promise, and much similar persiflage. I stated in the presence of the Roumanians, to the Mission, that on three separate occasions the Roumanians had faithfully promised to carry out our instructions, that right up to the present time their seizures were continuing, they had returned nothing, they had made no progress reports as promised, that they had done practically nothing towards organizing a police, and that I personally wanted tangible proof that they were working in the complete accord they talked so much about. Diamandi said he could say no more than he had said and that any questions put to him would have to be referred to Bucharest. This is his unvarying attitude and it always takes a minimum of 4 days for such action. This M. Diamandi has always been in the diplomatic service having served in Paris, Vienna, Berlin and elsewhere and was Minister to Russia when the Bolshevist regime started. He typifies the Roumanian policy of procrastination with a view to the complete draining of Hungary before they can be stopped. While the Roumanians were present the telegram was received from M. Clemenceau19 and they were told the bare fact of the Conference’s attitude toward the Archduke. There is considerable evidence that the Roumanians are still striving to scare the Archduke’s Government into a separate peace before it dissolves. Action will be taken on telegram this afternoon but inside of an hour after its receipt the Archduke was aware of same and he could have been told only by Roumanians. At this afternoon’s session Diamandi will again be called and unless he makes a complete change of front I shall recommend that the Mission telegraph the Supreme Council that, as far as the Roumanians are concerned our time has been wasted and that it is useless to have any more transactions with them unless we have sufficient force to back up our demands.
- Appendix G to HD–36, vol. vii, p. 803.↩