611.7131/66

The Minister in Rumania (Culbertson) to the Secretary of State

No. 416

Sir: Referring to the Department’s telegram No. 19, May 9, 5 P.M., and to my despatch No. 397 of April 2, 1927, I have the honor to report that for the time being the exchange of notes, providing for mutual, unconditional, most-favored nation treatment between Rumania and the United States (Treaty Series No. 733), remains in force and there appears to be no immediate probability that this modus vivendi will be discontinued by the Rumanian Government. I agree fully with the Department’s position in the above mentioned telegram, and it was not my intention even to imply in my despatch No. 397 that I favored the negotiation of a treaty with Rumania on any principle other than the principle of general, unconditional, most-favored nation treatment.

In Rumanian Government circles there appears to be no longer any agreement concerning the basis of their commercial treaty policy. Difficulties are being experienced in reaching an agreement with Italy, and if the statement[s] of officials are to be accepted, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce do not favor the abandoning of the general, most-favored nation clause in commercial treaties.

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The fact that the Department has reaffirmed its position in a telegram to me is of the greatest service in maintaining my position with the Rumanian Government in the matter of the negotiation of a commercial treaty.

I have [etc.]

W. S. Culbertson