640.0031 Danube/91
The Minister in Rumania (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 12.]
Sir:
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In view of the uncertainty prevailing concerning the whole question of Rumania’s attitude toward the Tardieu Plan72 and the application of the preferential clauses in the German-Rumanian Commercial Convention of June 27, 1931, I called on the Rumanian Minister for Foreign Affairs on March 23rd to endeavor to learn what the real situation is. Prince Ghika informed me that up to the present time the Rumanian Government has received no official communication setting forth the details of the Tardieu Plan. The only thing of this nature which has occurred as yet was that the French Chargé d’Affaires read to him a few days ago, without giving him a copy, the original statement of Mr. Tardieu proposing in general terms that some measures be taken to relieve conditions in Central Europe and in the Danubian States. Prince Ghika felt sure that, when approached officially, Rumania and the other Little Entente countries will give the project most sympathetic and cordial support. He thought, however, that France, Italy and England must first agree on the broad outlines of a plan and he deplored the fact that Italy and France do not seem to be in accord and that the former seems to [Page 343] be inclined to share the German point of view concerning the project. He felt fairly hopeful that France and Italy would ultimately find some common ground of agreement.
In reply to my inquiry concerning the German proposal to put the preferential clauses of the German-Rumanian Commercial Convention into immediate effect, Prince Ghika told me that not only has Germany not secured the consent of a number of states with which she has most-favored-nation treaties, but that Argentina, at least, has definitely refused to agree to this step. He added that, although it is incumbent on Germany alone to secure the consent of the countries with which she has most-favored-nation treaties, Rumania does not care to be a party to such an indelicate proceeding as to endeavor to apply the treaty before the consent of the interested third parties has been obtained. He said that the German proposal coinciding so closely with the Tardieu Plan had placed Rumania in a difficult situation and that it looked as if Germany were trying to force Rumania’s hand. Rumania had originally, he said, consulted the French Government and had been encouraged and even urged by Mr. Briand to sign the treaty with Germany containing preferential clauses. In spite of this, a considerable and influential part of the French press had attacked Rumania at the time on the ground of bad faith and treachery to France and had accused Rumania of favoring Germany. He therefore feared the effect on French opinion if Rumania should now agree to put into effect the preferential clauses of the German-Rumanian Commercial Convention.
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Respectfully yours,
- See section entitled “Proposal for an Economic Confederation of Danubian States,” vol. i, pp. 846 ff.↩