Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1939, General, Volume I

762.71/43a: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Rumania (Gunther)

Washington, March 18, 1939—3 p.m.

29. The New York Times this morning carries an article from London that “a virtual ultimatum had been issued by Germany to Rumania to the effect that (1) Rumania should give up certain industries and (2) should agree that her entire exports of grain, oil, lumber, cattle and foodstuffs should go exclusively to Germany, in return for which Germany would be ready to guarantee Rumanian territorial integrity.”

Kennedy quotes the Rumanian Minister in London as confirming the general substance but as saying that the demands were made a week or 10 days ago when Wohlthat¹⁹ was in Bucharest.

The Rumanian Minister here²⁰ informs the Department that knowledge of these demands has reunited all elements in Rumania and that Maniu²¹ and others are now subordinating politics to national unity.

Please telegraph such information as you can gain and analytic comments.

Welles

19. Helmuth Wohlthat, Economic Adviser to Marshal Goering.
20. Radu Irimescu.
21. Julius Maniu, founder of Rumanian National Peasant Party; Premier, 1928–31.