860C.001 Moscicki, Ignacy/48: Telegram
The Minister in Rumania ( Gunther ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:24 p.m.]
414. My telegram No. 370, November 1, 3 p.m., and previous. I have kept in touch constantly with this situation in which there has been no outstanding new development. In a recent conversation on the subject with Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Cretzianu he gave me the impression that the Rumanian authorities were more anxious than ever to find a way to effect ex-President Moscicki’s departure. German pressure is still quiet on this point. They may know that the present Polish President is an ill man. When it eventually becomes known to the Germans just how many interned Poles both military and civilians of military age have succeeded in one way or another (possibly with allied assistance) in getting out of this country I fear there will be quite a storm.
With reference to the little or no assistance given to date by the Swiss Government in the matter, the Swiss Minister here tells me that he has now had a letter from President Motta saying that he will himself speak to the German Minister about the matter.
The Polish Ambassador just back from an extended visit to France tells me that President Raczkiewicz pressed him to continue his efforts to effect ex-President Moscicki’s release. He confided to me that President Raczkiewicz is a pretty ill man.
I have used the argument when speaking to the Rumanian authorities that it would seem that now is the time to let ex-President Moscicki go as the nearer we get to spring the more forceful German pressure will become and the greater the danger that the liberation of the ex-President will be seized upon as a pretext for armed intervention. I have reminded the authorities, with whom I ever discuss the matter, of the report received regarding Gestapo and/or OGPU plans to assassinate the ex-President and emphasized that when it comes time to liberate him it had best be done as secretly and expeditiously as possible.