740.0011 European War 1939/3344: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the Soviet Union (Thurston)
292. Rumanian officials have informed our Legation in Bucharest that they are frankly perturbed by the intensive military activity along the Rumanian frontier in the Soviet Union, by the very active construction of roads and rail facilities in Russian-occupied Poland and by the removal of peasant populations from the frontier districts in the Union. The Rumanians are fearful of a Soviet military invasion. Information received by the Department from other sources tends to confirm the statements of the Rumanian officials.
[Page 470]You are instructed, unless you perceive some reason for not so doing, to request an appointment with the Commissar for Foreign Affairs or with one of the Assistant Commissars. During your conversation you may state that you have been instructed by your Government to express its concern at reports which it has been receiving of the possibility of the extension of the war into the Balkans. You may add that your Government would appreciate any information which the Soviet Government may find it possible to convey to you regarding these reports. It is hoped that you will be able to elicit from this conversation some information, or at least to obtain some idea, regarding Soviet intentions in the Balkan area.
Please telegraph full report of conversation.17
- The answer received from the Chargé in the Soviet Union is contained in his telegram No. 604, May 31, midnight, vol. iii, p. 304.↩