870.811/224: Telegram
The Minister in Rumania (Gunther) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 9—5:05 a.m.]
712. My 670, October 26, 2 p.m. The Foreign Minister41 told me late yesterday that little progress was being made in the conference which convened in Bucharest on October 28th to discuss problems and respective interests in connection with the lower Danube or that section of the river lying between Braila and the Black Sea hitherto under the jurisdiction of the European Commission of the [Page 527] Danube. Russia has, moreover, already seized the island in the Danube near Ismail. This means that the Thalweg is no longer the demarkation line between Rumanian and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics leaving only a small stream tributary, often unnavigable, for Rumanian use. Furthermore the Russians have just seized the large island at the Valcov mouth of the Danube south of the Chilia branch, a serious matter for Rumanian navigation at Sulina the principal channel, due to [apparent omission] scientific and observation of shifting sand bars.
The Foreign Minister also said that Russia was opposing the participation of both Germany and Italy in the settlement of this problem. In other words Russia was desirous of creating a Russian-Rumanian condominium in which the former of course would play the principal role for the discussion and settlement of all problems relating to the lower Danube. The Foreign Minister added that up to the present Germany had shown very little interest in supporting Rumania and I gathered that he felt strongly that the former, for political reasons and inasmuch as her vital interests were not involved, might be willing to accept the Russian thesis and withdraw, at the same time obliging her Italian ally to do likewise, from any active participation in lower Danubian affairs.
I considered the foregoing significant. Germany is undoubtedly anxious to placate Russia; therefore giving away to the latter in a matter such as the above in which Germany has no immediate vital interest would be a good political move costing nothing. I think that Germany takes the view that whatever is arranged now need only be temporary. Moreover I do not think a conflict between Germany and Russia is desired by either at this moment but the former if she finds it imperative to undertake a Balkan campaign—following for instance a British move on Salonika—must first protect either politically and/or militarily her Russian flank. While the Foreign Minister made it clear that he felt that Russia would not attempt to seize more Rumanian territory, I cannot say that I entirely share his optimism. (Please see in this connection my telegram No. 707, November 5, 5 p.m.42 and previous). The evacuation of Germans from Bukowina and other territories ceded by Rumania as well as from non-ceded territories tends to show that Germany at least envisages the possibility of conflict and accordingly is taking steps to protect her interests politically; and by this I do not mean to imply that I think that the German left flank could rest secure solely as a consequence of appeasement in respect of Russia’s Danubian pretensions.
[Page 528]As you probably know the British Government has protested to that of Rumania the exclusion of the British from the Danubian corridor.
- Prince Mihail Sturdza.↩
- Not printed; it reported that “most of the young Germans of military age have been retained here in a camp at Galatz” where, in the event of trouble, “due to their speaking Russian as well as Rumanian and German, they would be invaluable as interpreters”. (740.0011 European War 1939/6501)↩