871.00/857
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Robert D. Coe of the Division of European Affairs
| Participants: | M. Brutus Coste, Rumanian Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, |
| Mr. Atherton2 and Mr. Coe. |
The Rumanian Chargé d’Affaires called on Mr. Atherton and referred to the gross exaggerations in the American press of the numbers of victims in the recent disturbances in his country. M. Coste said that Reuters was the chief offender in this regard. He then read some figures giving the actual number of deaths, which he apparently had obtained from his Government. Among other figures were 250 dead in Bucharest, of which 118 were Jews.
Mr. Atherton then told M. Coste that he wished to speak quite frankly with him on this matter. He said that this Government looked with horror on the recent outrages in Rumania and regarded the bestialities and brutalities involved in these murders as evidence of the criminal tendencies unloosed by the forces now at work in Europe. Mr. Atherton said that he, of course, was expressing our displeasure at these irresponsible, loose elements and not at the Rumanian Government. He said that this Government and its Minister in Bucharest have the highest regard for General Antonescu3 in his efforts to retain as much of the integrity of the Rumanian State as possible. Mr. Atherton said that he did not wish to criticize or condemn General Antonescu because of the recent disorders but he did feel that the civilized world in general was aghast at the murders of the Jews and others in Rumania.
M. Coste likewise deplored the recent events, declaring that he was of the same age group as the Iron Guardists in general and he well realized their irresponsible and loose behavior. He felt that these happenings were a blot on Rumania’s reputation.