740.00119 EW 1939/2459⅓: Telegram
The Ambassador to the Yugoslav Government in Exile (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 8—12:58 p.m.]
Yugos. 84. Department’s Yugos 21 of April 6.53 The Russian Ambassador called this morning and gave me the Rumanian armistice terms which the Soviet Government proposes, as below set forth in translation from the French. Mr. Novikov said that immediately on receipt of British and American assent he is authorized to transmit these terms to Antonescu and Maniu through Stirbei. Otherwise he [Page 170] will relay to his Government any objections or suggestions as we may express.
I believe the military clauses are unexceptional under the instructions sent me by the Department but that the latter may wish to consider clause 4 regarding Transylvania. Lord Moyne is also telegraphing his Government with particular regard to this clause.
“1. The Rumanian troops who are fighting with the Germans against the Red Army comprise seven divisions in Crimea, three or more divisions in the region of Odessa, three or more divisions in the region of Kichinev. These Rumanian divisions must surrender to the Red Army or they must attack in the rear of the Germans and commence operations against the Germans together with the Red Army.
If this is done the Soviet Government agrees to complete the armament of all these divisions and to place them immediately at the disposition of Marshal Antonescu and Mr. Maniu.
2. The Soviet minimum conditions of armistice are the following:
- (a)
- Rupture with the Germans and common operations of the Rumanian and Allied troops including the Red Army against the Germans for the purpose of restoring the independence and sovereignty of Rumania.
- (b)
- Reestablishment of the Rumanian-Soviet frontier in accordance with the agreement of 1940.
- (c)
- Indemnity for the losses caused the Soviet Union by the hostilities and occupation by Rumania of its territory.
- (d)
- Repatriation of all the Soviet and Allied prisoners of war as well as the internees.
These minimum conditions can be changed for the worse if Rumania does not accept them soon.
3. The Soviet Government does not ask that Rumanian territory be occupied for the duration of the armistice by the Soviet troops but the Soviet troops as well as those of the Allies must have unrestricted freedom of movement throughout Rumanian territory if the military situation makes it necessary. The Rumanian Government must contribute to this to the best of its ability with all its means of communication on land, water and in the air.
4. The Soviet Government considers unjust the decisions of the Vienna Award54 and it is ready to conduct operations in common with Rumania against the Hungarians and the Germans with the object of restoring to Rumania all of Transylvania or the major part thereof.
5. If Rumania wishes to have for contact with the Soviet Union besides the general representative for military questions—also a political representative for political questions—the Soviet Government has no objections.”
- Not printed.↩
- For documents signed at Vienna, August 30, 1940, see Department of State, Documents on German Foreign Policy, 1918–1945, series D, vol. x (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1957), pp. 581–587. See also telegrams 3826, August 30, 1940, from Berlin, and 509, September 6, 1940, from Bucharest, Foreign Relations, 1940, vol. i, pp. 501 and 505, respectively.↩