740.00119 European War 1939/2537a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador to the Yugoslav Government in Exile (MacVeagh), at Cairo
26 Yugos. The Department has no objection to the transmission to Maniu of the proposal that if he were to transfer to Moldavia and establish a government in opposition to Antonescu he, Maniu, should be granted the same conditions as were set forth in your 84 April 8.
It is, of course, obvious that Maniu could not in such circumstances be expected to fulfill in the same degree as Antonescu the provisions of articles I and II, particularly with respect to the surrender of Rumanian forces and the repatriation of Soviet and Allied prisoners of war and internees. If, however, he should find it possible to transfer to Moldavia and establish a government there and if he were to carry out the stipulations of these articles to the full extent of his capabilities there would seem to be no reason why he should not be assured of such benefits as are contained in articles III to V.
By accepting the proposal to transfer to “Russian territory” in Moldavia Maniu would be placing himself, as well as whatever governmental and administrative organs he might set up, under the protection and auspices of the Soviet Government, at least until such time as British and American representation could be arranged. For this reason it is important that you should give Mr. Novikov clearly to understand the position of this Government as set forth in the Department’s 23 April 11, namely, that in conformity with the known American policy of deferring the settlement of boundary issues until the conclusion of hostilities we have been unwilling to look upon any dispositions of territory effected during the course of the war as being definitive, preferring to regard them as pending final examination and settlement at the close of hostilities.