740.00119 E.W. 1939/7–244: Telegram
The United States Political Adviser, Allied Force Headquarters (Murphy), to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:40 p.m.]
2248. At the risk of possible repetition I report the following concerning negotiations now going on with Maniu. The main points of message received by AFHQ from Cairo are:
- (a)
- As soon as the Allies confirm that they are ready to carry out their side of the plan, details of coordination of operations will be arranged. This can be done in a very short time. Maniu has concluded his arrangements and the date of their application depends on the Allies.
- (b)
- The armistice should be signed by the diplomatic representatives of the three Allies and the Rumanian delegates at present in Cairo before the change of government. It would come into force at the moment of the change of Government.
- (c)
- In view of the fact that the armistice conditions have been accepted by the opposition, a plan of action submitted, and that the armistice will only take effect following precise action by them, the Allies are asked what immediate improved armistice conditions they are prepared to accept. In this connection, it is asserted that better conditions were offered to Antonescu than to the opposition.
- (d)
- The Allies are warned against the illusion that any understanding is possible with Antonescu.
The essential details of the plan are therefore still not known and it appears that Maniu does not intend to provide them until he has been assured that his plan has been accepted.
[Page 184]I shall be grateful if the Department will inform me whether it desires me to continue to report on these negotiations or whether it is receiving full information from our representatives in Cairo.71
- In telegram 2127, July 7, 2 p.m., the Department replied that it would like Mr. Murphy to report information he assumed had not been included in current reports from Ambassador MacVeagh (740.00119 EW/7–244).↩