Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, Europe, Volume IV

740.00119 E.W. 1939/8–1744: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, August 17, 1944—2 p.m.
[Received August 18—1:30 a.m.]

3026. ReDeptel 1907, August 10, 10 p.m. I have not thought it wise to dignify the suggestions made by Giurescu and Teodorescu by communicating them in detail to the Soviet Government, as they are ones which would be highly insulting and offensive to the Soviet mind. I also do not feel that we can properly inquire the Soviet view of any such approach. They would probably consider that their own reaction to such suggestions would be obvious to any loyal and understanding ally and that we should be able without further inquiries in Moscow to give the proper reply.

As the British have had lengthy interchange of communications with the Russians on Rumania, I have consulted with the British Ambassador. He agrees strongly with the above, as the Soviets on past occasions have shown resentment and suspicion of the British when informed in detail of other Rumanian maneuvers to curry favor with the British and ourselves as against the Soviet Union.

In view of the above, I have today written a letter to Vyshinski⁷⁹ the text of which in paraphrase is as follows:

“I wish to inform you, in pursuance to the standing agreement that our Governments are to inform each other fully of peace feelers made by the enemy powers, that certain Rumanian agents namely Professor Giurescu and Colonel Teodorescu, who purport to represent Marshal Antonescu and Mihai Antonescu, have approached American representatives in Istanbul recently with vague and highly unrealistic peace suggestions to which the American Government is giving no consideration.

Provided the Soviet and British Governments have no objections, the American Government contemplates replying through the same channels that the Rumanian authorities, if they really desire to make peace with the Allies on a realistic basis, can send to Cairo for that purpose a fully qualified representative and the British, Soviet and American Envoys in Cairo will be prepared to receive this representative and to hear what he has to say.

We are communicating in a similar sense with the British Government.”

Harriman

79. Andrey Yanuaryevich Vyshinsky, Assistant People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union.