740.00119 European War 1939/11–344: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in the Soviet Union ( Kennan )

2602. American and British sources in Rumania have reported increasing evidence of Soviet intervention in internal Rumanian affairs. They cite particularly the action of Soviet military authorities in suppressing Universul, largest and most influential newspaper in the country, and in refusing to allow a rally sponsored by the National Peasant Party. Reliable neutral observers believe latter action was intended to force the resignations from the Government of the Liberal and National Peasant leaders, Bratianu and Maniu, and to destroy their political position, leaving the field open to the Communists. The British Military Mission in Bucharest has also reported being informed by Rumanian sources that the entire Rumanian navy (including river craft and training ships as well as destroyers, submarines, etc.) has been manned by Russian crews and removed to Sevastopol or Odessa in apparent violation of Article One of the armistice. Soviet naval representative on the Control Commission has confirmed the fact of the fleet’s removal with Russian crews but holds it is justified under the armistice. Le Rougetel, chief of the British political mission [Page 254] to Rumania, regards the political situation as serious in the light of the apparent tendency of the Soviet authorities to disregard the limitations of the armistice and the non-intervention pledge made by Molotov on April 2 of this year.49

The Department would appreciate receiving any information you may have been able to obtain since Ambassador Harriman’s departure regarding British-Russian exchanges of views on Rumania or regarding the Soviet attitude on recent political developments in that country. You should not at this time, however, make any formal inquiry of the Soviet Government on these matters. The armistice gives wide powers to the Soviet High Command in Rumania, and we do not desire to question its use of them before the American delegation on the Control Commission and our political representatives arrive in Bucharest and are able to report developments there at first hand. Sent to Moscow; repeated to AmPolAd (Caserta)50 for Berry.51

Stettinius
  1. See statement of the Soviet Government transmitted to the Department on April 1 by the Embassy of the Soviet Union, p. 165.
  2. As No. 336.
  3. Burton Y. Berry, formerly Consul General at Istanbul, en route to Bucharest as American Representative in Rumania.