871.6363/11–2844
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 29—midnight.]
4552. ReEmbs 4319, November 11, 10 a.m.65 General Deane66 has received telegram from General Schuyler along the following lines:
General Schuyler arrived Bucharest November 25. The following day his office learned that Soviets had begun to remove property from Romano-Americana Oil Company. This report was verified by personal observations of OSS67 officers. On November 26 general manager of company reported 980 tons of such property had been taken away November 25 and removal of equipment was continued that day. General Schuyler had entered a strong protest to Vinogradov68 against removal of this property without prior notification to our representatives in Bucharest. He had asked specifically that such removal be stopped immediately and that property already removed be returned and held under joint observation pending further instructions from Moscow and Washington. This request had been categorically refused. It was General Schuyler’s opinion, in which Berry concurred, that nothing further could be accomplished in Bucharest and that the matter would have to be referred to Moscow.
[Page 268]I am addressing a letter to Molotov inviting his attention once again to the main points contained in my letter of November 10, and communicating to him the gist of the information received from General Schuyler. I am saying in conclusion that until my Government has had a chance to study General Schuyler’s report and to determine the position it wishes to take, I have no further comment to make, but that in view of the bearing of the report on the statements made in my letter of November 10, I have thought it proper that the information received from General Schuyler should be brought to the attention of the Soviet Government without delay.
I have taken this step on the assumption that this latest action of the Soviet authorities in Rumania, which seems to indicate complete disrespect for the views our Government has expressed with regard to the treatment of these properties, will have to be the subject of further exchanges with the Soviet Government. Once these facts have been formally brought to Molotov’s attention at this time it will not be possible for him to avoid discussion or responsibility on plea of ignorance if and when the subject is raised at a later date.
Ambassador Harriman is expected to return to Moscow very shortly, and further representations on this matter would obviously come with much greater logic and force if they were to be made by him and not by myself. Meanwhile, I hope that the Department will be able to let me have its views on the present phase of this matter, so that they may be available for the guidance of the Ambassador when he arrives.
There is nothing in General Schuyler’s telegram to indicate that he is aware that this question is not a new one and that representations have already been made in Moscow. I hope that both he and Berry are completely informed on this point.
Sent to Department as 4552; repeated to AmPolAd Caserta as No. 39.