Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, Europe, Volume V

871.00/3–645: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the American Representative in Rumania (Berry)⁵³

Washington, April 9, 1945—7 p.m.

180. ReDeptel 114, March 9. The British Embassy has informed the Department that AVM Stevenson has been instructed by the British Government to request in ACC that Soviet authorities agree to take necessary measures to ensure safety of General Radescu in the event that he leaves the British Mission. The British Government has requested the United States Government to send instructions to General Schuyler to support Stevenson in this matter when it is brought before the ACC.

The Embassy is being advised that you and Schuyler are authorized, when the question is raised, to inform the Rumanian and Soviet authorities, respectively, that it is our view that the Rumanian Government should be required by the ACC to give assurances that necessary measures will be taken to ensure that Rumanian political leaders who are not demonstrably Quislings or collaborationists are not subjected to physical violence, persecution or deprivation of civil rights. We consider that these assurances would cover the case of Radescu in the event that he should leave the British Legation.⁵⁴

Repeated to Moscow and Caserta.⁵⁵

Stetttnius

53. Parallel instructions were sent to Ambassador Harriman in telegram 826, April 9, 7 p.m. This telegram stated that the British Embassy in Washington had informed the Department of State that the British Ambassador in Moscow had been instructed to advise Molotov that the British were ready to terminate the sanctuary given to General Radescu if there were categorical assurances that the Allied Control Commission would take all necessary steps to protect Radescu. Ambassador Harriman was instructed to make no representations to the Soviet Government in favor of the British approach, but was authorized to state the American Government’s attitude as given in the Department’s instructions (871.00/3–645).
54. Telegram 328, May 7, from Bucharest, reported that former Prime Minister Radescu was scheduled to leave the British Mission the same day and return to his home following “rather feeble assurances” from Rumanian and Soviet authorities as to his safety; after consultation between the British and American Missions, it was decided that it would be undesirable for any American action to be taken on the matter (871.00/5–745).
55. Repeated to Moscow as 827, and to Caserta as 313.