871.00/6–1445: Telegram
The American Representative in Rumania (Berry) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8 p.m.]
410. In a series of brief trips during the past 5 weeks I have traveled accompanied by one officer or another more than 3000 miles on Rumanian roads. Some impressions which may be of use to Dept at this time, gained or confirmed by this direct contact with the country are hereinafter summarized.
The enthusiasm for the King dwarfs that for any other personality. He has measured up to the Rumanian idea of faking [ideal of a king].8 The people do not expect him to interfere in the normal processes of Govt but when events reach a stage critical for the nation they do expect him to assume leadership. They feel that he did just that on Aug 23 and that he will do it again when and if necessary.
The Groza govt is accepted like the Russian Army of Occupation as something that events beyond the control of the people have imposed upon Rumania. As yet it has limited authority in the provinces. It is however replacing career administrative officials and therefore extending its hold over the administration of the country. If this process continues some months the Communist Party, representing [Page 556] perhaps 5% of the people, will have had the time to integrate its members into the majority of key positions in provincial administrations. At present, however, the situation is well described by the words of a Russian commandant “gypsies and various plugars (Ploughman’s Front agitators) are walking about everywhere, seizing land, agricultural implements and machinery and the crop without any consideration for the law”.
The peasantry generally has taken a passive attitude toward the agrarian reform law. Peasants are distrustful of gifts. They recall that the property of the Jews was given to the Rumanians who after a few years’ possession were obliged to return it. Only when Govt agents threaten a village that people will be imported from neighboring villages to take up the land on adjoining estates have villagers shown any alacrity in occupying large estates.
I saw no evidence of suffering from hunger. Indeed it appears that Rumania will raise this year ample food for its needs. Whether or not there will be suffering next winter will of course depend on the successful solution of the transportation problem and the tapering off of Soviet requisitioning of foodstuffs.
In the railyards at Lasi [Iasi?] I saw Russian bound train loads of livestock, factory machinery, household furnishings and scrap metal. I was told that 150,000 Russia bound troops passed through Focsani in the past 10 days. On the road paralleling the railroad between Fogarash and Brasov I saw Soviet sentries every 220 meters so placed to prevent the escape of homeward-bound Soviet soldiers. Rumanians recalling the looting by Soviet deserters as the armies swept westward fear the return of what they describe as “a plague of a million locusts”.
In nearly every conversation Rumanians inquired “when will the Russians leave?” They all know that the presence of the Soviet Army is maintaining a leftist govt in power. Many also realized that the presence of a Soviet Army provides the most potent anti-communistic propaganda. As a result the real strength of the Communist party in Rumania, in contrast to the bluster of its leaders in Bucharest, has diminished. The realization of this may have influenced the Soviet authorities, now that a Soviet Rumanian trade agreement has been signed, to consider moderating their demands under the armistice. But reports of this changed attitude are received with reserve by Rumanians as the change may only be a tactical move and in any event the Soviet authorities can, through their puppet NDF Govt or under the trade agreement, obtain by legal means what they formerly obtained through direct pressure.
Rptd to Moscow as 108.
- Corrected on basis of copy of telegram in Moscow Embassy files (Lot 53 F 11: File 161 B).↩