740.00119 Council/10–445: Telegram
The American Representative in Rumania (Berry) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 5—4:04 p.m.]
763. The termination of the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in London has set in motion in Bucharest two currents of opinion. The more prominent is loaded with disappointment and apprehension. The people who follow this line feel that Rumania will be one of the first countries to experience unpleasant consequences as a result of the absence of a general agreement in London. They believe that the Soviet Union will now proceed more rapidly with a policy of communization in Rumania.
The second current carries the opinion of a section of the more experienced but less numerous Bucharest public. These people reason like Mr. Maniu. He said that although nothing may have been gained, nothing certainly was lost nor will be lost as long as America [Page 621] and England maintain firmly their point of view. Mr. Maniu, of course, like all Rumanians, would have liked to have seen an agreement reached in London for the setting-up of a democratic govt in Rumania and King Michael informed by a reply to the letter he addressed the three principal Allies. But barring such a solution Mr. Maniu feels that the conclusion reached is the best that could be expected.
The Bucharest press, with the exception of a single newspaper, carried the Tass14 report of the Molotov statement upon the London Conference.15 Several sentences from Secretary Byrnes’ statement,16 most favorable to the Russian interpretation, were appended to the Molotov statement. The single exception was Momentul which gave Secretary Byrnes statement in full.
The members of the Govt publicly are making political capital point of the fact that the London Conference adjourned without taking action against the Groza govt. The press in reporting today a speech given on Sunday by Premier Groza adds the statement: “Dr. Petru Groza formed the Govt because such was the wish of the people, and he will remain by the helm of the Govt until such time as the people demand his resignation”.
At the same time Cabinet members are privately maneuvering so as to maintain their personal position in the Govt that follows the Groza govt. Communist Minister of Justice Patrascanu has recently sent two messages to the King claiming the backing of the Russians and suggesting that he be asked to form a new government in which several key ministries will be held by “neutral” personalities and in which all parties will be represented. Dissident Liberal Minister of Foreign Affairs Tatarescu has sent a confidential messenger to the King to say that he has the confidence of the Russians for forming a new govt and that he can bring into being a govt that will truly represent the country.
Dr. Lupu of the National Peasants has given out that he has the backing of the King and of the Russians. Socialist Democratic leader Petrescu, while keeping his party’s position in the present Govt, is talking daily with other political leaders about the next Govt.
[Page 622]Above all this the King continues to display great resolve and patience while waiting a reply to his letter. He has indicated that he will maintain this attitude until the reply is forthcoming. But his position may become increasingly difficult if the Groza govt indulges in provocative acts or if Soviet Govt increases its pressure.
This is No. 763; rptd to London as 67 and Moscow as 236.
- Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union.↩
- The Tass report of the Molotov statement of October 2, 1945, regarding the termination of the first session of the Council of Foreign Ministers in London appeared in Izvestia, October 3, 1945.↩
- For text of statement by the Secretary of State on the meetings of the Council of Foreign Ministers, released to the press October 3, 1945, see Department of State Bulletin, October 7, 1945, p. 513.↩