871.00/11–446: Telegram
The Representative in Rumania (Berry) to the Secretary of State
us urgent
[Received 1:50 p.m.]
1026. This week Maniu, Bratianu, Petrescu and several other leading politicians of opposition called at Mission. Members of staff have seen at other places Groza, Gheorghiu-Dej, Maurer and other leading personalities of Government. This telegram gives trend of thinking of each of two groups.
Opposition leaders are convinced their true strength is increasing steadily. Titel Petrescu said 80 per cent of workers have indicated [Page 648] their desire to be with his party. For first time in party’s history peasants are contributing money to sustain party organization. Maniu confirmed this adding he had never been so strong and never so impotent.
These men expressed gratitude for our help and recent Voice of America broadcasts to Rumania. Petrescu was particularly pleased, claiming many workers have said to him, “See, our friends have not forgotten us”.
All opposition leaders agree elections will be quite opposite of “free and unfettered”. They said representation of their parties in Parliament would be limited to number determined prior to election day by Communist Party. Only change they noticed since delivery of our note is intensification by Government of its terrorist tactics. Summarized chief complaints against Government are:
- 1.
- Crossing from registration lists names of thousands Liberal [and] Peasant Party members and [apparent garble].
- 2.
- Placing obstructions to point of physical violence to the deposit of lists of names of candidates.
- 3.
- Arresting candidates on hastily trumped up charges.
- 4.
- Changing of normal voting places so voters in heavily peasant communities must travel 30 miles or more to vote, with no transportation available other than oxen or horse-drawn carts.
- 5.
- Continuing preparations for temporary induction into gendarmerie of several hundred Communist Party members in each voting district “to preserve order during elections”.
Bratianu with Maniu concurring stressed tightening grip Russia is securing in southeastern Europe while pretending she is assisting area towards return to normal living. He recalled Bulgaria has just had “free” election,36 Rumania is scheduled to have one soon, and with Yugoslavia already in line, Russia soon will be able to present to world a structure based on “freely expressed will” of Balkan peoples, which will be used as powerful robot for pressing for Russian solutions of such international problems as Danube and Straits. Bratianu said his party by participating in elections and assisting in giving appearance of orderly return to normal living was becoming unwilling tool of Russians. He wondered in view of absence of freedoms if opposition could not do more for the cause by withdrawing Ministers from Government and withdrawing candidates from elections, thereby showing world that all was not progressing in Balkans as Russians claimed. I said any such unadvised action would be a blunder as it would increase rather than diminish our difficulties on larger plane during next few months. If Department disagrees please instruct urgent reply.
[Page 649]Gheorghiu-Dej, Communist Minister of Communications, explained election was a battle in which opposition were enemies that must be defeated. He said Government had exploited every weakness of opposition and would continue to do so. He added Soviet Government expected Rumanian Government to win election, and win it it would. Although admitting privately numerical weakness of Communist Party he insisted it formed most active element of population and therefore deserved to have leadership. As illustration he used agrarian reform, claiming people desired it in spite of opposition of reactionary Radescu government, second that Communists seeing trend brought it to a head through characteristic leadership and tactics. In this he said, the party proved correctness of maxim “might makes right”. Other Government leaders followed same line, all insisting Russia trusted present Government and therefore country could be saved only by returning present Government to power. All said a government formed by opposition would bring Russian occupation and loss of Rumanian independence.
We see Communist Party in Rumania is still wearing national cloak, but in election it is out to win regardless of what costs in broken pledges and dead peasants. After election it can throw off its cloak or continue to wear it according to needs of moment.