871.00/12–346: Telegram
The Representative in Rumania (Berry) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 4—1:10 p.m.]
1124. From first hubbub of election aftermath facts have emerged. Govt was severely disillusioned by paucity of support received from what it had considered to be most trusted elements, while being rudely shocked by strength of political outcry against regime. Opposition, on other hand, was very surprised and gratified by surge of country’s support in face of every conceivable Govt-inspired pressure. Strong national feeling demonstrated by elections may eliminate future Constituent Assembly election, with constitutional changes now likely to be work of existing Parliament.
Private sources, basing estimates on reliable information, assert Govt received only eight percent of votes cast, aside from Hungarian Popular Union which will work with Govt and which received about 9 percent of vote total. It should not be forgotten immense support [Page 669] for political opposition, National Peasants alone receiving estimated 70 percent of total vote cast, was compiled despite elimination 30 to 50 percent of electorate through non-inclusion in electoral lists and withholding of voting cards. Balance was somewhat redressed by multiple votes of ostensibly staunch Govt contingents who in secrecy of voting booths [voted?] for Maniu. Most striking instance reported was that of Bucharest gendarmerie whose 3,000 personnel voted at headquarters after political harangue by comanding general. Actual polling results showed not single vote for DPB,71 so commanding general and staff officers were obliged to rectify in light fashion this evidence of their unanimous defection.
So stunned were Rumanian Communists by true poll figures reaching Bucharest that they felt it inconceivable disaster could be concealed. Comintern group of Ana Pauker, Laszlo Luca and Bodnaras heartened their Rumanian comrades and asked for and received instructions from Moscow to falsify results at all costs on basis of predetermined policy. Although press reports have been published concerning popular vote by districts, no authoritative count has even yet been published in Official Gazette. Communist circles in viewing state of public mind consider unless substantial new factors arise to change picture, it will be needlessly difficult to hold subsequent election for Constituent Assembly to revise constitution as originally envisaged in Communist time schedule. Present Chamber of Deputies is expected later to shoulder that function.
- The Bloc of Democratic Parties, composed of parties supporting the current Rumanian Government, had been organized in May 1946.↩