871.00/12–1746: Telegram
The Representative in Rumania (Berry) to the Secretary of State
urgent
[Received December 17—2:25 p.m.]
1153. Prime Minister Groza asked me to call at his house last evening for private talk. He opened conversation saying he had been informed I was leaving Rumania soon and he wished private talk before the formal farewell. Circumstances, he said, had made me his adversary for more time than I had been his supporter; that I had delivered him some hard blows, but no foul ones, therefore I left Rumania with his respect and my successor would take over in favorable atmosphere. He concluded subject by saying we had been through much together, and he was sincerely sorry I was going. I replied I had no instruction concerning my departure but I assumed my mission was nearing completion as armistice period was ending.
Prime Minister in best form launched into 2-hour performance of now celebrated Groza act in which he touched upon most of Rumania’s problems. Most significant was his discussion of economic problems.
He said in recent reallotment of Ministries,73 he had maneuvered Liberals out of their traditional stronghold in Ministries of Finance [Page 671] and National Economy and had substituted Communists. He claimed Communists had required persuasion before agreeing to take over these Ministries. He explained Liberals, Peasants and even he himself could not succeed in economics at this time, where Communists might. Success required importation of large quantities of cereals. To get funds to pay for cereals it is necessary to export large quantities of petroleum. Only Rumanian Communists could persuade Moscow to relax armistice deliveries and permit exportation of sufficient oil products. His politics, therefore, had been directed toward involving prestige of Rumanian Communist Party, feeling Soviets couldn’t let down local Communists without ruining Communist position in Rumania.
Prime Minister said there were Swiss and Swedish projects to finance purchase of grain in America but he favored none of these, as they would only increase cost to Rumania. Moreover, if they succeeded, deliveries would be so delayed Communists might claim America was sabotaging deliveries. His own plan was for Gheorghiu-Dej to go to Moscow at once to get relaxation of armistice deliveries so Rumania might export petroleum products to Mediterranean area. These would be sold for dollars which would be used to purchase American grain. He asked my opinion. I said we desired resumption of normal trade and in addition to his plan I thought progress might be made if Government would facilitate granting of clearances to American businessmen.
Mr. Groza affirmed his loyalty to monarchy, his respect for Mr. Maniu as great historical character and described the preoccupation of Rumanian peasant to be (1) preservation of monarchy, (2) securing food for winter, (3) avoidance of kolkhoz and (4) Rumanian resentment against Jews.
- The newly organized Rumanian Cabinet had been announced on November 30. Groza continued as Prime Minister. The representatives of the National Liberal and National Peasant Parties, Romniceanu and Hatieganu, had resigned from the Rumanian Government following the November 19 elections.↩