Office of the Historian

871.00/4–447: Telegram

The Representative in Rumania (Berry) to the Secretary of State

confidential   urgent
Bucharest, April 4, 1947—7 p. m.

279. My British colleague who has just resumed his duties after an absence of 4 months telegraphed his government today that just as past year was one of attack and protest to secure from Rumanian Government implementation of its commitments, he foresaw that coming year would be one of waiting and patience. He thought it desirable to work for preservation of “status quo”, however unpopular and unrepresentative Groza Government might be, until its appropriate modification could be brought about through democratic processes without fear of Soviet interference or aggression.

Much as I agree with my British colleague in general upon undesirability of making futile protest, I feel we should react immediately and strongly to any action on part of Rumanian Government which infringes upon American rights or its international commitments.

Again I agree that it would be unwise to abet overthrow Groza Government as long as Soviet troops occupy Rumania, yet I believe we must do what we can to prevent Communists from increasing their control. Above all else, we must not let the opposition parties feel that they have been abandoned. Their patience and restraint is based upon certainty that Soviet troops at a defiinte date will all leave Rumania. Should Moscow Conference1 adjourn without making such provisions, a wave of pessimism will sweep Rumania, which will be at least as strong as wave of optimism that followed President Truman’s March 12 speech.2

Berry
  1. The reference here is to the Fourth Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, held in Moscow, March 10–April 24. The Council did not discuss the situation in Rumania.↩
  2. The reference is to the Special Message by President Truman to the United States Congress regarding assistance to Greece and Turkey, March 12; for text, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Harry S. Truman, 1947 (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1963), p. 176, and Department of State Bulletin, March 23, 1947, p. 534.↩