Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Central and Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

124.66/7–1950: Telegram

The Chargé in Romania (Williams) to the Secretary of State

confidential

Bucharest, July 19, 1950—9 p. m.

64. Legtel 58, July 18.¹ At Foreign Office today Bogdan² told me Rumanian Government proposed give our couriers visas for trips at unspecified and irregular intervals but not for resumption previous weekly schedule.

I protested against Rumanians trying fix frequency our courier trips which was matter for US Government alone regulate. Although he denied such intention he reiterated his former statement “we think your couriers come too often” and pointedly referring to “revelations” in recent spy trials added “because of past activities of certain members your Legation we asked you to reduce Legation staff and similarly we think you should reduce courier schedules.” After rejecting implied accusation re past activities as untrue and irrelevant I asked what could be relation between size Legation and its couriers since regardless of staff Legation still represents USA, its citizens and interests and thus needs pouch service. Bogdan denied he meant any mathematical relation and resorted again over protest to general charges about Legation’s activities which he thought had given rise new framework of American-Rumanian relations to which frequency couriers should be adjusted. He refused give opinion as to what Rumanians thought fit interval between couriers.

Although prospects for future are dim Bogdan assured me visas are authorized for couriers now waiting Vienna but he could not guarantee authorization would arrive in time for this week’s trip.³

[Williams]

1. During late June and early July promised visas for American couriers continued to be withheld by Romanian authorities despite frequent Legation inquiries and protests. In the telegram under reference, not printed, Chargé Williams asked to be authorized to deliver a still stronger protest to the Romanian Foreign Ministry emphasizing the specific falsehood of Romanian officials and stating plainly in writing that it was difficult to do business with a government which indulged in falsehoods and which by deliberate evasions and delays sought to obstruct communications between the Legation and the Department of State (124.66/7–1850). The Department did not reply to the suggestion.
2. Chief of the Western Affairs Section, Romanian Foreign Ministry.
3. Subsequent reports from the Legation in Romania indicated that the Romanian authorities had resumed the issuance of visas to American couriers on a strictly restricted and controlled basis.