860.49/10–1753: Telegram
No. 48
The Minister in Rumania (Shantz) to the
Department of State
88. Believe proposed despatch balloons with food parcels (Deptel 44, October 151) would cause Rumanian Government to take drastic action. It would probably, either publicly or through party channels, issue orders that all packages be turned over to authorities at once under open or implied threats of severe punishment through courts by cancellation ration cards, etc. It would probably also wage big propaganda campaign accusing us of vile motives, maintaining food was sent while millions of unemployed workers and destitute farmers in US are practically starving; or that Rumanians are better off than starving peoples of India, Pakistan or elsewhere and announcing collected packages will be sent e.g., to North Korea; or might even attempt to spread word food was spoiled or poisoned.
[Page 108]Main advantages are that it would be dramatic display of American interest in welfare Rumanian people and would increase their discontent with their government because of measures latter will take to prevent their use of food.
However, I believe advantages are over-weighed by disadvantages. We assume that high proportion of drops would be useless due to landing in widespread inaccessible areas such as mountains, forests, and marshes; thus lending some validity to their claim we were wasting food for political purposes. People observed collecting packages will probably turn them in, rather than risk imprisonment.
Possible reaction to this project of other peoples, such as Yugoslavs should be considered. Latter’s nationalism and contempt for Rumanians might cause them to take sour view pouring free food into country which was enemy when they were allies.
Project may worsen our unfriendly relations with Rumanian Government and lower usefulness this Legation, if such is possible.
Hope project will be carefully weighed in light psychological warfare paper from Luxembourg Chiefs of Mission meeting,2 in which I concur.
I made Christmas food package proposal to Rumanian Foreign Office October 16. Have no hope of favorable reply but am confident of coming wide PW success in this case. Have doubts of similar success in balloon project.