217. Editorial Note
On July 6, 1979, Matthew Nimetz, Counselor of the Department of State, met with Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director for North American Affairs Corneliu Bogdan and Romanian Ambassador to the United States Nicolae Ionescu as well as with representatives of Jewish-American organizations. The Romanian officials informed Nimetz that they had reached an understanding with the Jewish-American organizations on Jewish emigration. The agreement, reported to Bucharest in telegram 177424, July 9, provided that the Chief Rabbi of Romanian Jewry would issue a statement to the community noting that it was “the policy of the Romanian Government to act expeditiously on applications of Jews who seek to be reunited with family members outside of Romania,” that Bucharest would “supply a list of Romanian Jews who make application and the date the applications are filed,” and that Romanian Jews who wished to emigrate could also write Israel to seek letters of support for their case which Jewish groups would use to make a list of people wishing to emigrate. Based on the understanding, Alfred Moses of the American Jewish Committee told Nimetz that the Jewish organization would now support extension of most-favored-nation status to Romania. While cautioning that the understanding was not an agreement with the United States Government, Nimetz noted that the administration was “pleased with and [Page 693] actively supports the steps taken by the Romanian Government to clarify its policy on emigration.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790311–0328)
On July 10, the Trade Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee met to discuss Representative Richard Schulze’s resolution of disapproval of President Jimmy Carter’s recommendation to extend most favored nation status to Romania (H. Res. 317). Schulze “argued that Romanian foreign policy independence was not relevant to the MFN waiver and that terminating waiver would be signal to Romanians and to any other Communist countries that violations of human rights will not be tolerated.” By a vote of 13–7, the subcommittee agreed to report the resolution unfavorably for discussion in the full committee. (Telegram 178408 to Bucharest, July 11; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790312–0816)
On July 19, the Senate International Trade Subcommittee held its own hearings on MFN renewal. Reporting on the hearings in telegram 187329 to Bucharest, July 19, the Department noted that the subcommittee staff “expects that Senate Finance Committee will issue ‘nasty statement’ but that there will be no rpt no resolution of disapproval.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790330–0017)
Bogdan and Ionescu met with Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher on July 20 to discuss MFN and other bilateral questions. Noting that the MFN problem seemed to be on its way to a positive outcome, Christopher told the Romanian officials that “it had been a difficult exercise” and cautioned them that “next year is an election year and Congress can be expected to scrutinize MFN renewal carefully.” He also informed the Romanian Government that the Secretary was considering a trip to Romania in early fall. (Telegram 189034 to Bucharest, July 21; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790332–0725)
On July 25, the House of Representatives voted 126–271 to reject Schulze’s resolution of disapproval paving the way for MFN for Romania.