Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume X, Eastern Europe

101. Telegram From the Embassy in Romania to the Department of State¹

9401.

Bucharest, December 7, 1982, 1457Z

SUBJECT

• Presidential Letter to President Ceausescu: Initial Response.

1. C—Entire text.

2. Summary: The Ambassador conveyed personally President Reagan’s letter to President Ceausescu² at a 40 minute meeting on 6 December. An interpreter translated the entire letter at the meeting and Ceausescu immediately gave his reactions orally, saying that he would also have a written response. He reviewed briefly the basis of U.S.-Romanian relations since 1969 and said that the law referred to in President Reagan’s letter had nothing to do with U.S.-Romanian relations, but rather with relations between the Romanian state and Romanian citizens. He said that Romania always rejected attempts from anywhere to interfere in its internal affairs and to apply conditions. He wanted good U.S.-Romanian relations to continue and it would be the responsibility of the United States if this did not happen. He is ready to receive President Reagan’s personal envoy and to continue the talks on emigration questions. He concluded the meeting by hoping “that what has been achieved in our relations over the past 14 years will not be washed away.” End summary.

3. The Ambassador met with President Ceausescu on 6 December at 4:00 pm at the Communist Party Central Committee headquarters, and presented the letter from President Reagan as instructed in reftel.³ Ceausescu was accompanied only by his interpreter and a note-taker. The DCM accompanied the Ambassador. The meeting lasted 40 minutes. The 7 December Romanian morning newspapers “Scinteia” and “Romania Libera” reported on their front pages that the Ambassador met with President Ceausescu in a “cordial atmosphere” but the substance of the call was not given. A radio report said “friendly atmosphere.”

4. Ambassador Funderburk began by explaining to President Ceausescu that he had been instructed to convey personally a letter from President Reagan regarding the recent Romanian educational repayment decree and related aspects of U.S.-Romanian relations. The Romanian interpreter then read the entire letter to President Ceausescu in Romanian. After the conclusion of the transcription of the letter, President Ceausescu pondered his response for about a minute and then asked the Ambassador if young people in the United States did not have to pay fees or charges for their education. He did not respond to the Ambassador’s brief explanation of differences between some non-tuition public universities and tuition-charging private universities.

5. Ceausescu said “I am surprised by the way that this problem is approached.” He continued that it is a Romanian issue and as such does not involve the relationship between the United States and Romania; this law aims at regulating relations between the Romanian state and Romanian citizens. The relations established since 1969 by the United States and Romania have been based on the principles of equality, independence, non-interference, and mutual advantage. All of these principles are embodied in three or four joint documents. He said that the desire that relations between the two countries be developed on these principles has also been reaffirmed in the exchange of letters between himself and American Presidents.

6. Ceausescu continued that the measures contained in the decree of law to which President Reagan’s letter refers have nothing to do with Romanian relations with the United States, but rather with the relations between the Romanian state and Romanian citizens. The issue begins with the fact that in Romania education is fully free of charge, both for the secondary level as well as for higher education. All Romanian citizens have an obligation after their education to go where they are assigned. When preparing this legislation Romania took into account the need to “create order” and to regulate the relationship with respect to those who received their education in Romania and who now wish to work in another country. Ceausescu stressed that in its relations with the United States, Romania is in no way duty bound by any agreement to provide for the education of experts and training of skilled workers, only to have them then leave to work in foreign countiries. He said that “what we mean to do is to have those who wish to emigrate to other countries pay back their educational costs at a rate that foreign students would pay for their education. As a matter of fact we wish with all these measures to regulate procedures and to do away with many restrictions” for those who wish to leave to work in foreign countries. He noted that Romania does not, however, mean to encourage emigration.

7. Ceausescu said that he thought that the remark in President Reagan’s letter referring to many economic difficulties cannot be accepted and in any case appears to stem from incorrect information. If it is a question of solving some economic problems, “our economy is strong enough to overcome these problems.”

8. Ceausescu then offered that “we have been informed that problems like this between Canada and Czechoslovakia” were solved in 1928 by an agreement which is still in force. He suggested that the United States check with the Canadians about this.

9. The President said that Romania is defending itself against the “policy” which is being carried out internationally regarding the drawing of skilled help from developing countries and that the UNGA had passed a resolution recently on this subject.

10. Ceausescu then said that he was ready to receive a personal envoy from President Reagan to talk these matters over. He is ready to do this regarding a solution for those who wish to leave Romania after receiving their education. He was surprised by the remarks in the letter with respect to the trade agreement between Romania and the United States and also MFN. He said that relations between Romania and the United States have developed quite well and that he would want this to continue—but that he would want this to continue in the framework of the agreements already signed without conditions or interference in the internal affairs of Romania. He said Romania has always rejected attempts from anywhere to interfere in its internal affairs and to apply conditions. The development of economic and other relations is to the mutual benefit of Romania and the United States and that of other countries in the world. He said “We are hopeful that such measures as are referred to in the letter will not take place” because it would mean a “devaluation” of our agreements and our relationship. If this happens, “if so, it will be entirely the responsibility of the United States.” Romania will continue with her foreign policy and will act as it deems necessary in the spirit of non-interference and mutual respect. “Once again I am ready to receive a special envoy from President Reagan and I agree to the continuation of talks between the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Department.” Referring back to the Romanian law he said that perhaps a solution can be reached along the lines reached some 50 years ago by Canada and Czechoslovakia.

11. The Ambassador got confirmation that President Ceausescu was reacting affirmatively to the proposed visit of the personal envoy and that he was giving the go ahead to convey the word that he would receive the envoy. Ceausescu again stated that the Romanian MFA and State Department could continue their talks. He hoped we could find a solution to these problems particularly for people who wish to emigrate to the United States with the understanding that they pay for their education costs. He said this new law is meant to do away with certain difficulties and to shorten procedures.

12. The Ambassador said that President Reagan had sent this letter in the context of the past relations between the United States and Romania and that there was no implication of interference in internal affairs. The message is in part based on the laws of the United States. We will look to the solving of this problem in the spirit of the relationship. Ceausescu, waving his hand to change the topic and shaking his head, said that he realized the Ambassador would not think this was meant to be interference and that he would obviously defend his President. But, Ceausescu continued, “I cannot interpret it in any other way.” He said that he would be responding to President Reagan’s letter.

13. Ceausescu said that it will be Romania’s policy not to request any more loans from anyone including the United States. He said this decision had been made two years ago. He ended the meeting by saying “Let us hope a solution will be found and that what has been achieved in our relations over the past 14 years will not be washed away.”

14. Comment: President Ceausescu’s oral response to the President’s letter, although it is tactically defensive in tone, expresses surprise at the approach taken to the education repayment issue, and pointedly refers to setting conditions and interfering in Romanian internal affairs, nevertheless, indicates that he is not ready to foreclose on discussing the issue and continuing the talks on emigration procedures. We recommend that the President’s envoy visit Bucharest as soon as possible and that we be advised of possible dates so that we can ask for a presidential meeting. Neither we nor the Canadian Embassy here have any idea what Ceausescu was referring to regarding a 1928 Canadian-Czech agreement allegedly still in force. The Canadian Ambassador is checking with Ottawa and we are seeking background information from the MFA here.

Funderburk

1. Source: Reagan Library, Paula J. Dobriansky Files, Romania—Correspondence (3). Confidential; Immediate; Exdis.
2. See Document 100.
3. Presumably a reference to telegram 338068 to Bucharest, December 4, which conveyed the text of the letter from Reagan to Ceausescu, in addition to delivery instructions. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D820629–0364)