140. Telegram From Secretary of State Shultz to the White House and the Department of State1
SUBJECT
- Memorandum for the President.
Memorandum
For: The President
From: George P. Shultz
Subject: My Meeting With Ceausescu.
Dealing with Romania means dealing with Ceausescu. The three-and-a-half hour meeting I had with him on Sunday2 dominated my brief visit to Bucharest. Covering the full range of issues, it was an especially frank and candid discussion—at times even sharp.
I began by telling Ceausescu that our relationship had both strong and weak points. The applause that greeted the Romanian team’s entry into Los Angeles Olympic Stadium last year showed the appreciation we feel for the unique positions Romania takes at times. Human rights concerns, however, weigh heavily on the relationship. Romania’s record in this area is mixed. Despite problems with individual cases, emigration (including that of Jews) continues in sizeable numbers. But, I told Ceausescu, Romania’s harsh treatment of its evangelical Christians concerns us deeply. There were a number of things he could consider doing to alleviate this situation. These include arranging for [Page 386] the legal importation and distribution of Bibles, permitting all faiths to construct houses of worship, and lifting sanctions against unrecognized denominations.
Ceausescu responded by first expressing appreciation for your letter which I had delivered to him.3 He asked me to tell you of his desire to deepen our relations in a constructive way. He was unyielding, however, on my proposals to expand religious freedoms. He insisted the Romanian Orthodox Church was the national church under the law, it is in charge of religious publications, and to sum it up in my own words, neither Ceausescu nor the Orthodox want competition. Ceausescu returned again and again to the theme that he could brook no interference in his country’s internal affairs. Romania’s independence he said, cannot be subjected to linkage.
Our extensive review of East-West and regional issues was useful in giving Ceausescu our views and of interest in hearing him out. He reiterated his view that the Soviets should leave Afghanistan and the Vietnamese get out of Cambodia. He responded positively when I suggested we find ways to cooperate on terrorism. Although I found little deviation from Soviet positions in his statements on arms control, he did say it was his view the Soviets wanted negotiated arms control agreements. He also expressed interest in making progress at the Stockholm (CDE) Conference, and we agreed it is time to get cracking.
It is difficult to tell whether there is any give in Ceausescu’s rigid position on religious issues. Ceausescu has not been above reversing himself on issues of “principle” in the past. We agreed that these issues are best handled quietly. And he indicated that his Foreign Minister would work with Ambassador Kirk to see if some solutions could be found. It was hard going, but if we can get some progress, the investment will be worth it.
- Source: Reagan Library, Secretary George Shultz Papers, Official Memoranda (12/14/1985–12/15/1985). Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Shultz visited Bucharest on December 15.↩
- December 15.↩
- See Document 139.↩