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

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

9169.

Bucharest, December 26, 1981, 1110Z

SUBJECT

• Message for President Reagan From Romanian President Ceausescu.

REF

• Bucharest 9168 (Exdis).²

1. C—Entire text.

2. Following is an informal Embassy translation of the text of the letter on Poland from President Ceausescu to President Reagan which was presented to the Ambassador on December 25 (see Bucharest 9168 (Exdis)).

Begin text of Ceausescu message:

Dear Mr. President,

In the spirit of Romanian-American relations and of the exchange of views between us by means of personal messages, I wish on this occasion to address myself to you in connection with the tensions created following the events in Poland.³

As is well known, Romania has always stated that the complex and grave problem of Poland should be solved only by the Polish people, by internal social-political forces, without any foreign interference.

I do not wish now to refer to the causes which have brought about the events in Poland, but, as is known, lately things have arrived at a very dangerous situation, owing to the activities of various forces hostile to the government and the social order that have actively promoted a policy of internal confrontation, a fact which has caused the setting up of a state of siege and the taking of appropriate measures.⁴

I have no intention of in any way justifying these measures which are, strictly speaking, the internal affair of the People’s Republic of Poland and which it would have been good to avoid. It is however known that the Polish Government devoted a great deal of time to efforts for a dialogue to bring about a national understanding, but these efforts were not reciprocated. They were interpreted as a weakness on the part of the government and were rejected by extremist, irresponsible elements who gave more value to their own narrow group interests as opposed to the interests of the Polish people and of the independence and sovereignty of the country. In these circumstances, the Polish Government saw no way out other than the establishing of a state of siege which it itself considers not as a solution but as the lesser evil in the existing situation.

It is obvious that at present the only path toward a normalization of the situation in Poland is that of the joint and united efforts of the entire people, the respect by all citizens of the constitution and state laws, the deepening of the process of socialist democratization, the realization of national understanding, and the creation of conditions for the functioning of Polish society.

I am particularly concerned by the fact that very hard positions have been adopted by the U.S.A. and by other Western states in connection with the installation of a state of siege in Poland; all types of interpretations are being given, pressures are being exerted, and the United States has taken economic measures which affect Polish-American relations,⁵ creating new difficulties for the Polish people and rendering more difficult the process of normalization in Poland. Romania considers that no sort of justification can exist for the adoption of these positions since the measures taken in Poland are the internal affair of the Polish state and are directed toward the restoration of order and the creation of an atmosphere of calm and discipline, normalization and development of economic and social life and the strengthening of the country’s independence and sovereignty. And the reestablishment of order and discipline are precisely what will assure the conditions for independence and national unity, and for the democratic development of Poland.

I believe that one should start from the necessity that no one should intervene in Poland’s internal affairs and that the Polish people alone should resolve their problems and one should develop relations on the basis of the principles of equality of rights, respect for national independence and sovereignty, of non interference in internal affairs, principles which are also inscribed in the Final Act of the Helsinki Conference.

It is known that if things had continued without the taking of exceptional measures, violent clashes would have resulted, moving toward civil war, which could have led to foreign intervention, something which would have created a very grave situation on the national and international levels.

Thus I believe that the measures undertaken by the Polish authorities to put an end to economic disorganization and chaos in social-political life, to reestablish order and to avoid an intervention from outside are temporary and that everything must be done to return as soon as possible to normal activity, thus creating the conditions for the continued development of the Polish people’s life and activities, based on the principles of socialist democracy.

In these circumstances, any boycott measure can only lead to the creation of new difficulties, the slowing of the tempo of restoration of normal life, of democratic development and of a resumption of dialogue and the achievement of the Polish people’s national unity.

I believe that it is in the interest of the Polish people and in the interest of the policy of detente and peace to avoid the adoption of measures which will worsen tensions and instead to leave the problems of Poland to be solved by the Polish people; to contribute to the rapid restoration of the situation, not through boycott measures, but by giving assistance toward the swift resolution of problems and the normalization of social and economic life.

I believe that the exceptional measures adopted by the Polish authorities are to be preferred to the perspective of a civil war which could lead to armed intervention from outside.

Romania continues to believe that the only path is for the Polish authorities and people to be left to resolve the great difficulties and problems through which their country is passing; to reach a state of normalization of social and economic life, the resumption of dialogue, progress in the activities of trade unions and other organizations, for the independent, democratic development of Poland and for national unity.

I believe that the friends of the Polish people will do well to act in this way; a way which would be in the interest of the Polish people, of the policy of peace and detente, and of the fulfillment of the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act.

As for Romania, starting from respect for the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of Poland, our country will continue to act to help the Polish people to overcome their present difficulties and will do everything to support the efforts made to restore and normalize the situation in Poland.

Even if there are different opinions regarding the measures adopted in Poland, and it cannot be expected that the USA or other states approve these measures, I believe that it is very important not to do anything which would create difficulties on the path of restoration of calm and order, taking into account the important role which Poland has and can have in international life, and considering the relations between Poland and the United States and the interests of world peace and cooperation. I believe that such a way of understanding the problems would suit the national interests of Poland and the policy of peace, detente and international understanding.

In closing, I express Romania’s wish to continue to work with the United States of America for peace, disarmament, detente and security in Europe and the whole world and for the reduction of international tensions; so that the differing positions regarding the situation in Poland and other problems which appear on the world scene will not constitute a source of strain, of aggravation of the relations between states and of escalation of suspicion, but, on the contrary, so that the efforts of all countries may be intensified toward solving their own problems by political means, toward an improvement of the international climate, toward security, independence and the progress of all nations.

On the threshold of a New Year, I want to use this opportunity to send to you warm greetings and best wishes for success, health and personal happiness, and to our friends the American people much prosperity and peace,

Sincerely,

Nicolae Ceausescu

End text.

Funderburk

1. Source: Reagan Library, Paula J. Dobriansky Files, Romania—Correspondence (2). Confidential; Immediate; Exdis.
2. Telegram 9168 from Bucharest, December 25, described Funderburk’s meeting with Andrei and the letter from Ceausescu that Andrei gave him for Reagan. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D810614–0524)
3. Reference is to the enactment of martial law on December 13, and subsequent U.S. economic sanctions against Poland.
4. Reference is to the December 10 Politburo meeting during which the Politburo rejected a Soviet military invasion of Poland. On December 13, Jaruzelski proclaimed martial law.
5. In an address to the nation on December 23, President Reagan announced the imposition of economic sanctions on Poland. The address is printed in Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, vol. I, Foundations of Foreign Policy, Document 76.