871.6363/11–344: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan)

2629. Reurtel 4221 of November 3. Department approves initial step which you took upon receipt of Caserta 1106 of November 253 and desires to commend you for your action.

[Page 257]

Department’s position regarding action taken by Soviet Government in removing critical oil field equipment from Rumania is that this is a matter which should have been reviewed and decided upon jointly by the three Allied Governments, presumably through the Allied Control Commission, and not acted upon unilaterally by the Soviet Government alone. The question of petroleum supplies for the benefit of the Allied nations during the war as well as for the post-war period following the collapse of Germany is directly involved.

It has been Department’s view that the quickest possible rehabilitation of Rumanian production would be of distinct value in easing the European supply situation, both as regards production and saving tanker tonnage, and as question of supply for adjoining Balkan countries during the War and after the German collapse. Department appreciates that the Soviet High Command may be in a position to gauge the merit and immediate military advantage of the action they are taking. Nevertheless, Department considers that the immediate reestablishment of the Rumanian oil industry is so important that measures such as these which might seriously retard this rehabilitation should have been referred to all three Allied governments.

Department therefore instructs you to take this matter up with appropriate Soviet officials along these lines.54 You should indicate Department’s direct interest in a reexamination of the whole question, particularly the supply and transportation problems involved, in the light of Soviet Government’s explanation of its action.

Department takes serious view of the apparent violation of the property rights of American nationals in this case, particularly since the Armistice terms with Rumania provide under Clause 13 for restoration of their property “in complete good order”.

Department is therefore in full accord with the position you have taken vis-à-vis Soviet Government.

Stettinius
  1. Not printed.
  2. In telegram 4319, November 11, 10 a.m., the Chargé in the Soviet Union reported his letter of November 10 to the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union (Molotov) in which was stated the U.S. Government’s regret that unilateral Soviet action had been taken and request for reexamination of the question (871.6363/11–1144).