871.001/4–1445: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)64
2930. Please inform Mr. Churchill that the Department has learned of his telegram No. 942 of April 11 to President Roosevelt concerning the protection of the Rumanian Royal family, and say that this matter had already had this Government’s attention, and we have sent rather full instructions to our representative in Bucharest on the protection of the Royal family or other political personalities who might fall into disfavor with the present authorities.
You may say that while these instructions do not go as far as the British instructions to Bucharest in the case of Radescu, we believe them to be adequate. We think that a matter such as the security of the Royal family is closely related to the form of government and therefore of direct and equal concern to all three Allied Governments, and that no one of us should act independently in offering refuge. General Schuyler’s instructions say that if an appeal should be made to the American representative he should present the matter before the ACC for the consideration of his Soviet and British colleagues. In a subsequent telegram, as recent as April 9, our representatives have been authorized to inform the Rumanian and Soviet authorities that in our opinion the Rumanian Government should be required by the ACC to give assurances that necessary measures will be taken to insure that Rumanian political leaders who are not demonstrably Quislings or collaborationists are not subjected to physical violence, persecution, or deprivation of civil rights.
If we were sure of tripartite consultation on Rumanian affairs under the Yalta Declaration we would prefer to handle this matter on that [Page 534] level. Our proposal has not been accepted by Moscow, but we are renewing it in stronger terms, and have already informed the Soviet Government that the American Government and people expect the three Governments to fulfil their responsibilities under the Yalta agreements.
The position of the King and the liberal political leaders is admittedly difficult, and the situation is tense. Still we hope that they are considering their responsibilities as well as their safety, and we feel that as a practical matter we should not be too eager to offer protection. With full understanding of the delicacy of their position we realize how difficult it will be to work for democratic processes and representative government in Rumania if the leaders in whom we have confidence are no longer able to exert their influence in opposition to the imposition of an authoritarian minority regime.
- The substance of this telegram was repeated to Bucharest as telegram 190, April 19, 10 p.m., and to Moscow as telegram 1010, May 4, 7 p.m.↩