871.00/12–1145: Telegram
The American Representative in Rumania (Berry) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:50 p.m.]
972. A backdown from the principles which were enumerated at Yalta and upon which we have stood since, such as is suggested by British Under Secretary Sargent,42 would net us little in Rumania except the contempt of a vast majority of the Rumanian people. Certainly we could expect no more from the Russians after accepting their interpretation of Yalta than we are now getting and the Rumanians in their bitterest hour would accuse us of having held out false hopes to them through many months.
From my conversations with the British Political Representative in Rumania I am convinced that he would support me in this point. I may add the observation that if the thinking of Mr. Sargent is generally shared by the British policy making group and if they expect to secure in the Balkans the recognition of the British point of view as well respect the British interests by “jagging” the occupying power, the fundamental issue has already been lost (London’s 12850 to the Dept).
I believe that we will come out of this stalemate in Rumania with colors flying if we match Russian firmness with firmness and if we add to firmness frankness and friendliness.
This is 972, repeated London as 113, and Sofia as 41.
- The views of the British Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sir Orme Sargent, regarding the steps that might be taken to resolve the “stalemate” in Bulgaria and Rumania, were reported in telegram 12850, December 7, from London, vol. iv, p. 405.↩