871.00/11–946: Telegram
The Chief of the United States Representation on the Allied Control Commission for Rumania (Schuyler) to the War Department
urgent
R–102. Mister Berry last evening transmitted to me instructions just received from the State Dept in its message number 723 dated 14 Nov. The ACC action contemplated by these instructions appears to be based upon incomplete knowledge of the actual British position in the matter. I have discussed the problem with the British political and military representatives in Rumania who have shown me all pertinent communications and have particularly emphasized to me the following considerations:
- 1.
- HMG never contemplated taking up directly in ACC Rumania the question of assuming free elections but rather proposed a joint approach to the Moscow Govt urging that that government issue appropriate instructions to the ACC.
- 2.
- HMG now considers it is now too late for even that approach and prefers to let the matter rest entirely on the basis of its communication to the Rumanian Govt, including its final note which is to be delivered at noon today and with which I am familiar.
- 3.
- HMG considers it highly undesirable approach the matter at this time in the ACC, anticipating merely a rebuff from the Russians which they fear might draw attention from the importance of their last note to the Rumanian Govt.
- 4.
- HMG considers it also undesirable to base any protest of the Russians on a polite note from the opposition parties. HMG considers it preferable to discuss the entire matter of political fraud in Rumania on a high level after the elections have been completed, at a time when the general question of the conduct of the electoral [Page 653] campaign can be brought up, on the basis of factual observation by British representatives in Rumania.
Mister Berry and I both interpret the instructions in State Dept message number 723 to require my action in the ACC only if and when my British colleague is prepared to take parallel action. Since his instructions do not permit him to take the initiative or to parallel or support me, I am not approaching Susaikov on this question unless I receive further definite instructions to this effect. In this connection both Berry and I believe it is now too late to warrant an attempt to provoke ACC action; even assuming Russian willingness to discuss the question in the ACC (which I consider most unlikely), that we could not reasonably expect at this late date the ACC to issue instructions to the Rumanian Government which would require that Government to alter its electoral procedures through entire nation on 19 Nov, only 2 days away.