861.77 Chinese Eastern/845
The Minister in Rumania (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 20.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Legation’s despatch No. 331 of December 13, 1929,18 reporting that the Rumanian Government had readily accepted the proposal made by the United States Government to the signatory powers of the Kellogg Pact to communicate their views to the Governments of Russia and China concerning their controversy in Manchuria.
[Page 433]As Rumania has no diplomatic relations with either Russia or China, she requested the French Government to act as her intermediary in transmitting the statement of her views.
The French Government accepted and the Ambassador in Moscow was instructed to convey the Rumanian communication to the Russian Commissary for Foreign Affairs. The Department of course knows the result, and how Mr. Litvinoff refused to accept the Rumanian note, or even hear it read, and, if the newspaper reports are true, rudely forced Mr. Herbette, the French Ambassador, to retire, carrying the unread note with him. Personally, I was convinced from the beginning that this would be the attitude adopted by the Soviet Government toward Rumania, but, nevertheless, here, in addition to the quite natural indignation, it seems to have created great surprise.
As soon as the news of the Russian refusal to receive the Rumanian note was known here, the Minister for Foreign Affairs issued the following statement:
“Desiring to contribute toward the maintenance of peace, the Rumanian Government, loyal to the Briand-Kellogg Pact, as well as to the protocol signed at Moscow on February 9, 1929, and at the invitation of the United States of America, decided to request Russia and China, who were in conflict with each other, to act in conformity with the pact signed by both, and to settle their differences by means of diplomatic negotiations, avoiding all acts of war.
“As Rumania, like the United States, does not maintain diplomatic relations with Russia, she followed the example of the United States, and requested the French Republic to be so kind as to transmit the Rumanian note to Russia.
“The French Government having kindly accepted, fulfilled this duty. The Rumanian Government has renewed to the French Government its sincere thanks for this friendly service, and regrets that the Soviet Government, not taking into consideration the pacific character of the Rumanian démarche, had declined to take note of it.”
I also have the honor to enclose herewith translations of a number of articles from the press19 of various political opinions, commenting upon the incident in a tone very unfriendly to Russia.
In addition to the quite natural indignation created by the act of the Russian Government, special bitterness and resentment is felt, owing to the fact that the Russian Government and press have seized upon the occasion to revive discussion concerning the question of Bessarabia, a question which from the Rumanian point of view is non-existent.
I have [etc.]