740.0011 European War 1939/609: Telegram
The Minister in Rumania (Gunther) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11 p.m.]
277. The Turkish Ambassador has confided to me that the visit of his Minister of Foreign Affairs to Moscow apart from informing himself as to Russia’s real intentions has as its purpose the discussion [Page 457] of a plan to form a Balkan union to comprise eventually, if possible, Hungary and Bulgaria and to be formed with or without Russian cooperation—preferably with, as that would imply that Russia has no immediate plans of aggression in this part of the world. It is hoped that Italy appalled by the opening of the sluices to the Bolshevik hordes will also approve and support. This would be much more far-reaching than the proposed pact of nonaggression, heretofore muted, and more comprehensive than Gafencu’s constructive project mentioned in my No. 141 of August 17, 11 a.m.87 The Ambassador said that in any case his Government would work for this union which would comprise some 55,000,000 people even without Bulgaria and Hungary and would serve as a formidable rampart against either Russian or German aggression. It is quite possible that the German Government has heard of this project which may be one reason additional to those mentioned in my 270 of September 26, 11 a.m. [p.m.]87 for Von Ribbentrop’s sudden departure for Moscow. Were such a union to be effected in time to be of use it might spell peace in this part of the world for many years to come, surely it would be to the advantage of both Hungary and Bulgaria to join, as in the event of Russian invasion those countries would suffer ruin and disaster such as that of the rest. The project as explained to me provides for a token cession in Dobrudja on the part of Rumania to Bulgaria but who knows what Russia would demand.
Discussing developments in Poland the Ambassador heartily concurs in the views set forth in my telegram No. 257 September 23, 8 p.m. that Germany has already been outwitted by Russia and is suffering discomfiture. He goes so far as to say that Hitler’s seeming eagerness to launch a peace offensive is partly inspired by realization of this and fear that should Germany become seriously involved in the west Russia would improve the opportunity of expanding further in central Europe and southeastern Europe. In the gangster warfare now going on it is not without the bounds of possibility however that Hitler might succumb to the temptation to annihilate the cream of the Russian Army now easily get-at-able in Poland as there would then be nothing much left in Russia to oppose his annexation of the entire Ukraine.
The Ambassador expects Saracoglou to stop at Constanza on his way back from Russia in order to confer with Gafencu. The Ambassador will be there and has promised to inform me of developments.
Copy sent by air to Istanbul and Rome.