761.71/152: Telegram
The Minister in Rumania (Gunther) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 18—12:10 a.m.]
338. Your 186, October 13, 5 [6] p.m.
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4. Of course it is quite possible in Rumania that any personage may suffer from political assassination with or without outside disturbance. However, President Moscicki is being well guarded. Confidentially it is now proposed to move him to a town in the southwest an hour from the Danube and on the main railway line to Yugoslavia. He is well as are all the members of the former Polish Government except Roman59 and Beck. The latter is in poor shape both mentally and [Page 697] physically and with Roman is now receiving medical assistance at Brazov.
I am glad to have your telegram as I may find an opportunity to use it in an informal way in conversations with the appropriate officials. When ex-President Moscicki’s son was here he told me that he and his father hoped that the démarche of which he had heard in Paris which might result in even an intervention by our President would not take place. However the Polish Ambassador here has now asked me to urge upon the Rumanian Government the early release of the ex-President. I gather that he has also approached my British colleague in the same sense. I am not sure yet whether this is desirable but shall feel out the ground. I know that there has been very strong German pressure and quite possibly now some counter pressure would be welcome. I feel that the Rumanian Government has acted wisely in allowing some time to elapse and I gather that their present action in moving the President and all members of the Polish Government slowly to points near the southwest frontier indicates preparation for safe and immediate evacuation as soon as the pertinent decision is reached. I have been following the matter very closely and shall continue to do so.
- Antoni Roman, former Polish Minister for Industry and Commerce.↩