871.00/6–546: Telegram
The Representative in Rumania (Berry) to the Secretary of State
priority
[Received June 6—2:30 p.m.]
571. Yesterday afternoon officer of Mission conferred for third time with Bodnaras, Secretary General of the Presidency, and Kay, Communist Government Minister, on release of Mission’s accountant, Elvira Olteanu, arrested May 27. See mytel 533, May 28.84
Prefacing remarks with statement he was speaking in private capacity, Bodnaras referred to our note requesting immediate release of Olteanu. See mytel 556 of June l.85
He expressed shock at language our note, which he considered without precedent in overstepping bounds of diplomatic procedure. In terse emphatic manner, Bodnaras stated no matter how small, Rumania was sovereign state; that it reserved to itself right to do as it [Page 600] pleased with Rumanian subjects; and that if it saw fit to arrest Rumanian employee of United States Mission, under no circumstances would it feel obliged to explain its actions or set free person under arrest such as Olteanu, simply because it received demand to do so from foreign state. He claimed our note made it impossible for him to settle matter on informal, friendly basis, that Rumanian Government could not be bullied under pressure of foreign state into releasing from arrest Rumanian subjects. He said, “I do not know who was author of Mission’s note, but obviously, from language used, author did not seem to understand he was addressing himself to a sovereign state, and not to some island, such as Philippines.”
Bodnaras said he had not yet discussed with colleagues text of Government’s reply to our note, and added, “But no matter what their opinions may be, I for one will categorically oppose satisfactory reply, even if Olteanu were innocent, which she is not.”
Regarding charges, Bodnaras alleged simply evidence existed that Olteanu had contact with uncle Gavril Olteanu, fugitive from justice who, according to yesterday’s papers, has been apprehended, and faces trial together with others before court martial court as leader of purported conspirative, terroristic organization. Parenthetically Mission has no reason to believe Olteanu connected with uncle’s alleged activities.
As in previous interviews, Bodnaras again expressed indignation at manner which American officers “had forced their way into the Presidency,” and unheard-of way they prevented qualified state authorities from carrying out arrest of Rumanian citizen against whom they held arrest warrant, that this warrant would stand until individual delivered by American military authorities to Rumanian authorities.
See General Schuyler’s telegram T 1352, May 28.
He then said even if Olteanu were guilty, it was not so serious but in interests of good relations between our two Governments, Rumanian Government could have closed eye and permitted Olteanu to return to her position, but in view our note this was out of question unless our note should be withdrawn and matter approached on different basis whereby both sides extend informal apologies and make reciprocal concession. By this, it is understood Bodnaras was suggesting release of Rumanian employee now held by General Schuyler to Rumanian authorities against release of Olteanu.
Although I shall continue press for release Rumanian employees our Missions, it is obvious for present they will not be released.
I believe Bodnaras could not have furnished our Government with more eloquent description of what we must expect in dealing with [Page 601] Groza government, which was so aptly described recently to an officer of this Mission by more “friendly” Communist member of Government when he said, “This is not a government, but simply a gangster police force.”86
Repeated to Moscow as 94.
- Not printed, but see footnote 77, p. 596.↩
- Not printed; it transmitted the text of a note regarding the arrest of American Mission employees, sent to the Rumanian Foreign Ministry in pursuance of instructions in telegram 358, May 30, to Bucharest, p. 596.↩
- Telegram 582, June 8, from Bucharest, reported that a trusted aide of Prime Minister Groza had told Berry that there were “powerful but irresponsible elements” in the Rumanian Government who insisted on relating the American protest note of May 27 with the arrest of Miss Olteanu. Berry expressed the conviction that “there would be good chances of seeing this matter settled to our entire advantage if it were not for what I believe to be fact that it is part of Soviet pressure campaign upon Americans applied upon instructions from Moscow in Bulgaria and Yugo as well as Rumania”. (701.7111/6–846)↩