871.00/9–2346: Telegram
The Acting Representative in Rumania (Melbourne) to the Secretary of State
urgent
[Received September 23—4:20 a.m.]
896. Political opposition is becoming more gloomy as Government, apparently abandoning all consideration for Western opinion, sets stage for fixed elections. Completion of registering electorate shows irregular pattern adopted throughout country, many villages not even having formal registration or it being arbitrarily stopped without warning as in [apparent garble] on September 5, while control of [apparent garble] and industrial vote was established on lines Mistel 870, of September 12. Published Bucharest’s electoral lists show many omissions of registrants and protests may not be recognized since no registration receipts issued to individuals. Notable omission is Dinu Bratianu, leader National Liberals, who is instituting legal [Page 634] proceedings. Many judges who under law would preside over district electoral commissions, are being temporarily transferred from their districts to other areas. For example, chief Bucharest district judge has been sent to Maramures Province in Transylvania.
Tactically Government suppresses any opposition electoral campaign moves. Censor takes care no such information appears in newspapers, while police prevent poster and pamphlet distribution by arresting any hardy spirits attempting to do so. Both Peasants and Liberals assert futility of holding public meetings under circumstances with police having strict instructions to disrupt them. Any opposition protests to Government or Soviet ACC authorities are disregarded while Russians are returning to sender every written protest received from National Peasant and National Liberal parties. Recent accretion to overwhelming evidence that Soviets intend to see Government successful in elections is furnished by on-the-carpet interview of Jurnalul’s editor with chief Soviet censor who stated categorically USSR would help present regime “by absolutely all means to emerge victorious in coming elections”.
Rumanian elections are being stolen now. Elections may be marked by less violence than hitherto expected, but any observers present would merely record successful trial run of machine whose workings can now clearly be seen. British political representative concerned by this unremitting drive toward prefabricated electoral results has suggested his Government make public statement of free electoral procedure criteria with which it would judge Rumanian elections. Such a move appears good one but if Department is approached by British concerning joint action in announcing criteria for free elections it is suggested statement should call attention to manner in which electoral preparations have proceeded thus far.
Repeated Secdel as 128.