Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XVII, Eastern Europe

140. Telegram From the Legation in Romania to the Department of State¹

Bucharest, March 5, 1964, 4 p.m.

592. Legtel 591.² In discussion with FonMin Manescu on other matters March 3, I asked if he cared comment on recent departure to Peiping of Rumanian party delegation headed by Premier Maurer. Manescu said he could say nothing on substance of talks because they had only begun. However, he could amplify somewhat on background. He said in fields of ideology and foreign relations Rumania agrees with Soviet Union on many questions but disagrees on others, and she also agrees with Communist China on some but disagrees on others. As I was aware, there had been serious developments affecting unity of socialist camp and Rumania had her own ideas on this important matter. She wished do what she could improve situation and so had decided accept Chinese Communist invitation for discussions. I asked whether invitation was of long standing or comparatively recent (point raised Moscow’s 2727 repeated Bucharest 33).³ Manescu said comparatively recent and Rumanian acceptance quite recent in light developing situation.

Manescu went on say he must underline that regardless her views on unity of socialist camp, Rumania firmly supports policy peaceful coexistence and wants good relations with all states. In particular Rumania now seeks develop good relations with US and is pleased with how they are going. He said we must realize that Rumania makes her decisions slowly and deliberately, after much careful thought, but once she has done so adheres to them, and that she keeps her promises and one can count on her word. I said I did not question this and was not much surprised by his description of Rumania’s position or by decision send delegation to Communist China. Rumanian approach seemed to me to have been expressed clearly enough in Premier Maurer’s article of last November in “Problems of Peace and Socialism,” and Bodnaras had warned me Rumanians not exactly orthodox and we can expect see further examples of unorthodoxy. Manescu grinned and said Maurer article sums up their approach in nutshell.

(Maurer’s article, of course, expounded Rumania’s distinctive position on Sino-Soviet dispute and related matters. Maurer restated Rumanian support for peaceful coexistence line in relations with West, and this connection indirectly criticized Chinese for polemics. However, Maurer also stressed equality socialist states and parties and failed acknowledge Soviet vanguard role; condemned interference by one party in affairs another, in manner which could imply interference by USSR; and called on “all” parties in Sino-Soviet dispute to end public controversy and prepare for world Communist conference. General thrust was that Rumania favors closer relations with West and looser relations with erstwhile center of Communist world.)

Elaborating upon Manescu’s comments on Chinese invitation, MFA Director Soviet and East European Affairs Petrescu has since told me invitation extended early January. Petrescu confirmed Rumanian decision accept reached but some days ago, adding “Rumania made her own decision.” That decision evidently reached without Soviet approval further borne out by Indian Ambassador who asked Soviet Ambassador Zhegalin point blank whether USSR consulted on trip and Zhegalin replied “no”.

Press so far merely reports initial talks held in “friendly atmosphere” and notes subsequent sightseeing.

Crawford

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL RUM–US. Confidential. Repeated to Moscow, Hong Kong, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Sofia, Warsaw, London, Paris, Bonn, Belgrade, Munich, and Berlin.
2. Telegram 591, March 5, reported on Manescu’s reaction to a personal message from Secretary Rusk, and on discussions about the consular cases, educational exchange, and economic assistance for Romania. (Ibid., POL US–RUM) The text of Rusk’s message was transmitted as an enclosure to airgram A–221 from Bucharest, March 6. (Ibid., POL 17 RUM–US)
3. Telegram 2727 from Moscow, March 2, reported that Pravda had carried a story regarding the visit of Romanian leaders to the People’s Republic of China. (Ibid., POL 7 RUM)