Office of the Historian

145. Telegram From the Embassy in Romania to the Department of State1

Bucharest, November 24, 1964, 11 a.m.

583. Department pass Defense. Several events and remarks by Rumanian officials here suggest that development might be afoot concerning Rumania’s relations with Warsaw Pact.

(1)
Unexplained nature of quarrel with Rumanian hosts which occurred during October–November visit here of Warsaw Pact Commander Marshal Grechko (Embtel 524, information Moscow 75 and Joint Weeka No. 23).2
(2)
In November 19th interview with New York Times correspondent David Binder, MFA Press Director Francis Pacararu said Rumania member “socialist community” but stressed it against all pacts and blocs. As illustration Rumania’s attitude, Pacararu cited maintenance good relations simultaneously with USSR and China, Yugoslavia and Albania, and Western powers. Though his remarks formally stayed within confines of Soviet line re desirability abolishing both NATO and Warsaw Pact, Pacararu seemed to imply unilateral Rumanian view its membership in Warsaw Pact unessential if not undesirable.
(3)
In November 21 conversation with US ARMA, two officers Foreign Liaison Office (former Military Attachés) of Armed Forces Ministry said if Rumania had its way it would not belong to any pact including Warsaw Pact and would be concerned only with defense its own frontiers. They concluded by stating Rumania maintains its military alliances with reluctance and their only concern is defense their own country. This first time US ARMA has heard FLO officers discuss Warsaw Pact or Rumania’s participation in such. These two officers rarely say anything departing from Party line. (See also US ARMA CX–110–64)3

Comment: Embassy continues to believe that Rumanian attempt to withdraw from Warsaw Pact at present juncture unlikely, as risks and liabilities would much outweigh potential gains. However if above developments, occurring within short time period, represent more than mere coincidence, they might reflect either (1) Rumanian decision to adopt political line regarding opposition to all military pacts as propaganda conditioner for long term goal of possible disassociation from Warsaw Pact, or (2) response to some as yet unrevealed Soviet pressure on Warsaw Pact matters.

Though probably unrelated to foregoing, noteworthy that large conference has been in session at Central Committee Headquarters Building since November 18, judging by number and type of cars parked in special lot outside building. Latter in past has been reliable sign Central Committee Plenum in session. (However, Pacararu denied Plenum being held in conversation with Binder.)

Crawford
  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Romania, Cables, Vol. 2. Confidential; Limdis. Repeated to Moscow. The United States and Romania raised their respective diplomatic missions to the level of Embassy in August 1964.↩
  2. Telegram 524 from Bucharest, November 11, confirmed that the Romanian military had deliberately snubbed the November 7 Soviet reception celebrating the October Revolution. (Department of State, Central Files, POL RUM–USSR) Joint Weeka 23, November 7, reported on incidents between Soviet and Romanian officers during the visit of a Soviet military delegation. (Ibid., POL 2–1 RUM)↩
  3. Not found.↩