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

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

Bucharest, September 1, 1968, 1125Z.

2410. Subj: Call on Acting FonMin Sandru. Ref State 231374.²

1. At my request I saw Sandru at 1030 Sept 1 and followed almost identical scenario as in Bogdan-Leddy conversation described reftel in informing Romanian Govt background of President’s remarks on Eastern Europe Aug 30 and Secretary’s conversation Aug 30 and 31 pertaining to Romania.³

2. In briefly describing Dobrynin oral statement defending Soviet action in Czechoslovakia, I read aloud to Sandru first paragraph of statement as well as pertinent last paragraph giving first priority to defending socialism.

3. I said in communicating these facts, we were not attempting to evaluate Dobrynin message.

4. Sandru thanked me for this information and said he was sure Romanian Govt would appreciate it.⁴

Davis

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL ROM–US. Secret; Immediate; Limdis. Repeated to Belgrade, Moscow, and Prague.
2. See footnote 2, Document 167.
3. Regarding the Rusk-Dobrynin talks of August 30 and 31, see Documents 165 and 167. Regarding President Johnson’s remarks, see footnote 3, Document 166.
4. In telegram 2409 from Bucharest, September 1, the Embassy reported that in the course of his conversation with the Ambassador, Sandru stated that his government had no information on troop concentrations on Romania’s borders and denied that any border incidents had occurred. (Department of State, Central Files, POL ROM–US)