Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXIX, Eastern Europe; Eastern Mediterranean, 1969–1972

210. Memorandum of Conversation¹

Washington, March 21, 1972, 4:15–4:45 p.m.

SUBJECT

• President Nixonʼs Meeting with Romanian Vice President Manescu

OTHER PARTICIPANTS

• Romania
  • Vice President Manea Manescu
  • Ambassador Corneliu Bogdan
  • Mircea Mitran, First Secretary, Romanian Embassy (Romanian interpreter)
• United States
  • President Nixon
  • General Alexander Haig, Jr.
  • Herbert Stein, Chairman, CEA
  • Charles Schaller, Department of State (United States interpreter)

Vice President Manescu began the conversation by extending cordial greetings and good wishes to President and Mrs. Nixon from President and Mrs. Ceausescu. President Ceausescu remembered with great pleasure his meetings with President Nixon in 1967, 1969 and 1970. He had asked the Vice President to convey his positive assessment of the state of United States-Romanian relations, and his appreciation to President Nixon for everything the President had done to further these relations. President Ceausescu had also asked the Vice President to transmit a letter,² which he now wished to do.

Vice President Manescu said that, especially since 1969, there has been a steady expansion in our bilateral relations in the political, economic, technical-scientific and cultural spheres. The large number of high-level visits between the two countries had done much to foster relations, and his delegation was a modest addition in this respect.

The Vice President stated that Romania particularly appreciated the way in which bilateral economic relations have progressed. The Presidentʼs determinations that Export-Import Bank facilities and Overseas Private Investment Corporation programs would be made available for trade with Romania were highly welcome. For these steps and many others, and for the Presidentʼs expression of “welcome and support” for MFN legislation for Romania, Romania was sincerely grateful.

Vice President Manescu said President Ceausescu very much hoped that matters could be speeded up where MFN legislation for Romania is concerned. It was important to Romania that this problem be resolved so as to enhance prospects for bilateral trade. Romanian public opinion is fully informed regarding the development of United States-Romanian relations. It heartily approves of our constantly improving relations but awaits resolution of the MFN question. The Vice President commented that he frequently visits factories and is asked by workers when Romania will receive MFN, adding that many of these same people were on hand to greet President Nixon warmly during his visit to Romania.

The Vice President said Romania wishes further expansion in its relations with the United States and with the West. As President Nixon knew, Romaniaʼs trade was now roughly 50 percent with the West and 50 percent with the socialist countries. This alteration in Romaniaʼs trade pattern from its previous orientation toward the East had not been easy, but had been deliberately undertaken as a contribution to East-West relations and détente. Romaniaʼs principles of national sovereignty, non-interference, equal rights, non-recourse to force or the threat of force are sacred to the Romanian people. They are principles which should be paramount in international relations, in all dealings between states. President Ceausescu is convinced that all who share Romaniaʼs attachment to these principles will support her.

Vice President Manescu said he wished to conclude with several observations on international issues. President Ceausescu is now in Africa and will visit eight countries.³ The purpose of the trip is to bear the message of friendship to these countries, to develop Romaniaʼs relations with them, and to convey Romaniaʼs sympathy for developing nations.

Romania supports every effort for détente and cooperation between nations. Romanian public opinion was fully informed on all aspects of President Nixonʼs visit to the Peopleʼs Republic of China,⁴ including the complete text of the communiqué. President Ceausescu, the Romanian Government and the entire Romanian people judge this visit to be a great event of historic importance for international relations and détente. Realizing that the main purpose of the Presidentʼs visit was to improve Sino-American relations, Romania nonetheless considers it most important for the entire world that the United States and China had expressed attachment to the five cardinal principles which govern relations between states. It was also highly significant that these two great nations stated that they do not accept policies of hegemony. These are the reasons why Romania welcomed the Presidentʼs visit to the Peopleʼs Republic of China.

The Vice President said that President Nixonʼs trip to the Soviet Union⁵ will also be of historic importance if it is concluded in the same spirit of cooperation on the basis of these same principles, equality and peaceful coexistence. In the context of todayʼs world, of increasing understanding between nations, it is important to eliminate through political means the various hotbeds of war such as Vietnam and the Middle East. President Ceausescu firmly believes that tensions in these areas can be resolved through negotiations.

Vice President Manescu stated that Romania is actively working for a conference on European security, believing that conditions now exist which suggest good prospects for a successful conference. President Ceausescu asked President Nixonʼs support on this question. He also shares in full the Presidentʼs belief and hope that nations, working together, can progress toward a generation of peace.

The President thanked Vice President Manescu for his presentation. He asked that Manescu convey to President and Mrs. Ceausescu best personal regards from him and Mrs. Nixon. He well remembered the visit he and Mrs. Nixon made to Bucharest in 1969, and the warm reception accorded them by the Romanian people. History might record that the visit, the first by an American president to a socialist country since World War II, marked the beginning of a new era in United States relations with socialist countries.

The President said President Ceausescu would remember that, during their talks in 1969 and 1970, the two presidents discussed United States relations with the Soviet Union and with the Peopleʼs Republic of China.⁶ The President added that, speaking quite frankly, the leaders of some socialist countries had not welcomed his visit to China. They had apparently professed the view that the visit was in some way directed against the Soviet Union. Romania, however, is in the unique position of having good relations with both the Soviet Union and the Peopleʼs Republic of China, and President Ceausescu had correctly evaluated the visit as one aimed at contributing toward world peace and directed against no one.

The President wished to assure President Ceausescu that, as the United States seeks better relations with large socialist countries such as the Soviet Union and China, it will continue to pursue development of relations with smaller socialist countries like Romania. His forthcoming trip to the Soviet Union was being undertaken to improve United States-Soviet relations. It would not, in any way, be at the expense of other countries.

The United States would move forward on the MFN question as rapidly as possible. Prospects for progress here have improved as the Vietnam problem has receded, and Romania has top priority where consideration for MFN is concerned. In the meantime, Romania can count on the continued friendship of the United States and on our abiding interest in further development of bilateral relations in economic and other areas.

The President said that the eyes of the world may now be on meetings between the United States and large socialist nations. The United States, however, does not forget for one moment the importance of its relations with smaller countries. We would always believe that nations have equal rights, including the right to have their own policy without foreign domination, and equally important contributions to make to world peace and progress. The President said that he and Mrs. Nixon would always remember their visit to Romania, and President and Mrs. Ceausescuʼs visit to Washington. Romania would always have a special place in their hearts.

The President asked once again that Vice President Manescu transmit his best wishes to President Ceausescu, and his thanks for the letter which Manescu had brought. The President said he would be replying to the letter.⁷ In conclusion, he expressed pleasure at having been able to meet with Vice President Manescu and the hope that the Vice Presidentʼs visit to the United States would be pleasant and rewarding in every respect.

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 703, Country Files—Europe, Romania, Vol. IV Jan 1972—Secret. No drafting information appears on the memorandum. The meeting took place in the Oval Office.
2. See footnote 2, Document 211.
3. Ceausescu left on March 12 for a 1-month visit.
4. February 17–28.
5. May 22–29.
6. See Documents 183, 184, and 199.
7. See Document 211.