From S. I. Kavtaradze's Diary: Record of Conversation with Gheorghiu-Dej about his Meeting with I. V. Stalin

From S. I. Kavtaradze's Diary. Record of Conversation with Gheorghiu-Dej about his Meeting with I. V. Stalin, and Discussion of Questions of Romanian Economic Development^[l]

Bucharest

16 July 1949

SECRET

Upon returning from Moscow, Gheorghiu-Dej visited me on July 16 with the purpose of informing me about the issues that he raised in Moscow, and to share his impressions. The reception, and the attention, which were given to me in Moscow, --he said, -exceeded all my expectations. *I believe that the most important thing was that comrade Stalin received me twice, and showed significant interest in Romanian affairs, care about our people, and whole-hearted attention to our needs.*^[2] The instructions that I received from him represent a complete program of further work for our party and government, the steady implementation of which we consider to be a matter of honor. Thanks to comrade Stalin, we unexpectedly received substantial assistance both for the country's economy and in the cultural sphere. We will devote all our capacities to making full use of this assistance, in the full conviction that it will serve as a huge impulse to the progress of our country. I and my closest comrades (Pauker, Luka and others) see this attention and help on comrade Stalin's part as an expression of trust and sincere comradely feelings toward us, which we believe it is our sacred duty to fulfill. Then Gheorghiu-Dej spoke in general on several other issues: receiving printing press complexes from the Soviet Union will give us an opportunity to fully satisfy the incredibly increased demand for the printed word. The printing technology, which we inherited from the old regime, is so worn out that the party and the government found themselves in a situation close to catastrophic in the sphere of political and cultural services for the population. Once the Soviet machines are received, the number of copies of the C. O.^[3] of “Skyntea” party could be increased to [a maximum of] 4 million copies.

Construction of two electric power stations, at 12,000 [unit unclear] each, near lake Tashaul and in Chemovodu will fully satisfy the needs of the first stage of work on the Black Sea – Danube canal. The Soviet specialist for canal construction, who was promised and will soon be sent to Romania, will have a similar importance, --continued Dej-- in the sense of having a correct organization of the construction, ensuring fulfillment of the plans, and the management.

**We will turn all of comrade Stalin's statements on the issues of the army, naval forces, electrification, petroleum and others into the program of our main practical work,**^[4], and we will make every effort in order to prove to him in reality that we are worth his deep attention and generous assistance. Dej specifically emphasized that he received Stalin's consent for sending 150 workers to the Soviet Union to improve their qualification, study Soviet methods of work, and application of modern technologies. Now, --continued Dej,-- we will engage in careful selection of appropriate young, tested and capable workers, who will specialize mainly in electrification in the Soviet Union. I wished Dej successes in his future work, and noted that since he received such attention and promises of such substantial assistance, *it means that he and the party that he leads deserved it*.

The conversation lasted approximately two hours.

S. KAVTARADZE - USSR Ambassador to Romania.

[1] Distributed to A. Vyshinsky, V. Zorin, and to the files.

[2] The text marked with one "asterisk" was most likely underlined by A. Ya. Vyshinsky

[3] C. O. Central Organ of the Central Committee of the Romanian Workers' Party

[4] The text between "asterisks" was marked with a vertical line along the right-hand margin most likely by A. Va. Vyshinsky