OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES
 
Date: March 25, 1944
From: Instabul
 
 
 
               RECIEVED IN CODE OR CIPHER
 
          For Donovan from Instanbul.
 
     The material below was given us by SOE to relay to you.  On March 24th the following
message, dated March 22nd from Budapest, reached Ankara: "With the King of Rumania's
permission, Maniu asks that you place the matter below representatives of the United States and
Britain, realizing that every sign points to Rumania being requested, as Hungary was, to accept
German troops in their country and that Germany will try to establish still firmer collaboration and
will try in every way possible to force Rumania to expend more energy in battling the Russians.
     Insofar as it related to Allied interest, Germany's occupation of Rumania on the heels of
her occupation of Hungary and to be followed by her occupation of Bulgaria, will indicate the
completion of Germany's preparations for Balkan defense.  We must know, to give us some basis
upon which to organize the possibility of trying to reisit German occupation, if we can depend
upon a minimum of assistance from Americans and British.  We appreciate the fact that we cannot
plan immediately upon a military operation of any considerable size.  However, limited but prompt
assistance from air forces and air borne troops could at least be considered.
     To provide for the eventuality of a retreat to Yugoslavia, resistance would be attempted in
the zone at Oltania dn the Banat.
     It is possible that has a mass invasion of Rumania by the German forces may be postponed
for a little while until the Germans are well established in Hungary.  Consequently, it is not too
late even now to make arrangements for military assistance from the U.S. and Britain."
     I have not told anyone in the Mediterranean Theater about the foregoing; am depending
upon you to take action on it.