Evening star., 1953-05-26
U.S.. Expe|s Romanian Diplomat
For Trying to Force American
To Spy by Threatening 2 Sons
Envoy Offered
To Free Boys
For Cooperation
By Gornett D. Horner

The State Department today
ordered the expulsion of a
Romanian diplomat for trying to
blackmail a Standard Oil official
"a naturalized American citi-
Een-into spying for the Com
munists.
The price offered in the at
tempted deal was the welfare of
the experts two teen-age sons
in Romania.
The diplomat involved is Girls
tache Zambeti. first secretary of
the Romanian Legation, who
came here in September, 1851.
The department ordered his "im-
mediate departure" from the
country.
Valeriu C. Georgescu. a natur-
allied American citizen of Ro-
mania descent living in New
York, was the intended victim of
the blackmail attempt.
Case Reported to FBI.
He promptly reported the
affair to the State Department
and the FBI, hoping that world
publicity focused on the case
might help to save his two sons.
1t was understood that Mr..
Zambeti showed Mr.. Georgescu
pictures of the two boys in Ro-
mania. Mr.. Zambeti was said to
have told the father that he
might see them again if he col
laborated with the Communist
regime in Romania.
Mr.. Georgescu formerly was
general manager in Romania of
Romano Americana. a subsidiary
of the Standard Oil Co. of New
Jersey. The oil properties we're
taken over by the Romanian gov
ernment after the war while Mr..
Georgescu was outside Romania.
He and his wife have been in
this country since 1916. But his
sons have been refused permis-
sion by the Communist regime in
Romania to leave the country.
Says Charges Were Verified.
The State Department said it's
expulsion order against Mr..
Zambeti was based on carefully
verified information" which
showed that on May 20, he called
at Mr.. GeorgeScu's home land
attempted to subvert Mr..
Georgescu to collaborate polit-
ically with the Communist re-
gime of Romania to the detriment
of the United States Govern
ment."
Asked if "collaborate" meant
spying for the Communists,
department spokesman said he
thought that was implicit in
everything said. What else
could it be?" he remarked.
THE price offered for this
collaboration" the departments
formal announcement said, was
to be the welfare of Mr..
Georgescu's minor sons and their
possible restoration to their
parents"
The GeorgeScu sons are Con-
Stantin, 10, and Peter, IA. They
were born in Romania and are
reported held in some sort Of
concentration camp.
Sons Face Barriers.
officials said there was little
the United States could do for
mally to try to get the GeorgeScu
sons out of Romania because
they are Romanian citizens. They
were born before their parents
became naturalized American
citizens.
The fact that they are chill
dren of American citizens would
give them preferential status for
immigration. however, and visas
permitting them to come to this
country would be ready any time
the Romanian government per-
mitted them to leave.
Lincoln White, State Depart
ment press officer, was asked if
any investigation was being made
to find out if Mr.. zambeti or
other officials of the Romanian
legation had attempted to sub
vert other American citizens be-
sides Mr.. GeorgeScu. He replied
that there might we'll be such an
investigation. but it had not been
brought to his attention.
Text of Note Disclosed.
The State Department made
public the text of a note deliv-
cred to the Romanian Legation
(See EXPUL SION, Page A-3.)