Georges De Serdici, Baron, Papers, 1947-1990

http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf3t1n99p6 No online items

Processed by Laura Cosovanu; machine-readable finding aid created by Xiuzhi Zhou Hoover Institution Archives Stanford University Stanford, California 94305-6010 Phone: (650) 723-3563 Fax: (650) 725-3445 Email: [email protected] © 1999 Hoover Institution Archives. All rights reserved.

Register of the Georges de 91016 1 Serdici, baron, Papers, 1947-1990 Register of the Georges de Serdici, baron, Papers, 1947-1990

Hoover Institution Archives Stanford University Stanford, California Contact Information Hoover Institution Archives Stanford University Stanford, California 94305-6010 Phone: (650) 723-3563 Fax: (650) 725-3445 Email: [email protected] Processed by: Laura Cosovanu Date Completed: 1999 Encoded by: Xiuzhi Zhou © 1999 Hoover Institution Archives. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary Title: Georges de Serdici, baron, Papers, Date (inclusive): 1947-1990 Collection number: 91016 Creator: Serdici, Georges de, baron, 1920- Collection Size: 16 manuscript boxes4 linear feet) Repository: Hoover Institution Archives Stanford, California 94305-6010 Abstract: Correspondence, memoranda, press releases, depositions, legal documents, and printed matter, relating to political conditions in Romania; the trial of Iuliu Maniu, Vasile de Serdici and other leaders of the Partidul National Taranesc in 1947; Romanian émigré affairs; the Comitetul National Rom^an and other anti-communist organizations; and a lawsuit for defamation brought against Cicerone Ioanitoiu in France in 1985. Language: Romanian, FrenchEnglish and Swedish. Access Collection open for research. The Hoover Institution Archives only allows access to copies of audiovisual items. To listen to sound recordings or to view videos or films during your visit, please contact the Archives at least two working days before your arrival. We will then advise you of the accessibility of the material you wish to see or hear. Please note that not all audiovisual material is immediately accessible. Publication Rights For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Archives. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Georges de Serdici, baron, Papers, [Box no.], Hoover Institution Archives. Acquisition Information Acquired by the Hoover Institution Archives in 1991. Accruals Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. To determine if this has occurred, find the collection in Stanford University's online catalog at http://searchworks.stanford.edu/ . Materials have been added to the collection if the number of boxes listed in the online catalog is larger than the number of boxes listed in this finding aid.

Register of the Georges de 91016 2 Serdici, baron, Papers, 1947-1990 Access Points Political crimes and offenses -- Romania Partidul National Taranesc Maniu, Iuliu, 1873-1951 Serdici, Vasile de, baron, 1889-1953 Romanians in foreign countries Anti-communist movements Comitetul National Român Ioanitoiu, Cicerone Romania Communism Romania -- Politics and government, 1944-1989 1920 Born in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Son of Vasile de Serdici, former Romanian landowner and one of the leaders of the Romanian National Peasant Party (Partidul National Taranesc), one of the most important parties during the inter-war period 1947 Co-defense attorney in the trial organized by the Soviet NKVD and the Romanian communist secret services (Securitate) against the leadership of the Romanian National Peasant Party, including Iuliu Maniu and Vasile de Serdici 1948 March Escaped illegally from Romania. Since then, has been living in Sweden, Great Britain, and Germany, running his own businesses in real estate, oil, and shipping, and engaging relentlessly in anti-communist activities 1982-1990 Secretary General of the Romanian National Peasant Party, currently the majority party of the ruling coalition of Romania 1989 Won the lawsuit he brought against Cicerone Ioanitoiu in 1985 Scope and Content Georges de Serdici's papers cover mainly the years he spent as an émigré in the U.S., after 1948. His writings and correspondence deal mostly with émigré affairs and with the lawsuit for defamation he brought against Cicerone Ioanitoiu in 1985. The grounds for this lawsuit lie in the publication of Ioanitoiu's book entitled Tombes sans croix (Tombs without a cross). In this book related to the trial organized in 1947 by the NKVD and by the Romanian communist secret service, Securitate, against the elite democratic politicians, Ioanitoiu depicts Georges de Serdici's father (Vasile) as a "traitor." He accused Vasile de Serdici of delivering the archives of the National Peasant Party (PNT) to the communists, and of betraying the PNT's leader during the 1947 trial. Ioanitoiu also emphasized that this behavior was characteristic of Serdici, who left the army during war time in 1918 in order to serve as a witness to Prince Carol (future Carol II, King of Romania) in his wedding to Zizi Lambrino. Bringing Alexandre Cretzianu, Emil Ghilizean, Cornel Bianu and others as witnesses, Georges de Serdici proved to the Court the irrelevance to the case of the second accusation, and the groundlessness of the first one. Like all political prisoners in Romania during the 1940s-1960s, his father was tortured both physically and psychologically, and administrated drugs, thus rendered many times irresponsible for his actions. That fact, corroborated by the proof that V. Serdici did not have in his possession any archival materials to deliver to the communists, enabled Georges de Serdici to win the case in 1989. Also of special importance in the collection are the materials related to the Romanian section of Radio Free Europe, and its alleged collaboration with Securitate (see files 1-5 in box 6 and files 1 and 6-8 in box 7).

Box 1 BIOGRAPHICAL FILE, 1947-1983. Scope and Content Note Biographical notes, personal questionnaire, and resumes, arranged alphabetically by physical form

Boxes 1-8. CORRESPONDENCE, 1948-1990. Scope and Content Note Correspondence kept in original chronological files

Box 9 SPEECHES AND WRITINGS, 1948-1989. Scope and Content Note Articles, papers, radio broadcast transcripts, miscellaneous writings and notes, arranged chronologically by title

Box 10 SUBJECT FILE, 1952-1990. Scope and Content Note Communiqués, declarations, memoranda, regulations, speeches and writing by others, studies, clippings and other printed matter, arranged alphabetically by subject

Box 11 "NATIONAL ACTION," 1951-1969. Scope and Content Note Correspondence, memoranda, and minutes of meetings, notes, protocols, and reports, arranged chronologically. The term "National Action" was used by Georges de Serdici to refer to the activity of Romanians in foreign countries (Europe and the U.S.)

Boxes 12-16 LAWSUIT AGAINST CICERONE IOANITOIU, 1982-1990. Scope and Content Note Correspondence with the lawyers, interpreters, and witnesses; clippings; excerpts from history books; legal reports; proceedings; translations; testimonies of witnesses; miscellaneous legal evidence, arranged chronologically

BIOGRAPHICAL FILE, 1947-1983

Box 1., Folder 1 Biographical notes, 1947-1983 Folder 2 Personal questionnaire for non-U.S. citizens of Radio Free Europe, 1957 Folder 3 Resumes, n.d. CORRESPONDENCE, 1948-1990. Additional Note See also NATIONAL ACTION and LAWSUIT AGAINST CICERONE IOANITOIU

Box 1., Folder 4 1948. Includes correspondence with Alexandre Cretzianu, Alexandru Ghika, Grigore Niculescu Buzesti Folder 5 1949 Folder 6 1950. Includes correspondence with Raoul Bossy Folder 7 1951. Includes correspondence on Carol Davila; with International Federation of Free Journalists of Central and Eastern Europe and Baltic and Balkan Countries, and with National Committee for a Free Europe Folder 8-9 1952.Includes correspondence with Dwight Eisenhower, Fundatia Regala Universitara "Carol I", Sabin Manuila, National Estonian Council, Constantin Visoianu Box 2., Folder 1 1953. Includes correspondence with Fundatia Regala Universitara "Carol I" Folder 2 1954. Includes correspondence with International Peasant Union Folder 3 1955. Includes correspondence with Comitetul National Roman, Free Europe Committee, Radio Free Europe Folder 4 1956. Includes correspondence with the Human Rights Division of the United Nations, International Peasant Union Folder 5 1957. Includes correspondence with International Peasant Union Folder 6 1959 Folder 7 1963. Includes correspondence with Ion Ratiu Folder 8 1964 Folder 9 1965. Includes correspondence with Ion Ratiu Folder 10 1966. Includes correspondence with Ion Ratiu Folder 11 1967. Includes correspondence with Ion Ratiu Folder 12 1968. Includes correspondence with Alexandre Ghika, Ion Ratiu Folder 13 1969. Includes correspondence with Corneliu Coposu, Ion Ratiu Folder 14 1970. Includes correspondence with Ion Ratiu

Box 3., Folder 1 1971. Includes correspondence with Ion Ratiu Folder 2 1972. Includes correspondence with Michael, King of Romania, and Ion Ratiu Folder 3 1973. Includes correspondence with Ion Ratiu Folder 4 1974 Folder 5-6 1975. Includes correspondence with Gerald Ford, Ion Ratiu Folder 7 1976. Includes correspondence on Ion Ratiu Folder 8 1977. Includes correspondence on Ion Ratiu Box 4., Folder 1 1978. Includes correspondence with Ion Ratiu Folder 2-3 1979. Includes correspondence with John Connaly, Ion Ratiu Folder 4 1980 Folder 5 1981 Folder 6-7 1982Includes correspondence with Radu Campeanu; Michael, King of Romania; and with Radio Free Europe Box 5., Folder 1-2 1982. Includes correspondence with Michael, King of Romania Folder 3-6 1983. Includes correspondence with Radio Free Europe Box 6., Folder 1-2 1983. Includes correspondence on Vlad Georgescu, with Radio Free Europe, and Ion Ratiu Folder 3-6 1984. Includes correspondence with Max Campbelmann, Radio Free Europe, and on Vlad Georgescu Box 7., Folder 1-2 1984. Includes correspondence with Denis Diletant, Helmuth Kohl, and on Vlad Georgescu Folder 3 1985. Includes correspondence with Denis Diletant and with Ronald Reagan Folder 4 1986 Folder 5 1987. Includes correspondence with Ronald Reagan Folder 6-9 1988. Includes correspondence with George Bush, John Whitehead, U.S. Department of State, and on Radio Free Europe Box 8., Folder 1-3 1988. Includes correspondence with Corneliu Coposu, Michail Gorbachev, Ronald Reagan Folder 4-8 1989. Includes correspondence with Charles, Prince of Wales; Mikhail Gorbachev; Michael, King of Romania; Michael Schapira; Leonid Zamiatin Folder 9 1990. Includes correspondence with Corneliu Coposu SPEECHES AND WRITINGS, 1948-1989

Box 9., Folder 1 "O Clarificare a domnului George Serdici," n.d. Typescript Folder 2 "O Examinare a vestilor din tara," n.d. Typescript Folder 3 "Fuga din Romania," n.d. Typescript Folder 4 Notes on the Communist trial of the leaders of the Romanian National Party (PNT), n.d. Typescript Folder 5 "Primire romaneasca," n.d. Typescript Folder 6 "Report of the Regional Union of Free Journalists in Sweden," n.d. Typescript Folder 7 "Secretar General," n.d. Typescript Folder 8 Speech for the Estonian National Council, n.d. Typescript Folder 9 "Tragica drama a poporului roman," n.d. Typescript Folder 10 "La vie politique roumaine," n.d. Typescript Folder 11 "Rumansk Fascist Ryskt Trumfass Mot Maniu," Svenska Dagbladet, 1948 May 5. Typescript Folder 12 "Apell," 1952 June. Typescript Folder 13 "Ny Rod Giv I Rumanien," 1952 June 28. Typescript Folder 14 Comments printed in two Swedish newspapers regarding the alleged action against the Romanian legations in Stockholm and Copenhagen in 1955, 1955 February 16. Typescript Folder 15 "Cazul Lahovari," Dagens Nyheter, 1955 March 3. Typescript. Includes Romanian translation Folder 16 "Det Galler en Manniska," 1956 March 3. Typescript. Includes Romanian translation Folder 17 "Appeal," 1956 June. Typescript Folder 18 "La Rascruce de Drumuri," Vocea Libertatii, 1957 December 1. Typescript Folder 19 "German Minority in Romania," 1958 January. Typescript Folder 20 "Cinste lor," Vocea Libertatii, 1958 May. Typescript

Folder 21 "Pina cind," 1963 May. Typescript Folder 22 "Punere la punct," 1963 June. Typescript Folder 23 "Citeva cuvinte in plus," 1963 July. Typescript Folder 24 "Ginduri pentru o noua indreptare a Actiunei Nationale," 1964 June-July. Typescript Folder 25 "Ziarul La Nation roumaine si fruntasii P.N.T.," 1964 September. Typescript Folder 26 "Framintarea exilului," 1964. Typescript Folder 27 "Declaratiile Domnului George Serdici," Vocea Libertatii, 1969. Typescript Folder 28 "President Nixon's Visit to Romania," 1969 July. Typescript Folder 29 "Romanian Greeting," International Herald Tribune, 1969 August 1. Typescript Folder 30 "Lifting the Vail of Confusion," B.I.R.E., 1969 September Folder 31 "Avertisment," 1971. Typescript Folder 32 "Criza Comitetul National Roman," 1975 February 20. Typescript Folder 33 "La Roumanie d'aujourd'hui a Dlui Ion Ratiu," 1975 June 10. Typescript Folder 34 "Conferinta Peneuropeana de Securitate de la Helsinki," 1975 June 23. Typescript Folder 35 "Importanta lui Rene Theo si a lui B.I.R.E.," 1977 November. Typescript Folder 36 "Comunicare din Partea Dlui George Serdici, Secretarul General al Partidului National Taranesc," 1982 November. Typescript. Includes English translation Folder 37 "6 Martie 1945," B.I.R.E., 1983 March Folder 38 "Punere la Punct," 1983 April 21. Typescript Folder 39 Statement relating to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1983 July 13. Typescript. Includes Romanian translation Folder 40 "Statement by Mr. George Serdici, Secretary General of the Romanian National Peasant Party, on the Recent Visit to Romania of Mr. George Bush, the Vice President of the United States," 1983 October. Typescript. Includes Romanian translation Folder 41 "Trading with Romania," Newsweek, 1983 December. Typescript Folder 42 "La Roumanie face au Kremlin," La Suisse, 1984 August 18 Folder 43 "Interview dat de catre domnul George Serdici doamnei Constatinescu si ziarului Curierul Romanesc dela Agered, Suedia," 1988 April 19. Typescript Folder 44 "Communicate," 1988 April. Typescript. Includes Romanian translation Folder 45 "Exilul Nostru Ar Putea Avea o Simnificatie," 1988 April-June Folder 46 "Vasile Serdici," 1988 June 28. Typescript Folder 47 "Romania: Communist Truths," 1989 September. Typescript Folder 48 "Communicato," 1989 May. Typescript Folder 49 "Note," 1989 July 9. Typescript Folder 50 Miscellaneous notes. Holographs and typescripts SUBJECT FILE, 1952-1990. Additional Note Communiqués, declarations, memoranda, regulations, speeches and writings by others, studies, clippings and other printed matter

Box 10., Folder 1 B.I.R.E. (Buletin de informatie pentru romanii din exil) Folder 2 Campeanu, Radu Folder 3 Dialog Folder 4 Lambrino, Zizi Folder 5 National Peasant Party. Includes communiqués, copy of Iuliu Maniu's testament, regulations, and notes concerning the activity of the NPP's members in exile Folder 6 Pacepa, Ion Folder 7 Radio Free Europe Folder 8 Ratiu, Ion Folder 9 Romania - Politics and government 1944-1989 Folder 10 1989- Folder 11 Romanian Nation ( La Nation roumaine). Includes German translation Folder 12 Romanians in France Folder 13-15 Miscellany

"NATIONAL ACTION", 1951-1970. Additional Note Includes correspondence, memoranda, minutes of meetings, notes, protocols, and reports, relating to the activity of Romanians in foreign countries (Europe and the U.S.) and of the Comitetul National Roman

Box 11., Folder 1 1951-1952 Folder 2 1960-1963 Folder 3-7 1964-1965 Folder 8-9 1966-1970 LAWSUIT AGAINST CICERONE IOANITOIU, 1982-1990. Additional Note Correspondence with the lawyers, interpreters and witnesses; clippings; excerpts from history books; legal reports; proceedings; translations; testimonies of witnesses; miscellaneous legal evidence

Box 12., Folder 1 1982 Folder 2-4 1983 Folder 5-8 1984 Box 13., 1985 Folder 1-6 Box 14., 1985 Folder 1-6 Box 15., 1986 Folder 1-7 Box 16., Folder 1 1987 Folder 2-3 1988 Folder 4 1989 Folder 5 1990