Ceausescu expected fanfare on stopover

HE HAD a tight grip on all aspects of his nation’s life but Romanian diplomats were anxious that their president Nicolae Ceausescu would not be outdone by rival communist leader Marshall Tito during a 90-minute stopover in Shannon during April, 1978.

London embassy official John Burke wrote an “urgent” communique dated April 3, 1978, to the department of foreign affairs outlining his discussions with the Romanian counsellor in Britain, Nicu Bujor.

Accompanying the communique was a vinyl record of the Eastern European state’s new anthem, which had been adopted the previous December, two flags and a notice that the Romanians expected a certain level of fanfare to accompany their leader’s visit.