Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The British Commonwealth and Europe, Volume III

740.00119 E.W./9–1144

The Soviet Representative on the European Advisory Commission (Gousev) to the American Representative on the European Advisory Commission (Winant)⁷²

[Translation]

London, September 9, 1944.

Dear Mr. Winant: As you will recall, I informed you on August 29th that the Soviet Government had decided not to take part in the discussion by the European Advisory Commission of the armistice terms for Bulgaria, which was explained by the fact that the U.S.S.R. was then not at war with Bulgaria.

On September 5th the Soviet Government broke off relations with Bulgaria and declared that the Soviet Union was henceforth at war with Bulgaria. This decision was adopted by the Soviet Government in virtue of the fact that Bulgaria, despite the fact that the worsening military situation of Germany enabled her to break off relations with the German Government without risk, was refusing to break off her relations with Germany and was continuing to harbor Germans on Bulgarian territory, thus giving them every possibility of creating there a new center of resistance to the forces of the anti-German coalition.

It was only on September 7th that the Bulgarian Government declared officially that it had broken off relations with Germany, and appealed to the Soviet Government with a request for an armistice. Thus, the aim set by the Soviet Government in its note of September 5th was attained.

In view of the above mentioned circumstances, the Soviet Government considers it necessary to discuss armistice terms for Bulgaria in the European Advisory Commission. At the same time the Soviet Government would consider it convenient for the actual negotiations with the Bulgarian Government to be conducted in Moscow or, if for any reason that is not appropriate, in Ankara.⁷³

Sincerely,

F[eodor] Gousev

72. Copy transmitted to the Department in despatch 17973, September 11, from London, not printed. A summary of this letter was sent to the Department in telegram 7428, September 9, 9 p.m., from London, not printed.
73. In telegram 7404, September 12, 10 p.m., to London, the Department indicated that it was agreeable to have the Bulgarian surrender terms reviewed by the European Advisory Commission. Furthermore, the Department believed that Ankara would be a more suitable place than Moscow for the Bulgarian armistice discussions in case it was decided that Cairo was no longer feasible. (740.00119–E. W./9–944)