740.00119 EAC/9–1544: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 15—10:36 p.m.]
7630. Comea 87. Department’s 7492, September 14, midnight. Today the EAC renewed its discussion of armistice terms for Bulgaria. The British reported they had received no reply to their inquiry in Moscow about signature of the armistice by SACMED in Cairo (my 7503, September 12, 11 p.m., Comea 84). The Soviet delegate stressed the desirability of concentrating the discussions in the EAC. Both American and British delegations reserved their positions with respect to signature of the armistice and cobelligerency.
In discussing Soviet article I, my delegation also stressed the desirability of restricting the number of divisions allowed to Bulgaria, of disarming the rest of the Bulgarian Army, and delimiting the area of Bulgarian operations. For article III the United Kingdom delegation presented a new version: “Bulgarian forces, officials (including Bulgarian church authorities) and nationals will withdraw forthwith from Greek and Yugoslav territory at present occupied by Bulgaria. The Bulgarian authorities will take immediate steps to cancel all legislative and administrative enactments which provided for the annexation or incorporation in Bulgaria of Greek or Yugoslav territory”. In Soviet article IV the British proposed the addition of the words “in the opinion of the Allies” following “if” and preceding “required”. British delegate proposed an expanded article VI, similar [Page 421] to article V of Rumanian armistice. In Soviet article VIII, “disabilities” was substituted for “restrictions”.
A new reading of article X was proposed by the British delegation, “the Bulgarian Government will restore all rights and interests of the United Nations and their nationals in Bulgaria and will return their property in complete good order. The Bulgarian Government will comply with such provisions regarding deliveries, services or payments by way of reparation for war loss and damage as may be prescribed. There shall be no disposal of Bulgarian assets without Allied consent”. My delegation proposed omission of words “loss and” in second sentence of new article X. Soviet delegate again objected to last sentence of new article X as too inclusive in scope.
As substitute for articles XI and XII, British delegation proposed new article XII, “the Bulgarian Government will make such regular money payments in Bulgarian currency and supply such goods (fuel, food products, et cetera), facilities and services as the Allies may require”. Both United States and United Kingdom delegations reserved their positions with respect to the Control Commission, in article XIII. The United Kingdom delegation emphasized the desirability of retaining in article XIII provisions for issuing additional instructions to Bulgaria and for Bulgarian compliance with requirements for peace and security.
In first added Soviet article, my delegation proposed omission of words “and in particular to the Soviet Union”. Gousev stressed Soviet desire to retain these words because Bulgaria was nearer to Russia geographically and because it had been a center of anti-Soviet and white-Guard agitation after the revolution. In place of third added Soviet article, the British delegation proposed a new version, “the Government of Bulgaria will return in conformity with Allied instructions and in a good state of preservation all valuables, material and property removed from Allied territory during the war and now located in Bulgaria”. Gousev felt Russian public would appreciate inclusion of detailed Soviet article. My delegation proposed enlarging new United Kingdom article X to cover more specifically the restitution of Allied property other than Soviet. In fifth added Soviet article, United Kingdom delegation proposed omission of words “for use by the Allied (Soviet) High Command during the war against Germany and Hungary in the common interests of the Allies, these ships to be returned later to their owners” on the ground that these matters do not concern Bulgaria.
For sixth added Soviet article, the United Kingdom delegation proposed a new wording, “the Bulgarian Government will comply with instructions issued during the armistice by the Allies regarding the utilization in Bulgarian territory of industrial and transport, enterprises, including Danubian transport and navigation facilities? [Page 422] and of means of communication, power stations, public service enterprises and facilities, and stocks of fuel and other materials. Bulgarian merchant vessels, whether in Bulgarian or foreign waters, shall be subject to the operational control of the Allies for use in the general interest of the Allies”. The British felt the inclusion of a reference to Danubian transport would facilitate omission of original article VII. The Soviet delegate objected that such enumeration was unnecessary. One new article was proposed by the British delegation, “The Bulgarian Government will hand over to the Allies as booty all war material of Germany and her satellites located on Bulgarian territory, including vessels in the fleets of Germany and her satellites located in Bulgarian waters”, based on an article of the Rumanian armistice. The Soviet and United States delegations agreed to consider this addition. The next discussion of Bulgarian terms is to be held as soon as any one of the three delegations is ready to take up any of the points raised.