740.00119 EAC/9–1644
Memorandum by the Deputy Director of the Office of European Affairs (Mattheics) to the Secretary of State
Mr. Secretary: A divergence between the British and the Russians has arisen in London on the matter of consulting the other and lesser governments at war with Bulgaria, concerning the Bulgarian armistice.
The formula adopted by the British and ourselves before Russia’s eleventh-hour declaration of war against Bulgaria provided for signature of the armistice “on behalf of all the United Nations Governments at war with Bulgaria”. Accordingly the other Governments were shown the terms and invited to authorize signature of the armistice on their behalf. The Russians now propose the phrase “acting in the interests of all the United Nations”, which implies that the three Governments negotiating the armistice will not consult the smaller Allies.
It is true that the Russian formula is similar to the phrase used in the German surrender instrument, but we are nevertheless inclined to continue to support the British position, for the reason that Greece and Yugoslavia, the two smaller Allies directly concerned, are the only United Nations which were directly affected by Bulgarian participation in the war, and it is they that have the primary interest in the Bulgarian situation following surrender. While Soviet armies are in Bulgaria, their occupation was effected without a shot, and only after Bulgaria’s declaration of capitulation.
[Page 428]Having already consulted with the Greek and Yugoslav Governments at the time we were conducting armistice negotiations without Russian participation, we feel that to refuse to do so now would amount to an admission that we are unwilling to object to anything the Soviets may propose, particularly since there is as yet no indication that the Soviet Government desires even to make a strong point of the matter, unless it might actually be seeking an opportunity to make the smaller nations more distrustful of the British and ourselves.
Accordingly we have drafted the underlying telegram86 expressing our preference for the procedure as agreed to in the earlier negotiations.
- Infra. ↩