740.00119 E.W./10–3044: Telegram

The Chargé in the United Kingdom ( Gallman ) to the Secretary of State

9370. The Embassy received today a letter of October 28 addressed by the Soviet Chargé35 to Mr. Winant36 in reply to Mr. Winant’s letter of October 22 (Embassy’s 9077, October 22, midnight37) concerning article XVIII of the Bulgarian armistice. Full translation follows by air mail.38

In substance Soviet reply points out that article XVIII “was agreed between the Soviet and British Governments after repeated discussions of this question with Mr. Eden in Moscow”. It points out that the provision for the chairmanship of “the representative of the Allied (Soviet) High Command” instead of “the Soviet representative” signifies that the direction of the Control Commission will belong to the Soviet Command during both periods although in the second period “the leading role of the Soviet High Command” will “be limited to a certain degree in favor of the American and British representatives”.

The reply further states that “it is impossible to agree to your proposal for supplementing article XVIII” as set forth in the Amb’s letter of October 22. This addition “might be interpreted as meaning that the three Governments should have the same share in the practical [Page 483] activity and responsibility of the Commission, although only troops of the Soviet Union are on the territory of Bulgaria and Bulgaria is not divided into zones of occupation between the Allied Governments.[”] It states that “such an interpretation would in fact lead to the elimination of the Soviet Command from the direction of the Control Commission which under circumstances as they have developed in Bulgaria cannot but lead to the elimination of any sort of direction in the work of the Allied Control Commission”.

The reply states that in accepting the present version of article XVIII the Soviet Government based its attitude on “the necessity for preserving the leading role of the Soviet High Command although in a somewhat different form likewise during the second period” of the Control Commission. In conclusion the reply states that “in view of the above I assume that the American delegation will not insist on the further discussion proposed by it or the manner in which article XVIII should be applied during the period subsequent to the conclusion of hostilities against Germany”.

Receipt of this letter has been acknowledged. Please show to Mr. Winant.

Gallman
  1. Konstantin Mikhailovich Kukin, Counselor of the Soviet Embassy in the United Kingdom.
  2. The Ambassador, John G. Winant (at this time on home leave), was also Chairman of the European Advisory Commission, London (EAC).
  3. Ante, p. 472.
  4. Not printed.