740.00119 Control (Bulgaria)/1–3045: Telegram
The United States Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:10 p.m.]
61. The documents referred to in my telegram No. 36, January 18, 4 p.m. are:
1. Eden’s text to Molotov of October 15 confirming agreement between the two on the main points that were outstanding in the text of the armistice prior to meeting between the two on October 14 and enclosure which set forth British compromise proposal to assure that Bulgarian resources are conserved in interest on [of?] reparations. Paragraph 7 of that letter consists of following significant statement: [Page 153]
“I also do not press my suggestion that the protocol should contain a reference to our present understanding that the British and American representatives will not take their seats on the Control Commission until the conclusion of hostilities with Germany. We can, as you prefer, leave this to be understood between us.” The closing sentence of the letter is “It is, of course, clearly understood between us that the agreement which we have reached here at Moscow does not bind the United States Government, who are represented in this matter by their delegate on the European Advisory Commission.”
2. Molotov’s reply of October 16 declining definitively the British proposal for the safeguard clause with respect to conservation of Bulgarian assets, declaring equality of position between the three Allies with regard to Bulgarian supplies for war industries in Allied countries and agreeing to publication of the protocol and early submission of draft armistice and protocol to European Advisory Commission “for the purpose of obtaining the approval of the United States Government.”
3. Eden’s reply of October 17 regretting Molotov’s inability to accept compromise proposal to assure that Bulgaria does not dissipate her resources, noting Molotov’s statement on Bulgarian supplies for war industry and agreement on publication of protocol and stating that text of armistice and protocol have been telegraphed to London for submission to EAC.
4. Letter to Eden from Molotov dated October 15 which was referred to in Department’s telegram 5, January 2, 7 p.m.51 and in Department’s unnumbered telegram52 of January 26, 11 p.m.
5. Eden’s brief acknowledgement of document No. 4 above.
6. Winant’s note of October 22 to acting Soviet representative on European Advisory Committee. While this letter reserves our right to discuss at a later date with the two other Allied Governments the implementation of Article 18 of the armistice during period subsequent to the conclusion of hostilities against Germany, it contains no reservation to any other points in the Eden-Molotov exchange of correspondence and especially no reservation to “our personal understanding that the British and American representatives will not take their seats on the Control Commission until the conclusion of hostilities with Germany.”
7. Reply to document No. 6 above by Soviet Chargé d’Affaires.
8. Strang’s acknowledgement of Winant’s letter of October 22. There has been no meeting of the Allied Control Commission, that is, as between the Russians and the British and American representatives since December 28 and it is the view of General Crane that further [Page 154] meetings are unlikely before the termination of hostilities with Germany in view of points outlined above from the Eden-Molotov exchange of correspondence. In the meantime as reported in my current telegrams, important decisions with respect to Bulgaria have been taken by the Russians without prior or subsequent communication to the British and American representatives to the Commission and there is no reason to expect any sudden change in the state of affairs. It is for these reasons that General Crane and I continue in the views expressed in my telegram No. 47 of January 25, 10 a.m.
Repeated to Moscow as 20; to AmPolAd as 19 and to London.