740.00119 Control (Hungary)/5–1445
The British Chargé in the Soviet Union ( Balfour ) to the American Ambassador in the Soviet Union ( Harriman )10
My Dear Ambassador: I have been instructed by my government to confirm to you their view, which I expressed to you during the course of our discussions regarding the terms of the armistice agreement with Hungary, that during the second period of the armistice, that is from the cessation of hostilities against Germany until the conclusion of peace with Hungary, the Allied Control Commission [Page 801] which will regulate and supervise the execution of the armistice terms as specified in Article 18 of the agreement, should function on a tripartite basis, under Soviet chairmanship, and issue instructions only with the concurrence of the Soviet, British and American representatives.
2. As no provision has been made either in the armistice agreement or in the Statutes of the Commission itself regarding the workings of the Commission during this second period, my government wish to make it clear that they will consider it necessary at some later date to discuss and reach agreement with the Soviet and American Governments regarding the detailed manner in which the Commission should function after the end of hostilities with Germany. My government also consider that it will be necessary to reach a similar agreement when the time comes in regard to the Allied Control Commission in Bulgaria.11
I have addressed a similar letter to the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs.
Yours ever,