Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, Paris Peace Conference: Proceedings, Volume III

CFM Files

United States Delegation Journal

September 4, 1946, 4 p.m.

USDel (PC) (Journal) 33

The statement made by the Bulgarian Delegation at the previous meeting³² was translated into Russian, after which the Bulgarian Delegation left the room, it having been agreed to dispense with the English translation. M. Pipinelis (Greece) then made a speech in reply to the Bulgarian statement. He expressed astonishment at Bulgaria’s demand for Western Thrace and regarded it as a new proof of aggressive expansionist tendencies. He said that the Greek Delegation was ready to accept the first part of Article 1 of the Draft Treaty dealing with Bulgaria’s frontiers with Rumania and Yugoslavia on condition that Greece obtained satisfaction in connection with the Greek-Bulgarian frontier. He referred to the Greek claim to a change in the frontier as set forth in a memorandum to the CFM in May 1946.³³ This represented a suggestion, Greece did not wish to define exactly its proposal, as the details might be left for settlement by the Conference and the Council of Foreign Ministers. The only motive of the Greek claim was to ensure the defense of the Greek national territory. He characterized this frontier as one of the most fragile in Europe. At present it made Bulgarian aggression easy and made it impossible for Greece to defend itself.

M. Pipinelis devoted considerable time to discussing Bulgaria’s role in the second Balkan war, the first world war and the second world war. He said Bulgaria’s occupation of Greek and Yugoslav territory had been carried out as part of a concerted plan of aggression agreed upon with the Germans. He noted that the population of the Greek territory occupied by Bulgaria diminished by 100,000 between 1940 and 1942, the difference being represented by 100,000 Greek refugees who were forced to flee.

In conclusion M. Pipinelis suggested that the Commission ask for a clarification from the Military Commission or from a committee of experts, which could study the strategic necessities of Greece and make a recommendation concerning the frontier. The Greek Delegation reserved the right to propose at a later meeting the solution which it believed to be the best one.³⁴

32. For the United States Delegation Journal account of the 5th Meeting of the Political and Territorial Commission for Bulgaria, September 2, see p. 341.
33. Presumably the reference is to C.F.M.(D) (B) (46) 15, April 11, 1946; see the bracketed note, vol. ii, p. 50.
34. For a more detailed summary of this speech, see Xydis, Greece and the Great Powers, p. 323.