124.743/5–948: Telegram
The Minister in Bulgaria (Heath) to the Secretary of State
573. After several days delay Foreign Minister Kolarov received me Saturday afternoon, 8th.1
I informed him that while Andreichin2 and other Foreign Office officials had given us some oral “explanations” of detention of Bulgarian employees of Legation, we had never received a written reply to our notes on subject. It would be in accordance with international courtesy and to Bulgaria’s advantage if Foreign Office would inform Legation in writing with respect to charges and evidence against these employees. Kolarov said he would consider matter. I pointed out that likewise we had received no reply to note of March 29 (Legtel 346, March 15)3 in which I accepted an arrangement originally suggested by Foreign Minister where Bulgarian employees of Legation would not be arrested until after advance notification and in appropriate cases consultation with Foreign Office. Kolarov said that such an [Page 333] arrangement was possible and desirable and indicated he would shortly reply to our note.
2. I also reminded Foreign Minister that he had promised to reconsider Foreign Office request that Legation remove its plane from Bulgaria and inquired whether he had yet reached a decision in matter. He said he had not yet completed study of subject and indicated he would inform Legation shortly.
3. I delivered a note protesting efforts Bulgarian Government move Legation from present library reading room quarters stating that if for any reason these had to be moved we looked to government for equally good premises to be furnished without any interruption of library’s operations. Foreign Minister replied he had similar request from Italian Minister re Italian library which was faced by similar threat and indicated without actually committing himself that matter would be arranged to our satisfaction.
4. I pointed out that several weeks had passed without government fulfilling its promise to start amicable negotiations for acquisition of Petrole property (Legtel 550, May 4).4 Foreign Minister expressed great surprise at this information and said perhaps it was due to absence of Commerce Minister. I replied that Commerce Minister had received former manager of Petrole but informed latter that he was not authorized to offer him anything but Bulgarian bonds although it was clearly provided in law that other payment arrangements could be negotiated. The manager was endeavoring obtain an interview with Vice Premier Traicho Kostov and I thought Foreign office should support such an interview. I emphasized that Petrole issue is very important one for Bulgaria and international interests concerned and should not be allowed to drag on. Kolaroff agreed that matters should be expedited but made no definite statement when negotiations would begin.5
- Most of the issues raised by Minister Heath with Foreign Minister Kolarov at this meeting had been discussed in an earlier conversation on March 13 (telegram 345, March 14, from Sofia, not printed, 874.5034/3–1448) and were again taken up in a subsequent conversation on July 1 (telegram 797, July 2, from Sofia, not printed, 124.743/7–248).↩
- George Andreichin, Counselor of the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Not printed. In December 1947 the Bulgarian Government seized the partly American-owned Petrole Company (Petroleum Products Distribution Company) and arrested its key employees. In a series of oral and written communications beginning in late December 1947, Minister Heath protested the seizure and the difficulties made by Bulgarian Government officials in connection with a settlement of the controversy.↩
- Negotiations between American and Bulgarian representatives regarding compensation for the seized Petrole Company property began on June 1 in Sofia but made little progress. In August and again in September Minister Heath protested to the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry regarding the failure of the Bulgarian Government to live up to its assurance that amicable negotiations would be undertaken on the matter. Documentation on the Petrole Company compensation problem is included in file 474.11 EW.↩