740.0011 European War 1939/465: Telegram

The Chargé in Bulgaria ( Millard ) to the Secretary of State

61. I called on the Prime Minister68 yesterday evening. He implied that difficult as it was to justify the invasion of Poland, Russia could not risk letting Germany come too far east and mentioned the Ukraine question. He thought that a new Poland of 7 to 10 million would be created which, with a possibly enlarged Lithuania, would completely separate Germany and Russia neither of whom wanted a common frontier. He had heard from London that Germany had assured Russia there was no objection to the absorption of Bessarabia which he is convinced Rumania would not resist and he felt that Estonia and Latvia might also be absorbed. Asked whether Germany was willing to give up the Polish “Ukraine, the Prime Minister said Germany was willing to make “any concession” in order not to have to fight on two fronts.

When “peace is assured” on Germany’s eastern border the Prime Minister thought Hitler would make a speech offering a conference to settle all questions left over from the last world war including possibly disarmament. The Prime Minister felt convinced that Great [Page 444] Britain and France would refuse this offer. Then Hitler would loose a terrible attack on the Maginot Line. Two thousand bombers were now ready.

In reply to several questions, Prime Minister insisted that there had been no offer to settle the southern Dobrudja question. He reiterated that Bulgaria would patiently and peacefully await a conference in which this question could be considered.

Asked if General Weygand’s69 movements had any significance for Bulgaria, he said the General had been working on a plan for a campaign based on Salonika as in the last war with efforts to involve other Balkan countries. This was now out of the question. The danger of British-Russian cooperation having been removed, his country was in no immediate danger.

In answer to my inquiry, he said that Turkey is anxious concerning its Foreign Minister’s forthcoming visit to Moscow on which Russia is insisting and the outcome of which is unpredictable.

He said that he was still convinced Italy would remain neutral.

Throughout the conversation the Prime Minister seemed genuinely unworried regarding Bulgaria’s position and continued to reflect the satisfaction he has shown since the failure of the British and French negotiations in Moscow.70

The press without approving or disapproving Russia’s invasion of Poland thinks this is the beginning of an active Russian policy in Europe and pointing out that Russia is returning to revisionism which also gives her common outlook with Germany.

Millard
  1. George Kiosseivanoff.
  2. Gen. Maxime Weygand, in command of French forces in Syria.
  3. See pp. 312 ff.