840.48 Refugees/7–2644: Telegram
The Chargé in Turkey (Kelley) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 27—6:17 a.m.]
1370. For Pehle WRB from Hirschmann. The Bulgarian Minister to Turkey in an interview today arranged by Simond of the Intercross informed me (Ankara’s 107) that his Government had accepted the proposals which I had made and authorized me to transmit the following decisions of his Government.
- 1.
- The Jews are gradually having restored to them the status which they held before the war.
- The “restrictions, oppressions, persecutions and abuses” are being eliminated.
- 2.
- Facilities have been officially authorized which will permit them to leave Bulgaria with all possible assistance and a minimum of formalities.
- 3.
- Instructions will be issued to expedite the departure from Bulgaria of vessels containing refugees.
- 4.
- The departure by rail will be authorized by approximately 400 to 500 refugees weekly provided the Turk authorities grant transit visas en route to Palestine.
Balabanoff stated that the above measures were being communicated to the leaders of the Bulgarian Jewish Community. He emphasized that the change of policy was definitive but the steps would be gradual in order not to “fly in the face of the Germans”. I urged upon Balabanoff the immediate withdrawal of the two notorious oppressive anti-Jewish Bulgarian laws. Balabanoff replied that these would definitely be cancelled within a brief time.
With respect to the technical difficulties involved in securing the necessary certificates to permit departure from Bulgaria, Balabanoff said that these difficulties would be relieved within technical possibilities. I thereupon urged that children be given first priority since they required few certificates, to which he agreed with the proviso that we define children as under 15 years of age. I told the Bulgarian Minister that the new policy of his Government in regard to refugees would be presented as a gesture of good will to Washington, and I suggested that the release without delay of large numbers of refugees would receive favorable publicity in America which the present Bulgarian Government is seeking.
Balabanoff stated that his Government’s new regime was essentially liberal in policy and was attempting to find the best and quickest ways to “get out from under the Nazi yoke” being at the same time very sympathetic to the Soviets whom they hold in high regard but not without some fear.
Balabanoff said that his Government agreed to the proposal concerning the sailing of the SS Tari to a Bulgarian port and return to Istanbul without a German safe conduct, provided the Bulgarians [were?] granted the necessary authorization, to which a Turk official had agreed with Ambassador Steinhardt and Simond. I will report further on this project which has been revived.36
At the conclusion of the interview, I requested Balabanoff to confirm in writing the agreement of his Government to the foregoing. The Embassy’s next numbered telegram will contain a translation of Balabanoff’s letter.37 [Hirschmann.]