740.00119 European War 1939/2459: Telegram
The Consul General at Istanbul ( Berry ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:19 p.m.]
236R46. The substance of the Department’s 245, April 7, 8 p.m. has been conveyed to the Bulgarian referred to in my communication. He will pass it on at once to the Bulgarian Government.
In his opinion the prospects of a successful Bulgarian peace move are not bright. The desire exists but not the will. He expects the Government still to hesitate because (1) it believes its action in sending delegates to Cairo would become known to the Germans who would use it as a pretext for occupying the country and (2) public opinion is not yet ready to accept and cannot hastily be prepared to accept a break with Germany entailing the loss of Macedonia and Thrace.
Thus reason seems unavailing and Anglo-American bombings apparently unsuccessful in exerting the pressure desired. In view of this it is suggested that the Bulgarian Government might be brought [Page 321] to move in the desired direction if the Soviet authorities would advise the Bulgarian Government through diplomatic channels to find a direct way to end the state of war existing between Bulgaria and the United States and England.