Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The British Commonwealth and Europe, Volume III

740.00119 EW/7–1944: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Istanbul (Berry)

Washington, July 19, 1944—noon.

331. British Foreign Office, as reported in London’s 5526 July 13,⁸⁸ believes that the Bulgarian Government desires to desert Germany but has not yet determined on a course of action, and that it is now attempting to obtain German withdrawal from the Varna region to appease the Russians.

In this connection please keep the Department currently informed of anything you are able to learn concerning Balabanoff’s talks in Sofia. If the Bulgarians intend to send out an emissary (Department’s 245 of April 7, 8 p.m.), they must realize that their time is running out.

For your confidential information the Department has sent to the American representative on the European Advisory Commission a revision of the original paper on terms of surrender for Bulgaria,⁸⁹ taking into account modifications of the unconditional surrender formula.

Hull

88. Not printed.
89. See telegram 5533, July 13, 6 p.m., from London, and footnote 86, p. 345.