740.00119 EW/7–2744: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)
1858. Department’s 1783 July 27.97 In the matter of the prospective peace talks with the Bulgarians, the Joint Chiefs of Staff have now replied98 that notwithstanding the favorable progress of the war in Europe, the detachment of Bulgaria from the Axis is of considerable military importance and that if the Bulgarians should decide definitely to ask for peace terms along these lines it would be most useful to follow up this project vigorously.
Please inform the Commissariat for Foreign Affairs that this Government proposes that the Bulgarians be told that they may still take advantage of the procedure which was agreed to last March by the Soviet, British and American Governments, for talks to be held at Cairo.
Since from the Allied point of view it is important that there should be no delay, the Department hopes that our three Governments can reach prompt agreement in this sense. The Department will then authorize the American Consul General at Istanbul to remind his contact with the Bulgarians that as long ago as last March the three principal Allies agreed to receive at Cairo a Bulgarian mission and hear what they have to say, and to state that if the Bulgarian Government is genuinely ready immediately to conclude an armistice, a fully empowered emissary or mission should be despatched in order that the talks can now begin.
A similar telegram is being sent to London.99
Your 2806 July 29 has been received.