740.00119 E.W./8–2044
The Department of State to the British Embassy
Memorandum
The Department of State has examined the British Embassy’s aide-mémoire of August 20 setting forth conversations which have taken place between a Bulgarian spokesman, Mr. Stoicho Moshanoff, and the British Ambassador to Turkey, and suggesting conditions which should now be made known to the Bulgarian spokesman, looking toward negotiations for effecting the withdrawal of Bulgaria from the war. It is noted that these conditions provide that the Bulgarian Government should be invited to send a fully empowered representative to Cairo, where he should arrive on a fixed date not later than the end of August, but that the Bulgarian Government should release Allied prisoners now in Bulgaria before their emissary is received at Cairo.
The Department agrees that these conditions should be communicated to Mr. Moshanoff for transmission to the Bulgarian Government.
The methods of release and the means of delivery of Allied prisoners in Bulgarian hands may, however, require attention to other considerations. The Department makes reference to this matter since it interprets “return of Allied prisoners” to include the nationals of other Allied states, as well as British or American prisoners. The release of British or American prisoners would probably not require a complicated procedure, but there may be large numbers of Greek, Yugoslav or other Allied nationals who might claim the status of prisoners of war, and for whom the procedure of release and delivery might present a rather more complex problem. Supposing that it is desired to reach a decision concerning Bulgaria at the earliest possible date, the Department therefore would not be disposed to insist upon the release of Allied prisoners as a condition precedent to the commencement [Page 363] of negotiations and would be agreeable, without further consultation, to the omission of this condition in the reply to be communicated to Mr. Moshanoff.
The Department also agrees that the British Government should inform the Soviet Government of this matter, as indicated in paragraph 12 of the Embassy’s aide-mémoire.