740.00119 E.W./8–2344: Telegram
The Consul General at Istanbul (Berry) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 24—3:50 a.m.]
489R101. Reference my telegram No. 454, August 3, 6 p.m.14 This office’s confidential Bulgarian informant arrived in Istanbul from Sofia this morning. He requested an immediate interview. This afternoon in presence of Dr. Black15 and Fraleigh16 he declared to me: (1) that in response to advice given him through this office on August 3rd he, George P. Kisseloff, and Stoycho Moshanov have been nominated by the Bulgarian Government as delegates ad referendum to establish contact and begin talks at once in Istanbul with representatives of United States and Great Britain and observers of the Soviet Union for the purpose of withdrawing Bulgaria from the war and establishing a status of neutrality towards both the Allies and the Axis.
(2) That their authorization which he displayed is in form of a memorandum initialed by Draganov and addressed to Balabanov informing the latter of the nominations and instructing him to confirm them if necessary to the Allies.
(3) That in order not to prejudice Bulgaria’s position adversely Bagryanov and Draganov handed a note to Kirsanov, Soviet Chargé in Sofia, on August 19 informing of Bulgaria’s decision to send delegates to meet American and British representatives, adding that Bulgaria would welcome Soviet observers at conference.
(4) Also that as Bulgarian Government’s only contact has been through this office Moshanov was instructed to inform the British Ambassador at Ankara which he did at two meetings, the last on August 16, that Bulgaria desires to get out of the war. At that time Moshanov was not informed that he would be a delegate.
Biographical and other details follow in my next telegram.17