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

740.00119 E.W./9–644

The Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Secretary of State

Washington, 6 September 1944.

My Dear Mr. Secretary: The Joint Chiefs of Staff concur in the views of the Department of State with respect to the terms to be presented to Bulgaria as set forth in your memoranda dated 26 and 30 August 1944.⁶² From the military viewpoint, the armistice terms transmitted in your memoranda under reference are acceptable.

Your comments in regard to “assurances” to be given Bulgaria with respect to the future independence of that country have been particularly noted. It is believed desirable that any such assurances should under no circumstances include any commitment, explicit or implied, regarding future military support of Bulgaria’s independence.

Your suggestion of the addition to paragraph 3 of the clause: “their withdrawal to be carried out according to a schedule laid down by the Allied occupation authorities,” and the alterations agreed to with the British Government, are not considered objectionable from the military viewpoint.

Sincerely yours,

For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

William D. Leahy

Admiral, U. S. Navy Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy

62. Neither printed; they transmitted views and terms of the proposed armistice as given in telegrams 6928, August 25, midnight, from London, p. 367, and 6930, August 29, 7 p.m., to London, p. 378.