740.00119 E.W./9–644: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:30 p.m.]
Yugos 16. From Schoenfeld. Ambassador Stevenson and I yesterday conveyed to Dr. Subasić points (a) to (d) listed in your 7123, September 2 and we added that in the circumstances, our Governments [Page 400] requested that (1) the Yugoslav Government would confirm its concurrence in the armistice terms for Bulgaria and that it regarded them as applicable to itself and (2) that it would give its authorization to the representatives of the United Kingdom and United States Governments to sign on its behalf. We left with Subasić a joint confirmatory memorandum. Stevenson added orally that he felt confident means would be found to associate a Yugoslav representative with the ceremony of signature.
Subasić has now sent a memorandum stating that the Yugoslav Government has recognized with satisfaction the explanation given in our memorandum “i.e. that the propositions of the Royal Yugoslav Government as exposed in their notes of August 28 and 30 will be taken into consideration when the armistice terms will be enforced, as it has been provided by article XIII of the draft armistice terms.” The memorandum adds: However, in view of the importance the Yugoslav Government attaches to the integrity of Yugoslav territory, it is anxious to see an additional clause added to article III reading as follows: “And to abrogate all acts and laws concerning annexation or incorporation of Yugoslav territory to Bulgaria”.
The memorandum concludes: Thus the Yugoslav Government will be prepared to give its adherence and authorize the signing of the armistice terms on its behalf by the representative of the Allied Governments but if the instrument is signed by more than one Allied power, the Yugoslav Government would consider it essential that its representative also be a signatory.
In a covering letter, Dr. Subasić states, in view of the new situation created by Russia’s declaration of war on Bulgaria and with respect to the previous intention of signature by a single representative for all the Allied Governments, the Yugoslav Government would like further clarification concerning the signing of the armistice [Schoenfeld.]