Department of the Army Files: Telegram
No. 308
The Representative on the Allied
Control Commission for Bulgaria
(Crane) to the Commanding General, United States Army Forces,
Mediterranean Theater of Operations (McNarney)1
priority
CG MTOUSA ACC Hungary and ACC Rumania US Delegations from ACC Bulgaria US. Msg Nr 1906.
More than two months have passed since the end of hostilities with Germany. According to the terms of the Armistice with Bulgaria,2 there should have been certain changes in the operation of the ACC. No changes have taken place.
I am unable to find out what is being done in the name of the ACC.
Complete control is still being exercised by the Russians over our plane and personnel entry into Bulgaria for no reason whatever. This includes officials and employees of our Government. We are still confined to Sofia unless under escort of a Russian officer.
Our position here is most embarrassing. People, Bulgarians and [Page 405] representatives of other governments, openly comment on our apparent helplessness before the power of Russia.
In view of our treatment it is difficult to explain the fact that we are still furnishing them with lend-lease supplies, and are apparently preparing to lend them $6,000,000,000.
The failure to reach any decision in the Dimitroff case is greatly strengthening the hands of the local Communists.
Incidentally Barnes is becoming much harassed by the long visit, over six weeks now.3
Can’t we talk a little tough to the Russians in Moscow and avoid being kicked in the face every day?
- Received by the United States Delegation to the Berlin Conference on July 13 as a retransmission from the War Department.↩
- Signed at Moscow, October 28, 1944 (Executive Agreement Series No. 437; 58 Stat. (2) 1498).↩
- Georgy M. Dimitrov, leader of the Bulgarian National Agrarian Union, had sought refuge in Barnes’ home at Sofia.↩