Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, General: Political and Economic Matters, Volume II

Council of Foreign Ministers Files: Lot M–88: CFM London Documents

Memorandum by the United Kingdom Delegation to the Council of Foreign Ministers

C.F.M.(45) 22

London, 17 September, 1945.

Proposals for a Peace Treaty With Bulgaria

The United Kingdom Delegation offer the following preliminary observations upon the Soviet Delegation’s memorandum circulated to the Council as paper C.F.M.(45) 6.⁶¹

2. The United Kingdom Delegation agree with the Soviet Delegation that the relevant Articles of the Armistice with Bulgaria signed at Moscow on 28th October, 1944, provide a basis for the drafting of certain parts of the Treaty of Peace with Bulgaria. The United Kingdom Delegation suggest that the action already taken by the Bulgarian Government under Article 7 of the Armistice may make it unnecessary to repeat in the Peace Treaty the whole substance of Article 7.

3. The United Kingdom Delegation consider that Article 1(d) of the Armistice, regarding the demobilisation of the Bulgarian armed forces, and Article 2 of the Armistice, regarding the steps necessary to liquidate Bulgarian aggression during the war against Greece and Yugoslavia, must also be taken as a basis for the necessary provisions in the Peace Treaty.

4. Taking as a basis Article 1(d) of the Armistice, the United Kingdom Delegation propose that the Peace Treaty should lay down the character and numbers of the armed forces which Bulgaria would be allowed to retain; should impose the necessary limitations upon the manufacture of war material in Bulgaria; and should provide for a small inter-Allied military Inspectorate to supervise the execution of the military clauses of the Treaty in succession to the Allied Control Commission which would be dissolved upon the entry into force of the Treaty.

5. The United Kingdom Delegation assume that on the conclusion of the Peace Treaty all Allied forces will be withdrawn from Bulgaria, and that all unused requisitioned currency and goods will be returned to the Bulgarian Government (cf. Articles 3, 15 and 17 of the Armistice).

6. The United Kingdom Delegation consider that the provisions in Article 14 of the Armistice, governing the return of Allied vessels to their owners and compensation for their damage or destruction, should be included in the Peace Treaty.

7. [Here follows text the same, mutatis mutandis, as section 10 in Proposals for a Peace Treaty with Roumania (C.F.M.(45) 21), supra.]

8. The United Kingdom Delegation suggest that consideration might be given to the need for a clause in the Peace Treaty confirming the cession of the Southern Dobruja by Roumania to Bulgaria in 1940.⁶²

9. 10. [Here follow texts the same, mutatis mutandis, as in sections 11 and 12 in Proposals for a Peace Treaty with Roumania (C.F.M.(45) 21), supra.]

61. September 12, p. 148.
62. For text of the Treaty of Friendship and Collaboration between Bulgaria and Roumania, with Protocol, Declaration and Agreements, signed at Craiova, September 7, 1940, see British and Foreign State Papers, vol. cxliv, p. 247.