740.00119 Control (Bulgaria)/4–545: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 6—8:40 a.m.]
1047. Writing to Molotov on April 2 British Ambassador expressed confidence of his government that with requisite atmosphere of collaboration, acceptable arrangements could be reached between British and Soviet Governments which would remedy unsatisfactory position of British representatives on ACC in Bulgaria.
Clark Kerr referred to his February 25 letter to Molotov regarding right of British representatives to unhampered movement in Bulgaria. He hoped that he might be appraised of Soviet attitude on this issue in time to repeat it to London before April 11 when British Foreign Minister would be questioned in Parliament on the subject.
Pre-Yalta correspondence between Molotov and Eden on difficulties facing British ACC representatives in the first period was mentioned by Ambassador. He also referred to exchanges at Yalta concluding with Eden’s suggestion to Molotov that further discussions be continued through diplomatic channels. Clark Kerr stated that almost two months had elapsed since the conference and that Foreign Minister had instructed him to request an early response to the British proposals.
Ambassador pointed out that with the imminent defeat of Germany, the second period of the Bulgarian Armistice was approaching. He continued that the British proposals circulated at Yalta looked to obviating the difficulties which had become evident in the first period and providing for positive American and British participation in the operation of the ACC during the second period, this concretely implementing article 18 of the Bulgarian Armistice. Clark Kerr stated his Government felt that British proposals would, without infringing on proper Russian interests, provide for reasonable position in Bulgaria of British representatives.
Sent to Department as 1047, repeated to Sofia as 24.