874.00/8–2245: Telegram
The United States Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 22—11:50 p.m.]
466. Following is very carefully prepared digest statement made late this afternoon by Stainov to local correspondent[s] foreign press agencies:
“The Foreign Minister said tonight that the Bulgarian Government has received since August 13 two American and one British note expressing the opinion of the respective Governments on the regime in Bulgaria and the electoral law stating that the American and British Governments will not be able to recognize any government emanating from a parliament to be elected in accordance with this law and consequently they will not be able to conclude peace with the same.
[Page 304]‘These notes,’ he continued, ‘imply but do not formulate demands for postponement of the elections nor any other demand. But even if they did Ave can under the circumstances only acknowledge their receipt. Our juridical position under the armistice terms is such that the demands can be directed towards us only by or through the ACC. Messrs. Houstoun-Boswall and Barnes cannot make demands on us except through ACC which until now they have not done. ACC which alone can make such demands has not done anything until now. We expected the Allies to be more specific.’ Stainov went on to say that should the three Allies decide to do something there is still time. [‘]If by midnight on Saturday August 25 there is no order from the Foreign Ministers of the three Great Powers submitted to us through the ACC the elections will be held as scheduled.
All these notes were sent directly to us with copies to the ACC, that is to say, the Russians. It would have been much better and time would have been saved if the notes had been sent directly to the Russians with copies to us.
From the political point of view the opinions of Mr. Byrnes and Mr. Bevin have great significance. From the juridical view however it only matters what ACC decides for us.[’”]
Repeated to Moscow as No. 239.