Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1945, Europe, Volume IV

874.00/8–2345: Telegram

The United States Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State

Sofia, August 23, 1945—11 a.m.
[Received 3:20 p.m.]

468. I have just sent the following note to the MinFonAff:

1. “Yesterday evening at 6 o’clock the US and UK representatives on the Allied Control Commission called on General Biryusov, Deputy Chairman of the Commission, and made to him the following oral statement:

2. (Here follows oral statement as reported in my 465, Aug 22.)

3. “This morning General Crane has addressed the following letter to General Biryusov:

4. ‘The purpose of the oral statement made to you last evening hy General Oxley and myself was to let you know, as Deputy Chairman of the Allied Control Commission, that it is the desire of the US and UK Govts that the general elections scheduled for Aug 26 be postponed until the Allied Control Commission can agree on such remedial measures as will assure unfettered elections at the earliest moment possible. In this connection, I wish to refer to the declaration made yesterday evening to local correspondents of foreign press agencies by the Bulgarian MinFonAff and Cults and commissar for the fulfillment of the armistice terms. Mr. Stainov stated that should the three Allies decide to do something about the elections there is still time. He added that if by midnight Aug 25 there is no order from the Foreign Ministers of the three Great Powers transmitted through the Allied Control Commission, the elections will be held as scheduled. The Minister’s inference is clear.’

5. “A similar letter has been addressed to General Biryusov by General Oxley.”

Repeated to Moscow as 241.

Barnes