874.00/11–245: Telegram
The United States Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 4—2:45 p.m.]
651. Again this Mission has only local press report of an official statement by Secretary of State on matters affecting Bulgaria to go on. I refer specifically to Mr. Byrnes’ statement of October 31 or thereabouts to the effect that the U. S. would never enter into any Eastern European arrangement hostile to the Soviet Union.88 I could with equal pertinency refer to President’s 12 points program American foreign policy.89 In the absence these two texts I am somewhat at loss to report intelligently on local reaction thereto. This is especially the case as Government press and those members of Government to whom I have talked since yesterday represent Secretary’s statement as “watering down” of sixth point President’s 12 points program. In other words Secretary’s statement has been utilized here to encourage view that U. S. is willing to compromise with Russian policy as it has manifested itself in Eastern European interest of larger understanding between U. S. and Soviet Union. I assume from second paragraph Department’s telegram No. 356, October 31, that local efforts to present Mr. Byrnes’ statement as “softening” our view about importance Yalta declaration is contrary to fact.
Repeated to Moscow as No. 28.