740.00119 Control (Bulgaria)/1–2645: Telegram
The United States Representative in Bulgaria ( Barnes ) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 26—4:30 p.m.]
54. I believe that various of my telegrams have made it clear to the Department that an important movement is afoot here in support of the Federation of All South Slavs. I was told some weeks ago by my British colleague19 that his Government was then in consultation with the Department as to this movement. I have received no instructions with respect to the matter although by inference the subject is somewhat covered in the tentative statement of policy with regard to Greece dated October 23, 1944.20
This afternoon the British political representative gave me the text of instructions just received by him which at the present moment he is communicating in person to the Bulgarian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and which in paraphrase are as follows:
“His Majesty’s Government could not approve an exclusive union or federation between Yugoslavia and Bulgaria although they would welcome a confederation between all the Balkan states both Allied and enemy and including possibly Turkey. Likewise His Majesty’s Government would be strongly opposed to the creation of a greater Macedonian state involving claim upon Greek territory although they are prepared to agree to the creation of a Macedonian state in a future federal Yugoslavia. The activities of Macedonian propagandists in Bulgaria which the Bulgarian Government appear to condone, are therefore looked upon with disfavor by His Majesty’s Government. Also the transfer of any part of Bulgarian territory to the Yugoslav federal state of Macedonia without consent of the United Nations would be an act which His Majesty’s Government does not consider the Bulgarian Government would have the right to perform.”
I understand that Maclean is making a similar statement to Tito.