760h.74/3–1245: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 14—9:50 a.m.]
722. Re Department’s 473, March 2, 8 p.m. Molotov has replied to my letter of March 7 with regard to the proposed Yugoslav-Bulgarian pact in a letter dated March 10 in which he says that the Soviet Government considers the conclusion of such a treaty very useful in our common struggle with Hitlerite Germany, and in the future maintenance of security and peace in Europe and in the Balkans in particular.
It is accordingly not clear to the Soviet Government what motives have led the United States and British Governments to express themselves in opposition to the conclusion of such a treaty between two countries which have actively participated in the struggle against Hitlerite Germany.
The Soviet Government therefore considers it desirable, in accordance with the recommendation made at the Crimea Conference by Mr. Stettinius and supported by Molotov,26 to continue the consideration of this question in Moscow, in order to work out an agreed point of view of the three principal Allies.
Molotov adds that the British Government has been informed of this proposal.
I request instructions regarding the above.
Sent to the Department as 722, repeated to London as 113 for Patterson, and Sofia as 18.
- Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov, People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union.↩