Office of the Historian

C.F.M. Files: Lot M–88: Box 2063: US Delegation Minutes

Memorandum of Conversation, by Charles E. Bohlen, Assistant to the Secretary of State

[Extract]97
top secret
[Paris,] April 28, 1946.
Participants: Secretary Byrnes
Mr. Benjamin V. Cohen98
Mr. Charles E. Bohlen
Mr. Molotov
Mr. Vyshinsky
Mr. Pavlov99

The following is a summary of the conversation by subjects which took place before and after the dinner given by the Secretary for Mr. Molotov:

Bulgaria

Molotov and Vyshinsky repeated previous arguments to the effect that it was because of Barnes’ activities in Bulgaria that the Moscow decision had not been carried out. They had no evidence to support this assertion, but merely repeated that the attitude of the opposition leaders in putting forth conditions not provided in the Moscow decision was due to Barnes’ advice.

The Secretary said that we had looked into these previous charges and were convinced that Barnes was doing what he could to help and not hinder matters.

Mr. Cohen pointed out that about three weeks ago it had looked as though the opposition and the Government were very near agreement concerning the inclusion of some members of the opposition, and that Barnes himself had been very optimistic on this score, but that suddenly the situation had changed and the Government had told the opposition that no agreement was possible. He inquired if Mr. Molotov could shed any light on this sudden change in attitude. Neither Mr. Molotov nor Mr. Vyshinsky was willing or able to throw any light on this point and the conversation on Bulgaria led to no conclusions although Mr. Molotov did raise the question as to how, under the circumstances, it would be possible to conclude a peace treaty with Bulgaria.

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  1. For the remaining portions of this memorandum dealing with the Iranian question before the United Nations and the American proposals before the Council of Foreign Ministers relative to Germany and Austria, see vol. vii, p. 441, and vol. ii, p. 146, respectively.↩
  2. Cohen was serving as Counselor to the United States delegation at the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers in Paris.↩
  3. Vladimir Nikolayevich Pavlov, Interpreter for Foreign Minister Molotov.↩