Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, Eastern Europe, The Soviet Union, Volume VI

740.00119 EW/7–2446: Telegram

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

top secret

Washington, July 26, 1946—6 p.m.

238. For Barnes. Part I From Cohen.

Urtel 572, July 24.⁴¹ In reply to inquiries from Molotov at Paris as to whether the non-recognition of Bulgaria would delay agreement on Bulgarian treaty Secretary stated that it should not, that we were prepared to proceed with Bulgarian treaty at the Peace Conference and to have final texts drawn and signed by Council of Foreign Ministers but there might be difficulty in connection with ratification if Moscow Agreement not carried out. He further expressed the hope that Molotov and Vyshinski would urge upon the Bulgarian Govt that efforts be made to carry out Moscow Agreement before Peace Conference convened. Subsequently British informed us Bevin was going to urge Molotov that joint efforts should be undertaken to secure carrying out Moscow Agreement in Bulgaria but Bevin apparently made no progress. After dinner with Molotov and Vyshinski I took Vyshinski aside and in friendly way urged the importance to Soviets and ourselves of trying to bring Govt and loyal opposition together as contemplated by Moscow Agreement before Peace Conference. While Vyshinski was non-committal I asked Amb Smith to inform Vyshinski of my concern regarding intensification of feeling between Govt and opposition in Bulgaria and of my hope that he would help bring them together.

Part II From Hickerson and Barbour

Regarding views of SE⁴² it was made clear to representative Brit Emb at time that remarks were solely in nature of tentative and exploratory hypothesis, did not represent definite opinion nor, of course, position of Dept and were merely put forward informally for purpose of discussion in course of conversation.

Byrnes

41. Not printed; in it Barnes asked to be apprised of the Department’s views on the relationship between the signing of a treaty of peace with Bulgaria and the carrying out of the Moscow Conference agreement on Bulgaria (740.00119 EW/7–2446).
42. In telegram 572, July 24, cited above, Barnes reported having been informed by his British colleague that the Department’s Division of Southern European Affairs favored a policy of allowing the pressure of Bulgarian public opinion for a peace treaty to force the Bulgarian Government into a more reasonable attitude toward the Opposition (740.00119 EW/7–2446).