740.00119 Control (Bulgaria)/3–1345: Telegram
The United States Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 14—3:50 p.m.]
134. The British proposals for the post-German armistice period set forth in Department’s No. 63, March 10, 7 p.m. meet with full approval of General Crane and myself. We believe that two additional conditions are also essential to effective participation by United States in ACC; namely, unrestricted movement in and out for our aircraft and necessary personnel, and freedom of movement within Bulgaria for our personnel.
It may well be that by the time hostilities have ceased with Germany general elections will have been held in Bulgaria. If we accept the results of these elections and satisfactory arrangement for our effective participation on the ACC have proven impossible, we could, of course, take a page from the Russian book in Italy and recognize the Bulgarian Government. I believe myself that the Russians may make any such course unnecessary by recognizing the Bulgarian Government before we do. In any event should the Bulgarian Government be recognized by the Russians or by all three of us the ACC could no longer constitute in fact the executive organ of control that it now does. However, the Russians would doubtless maintain the fiction such a role for it as a stumbling block to ourselves and the British. Ultimate recognition of the government and Russian desire in that event to use the Control Committee as an obstacle to United States and the British are possible developments that we should keep in mind in shaping our thoughts with respect to the second period of armistice with Bulgaria.
We also feel strongly that negotiations with respect to the second armistice period should be tripartite and that the British should not carry on discussions in our behalf as well as for themselves.
Repeated to Moscow as 57 and AmPolAd as 65.