Office of the Historian

874.00/3–2145: Telegram

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

Sofia, March 21, 1945—4 p.m.
[Received 4:55 p.m.]

152. The Mission’s telegrams in general deal with highlights of developments here. Now and then brief references to lesser happenings are desirable to fill out the picture for Department’s benefit. For example:

1.
An American Sergeant was badly beaten by 2 Russian drunks, one an officer. When finally taken to a military hospital, the Russian nurse observed: “What am I supposed to do with this American bastard?” Such conduct on the part of lesser Russian military personnel brings forth no apologies or expressions of regret from higher Russian personnel.
2.
After long and unexplained delays, clearances for departure and entry of planes are granted under circumstances which render at least 50% of permissions useless. As clearances are granted only for a specific time, the whole procedure has to be started anew.
3.
On March 1 I applied in writing to Russian Minister Lavrishchev (Political Adviser to President of ACC) for permission for auxiliary Foreign Service Officer Black to proceed to Istanbul for a throat operation and return to Sofia. I have since taken the matter up in person with the Minister on two occasions but the permit has not yet been granted nor has any explanation been forthcoming.
Even in personal conversation Russian officials are able to refrain from any response to direct questions without the least feeling of embarrassment being apparent.
4.
I explained to Lavrishchev a week ago our urgent need for two clerks waiting as [at?] Caserta to join my staff. No clearance for them has yet come through and probably won’t for some time to come no matter how insistently the matter is pressed.

To summarize, being an ally at close quarters with the Russians might be likened to something in the nature of matrimony with a good [Page 177] provider but whose personal habits and disregard for the sensibilities of the other member of the union grate constantly on one’s nerves. Inability to modify the partner’s character and manners can in time lead only to a suffused sense of frustration and impotence, or separation. I have yet to see any signs of our having modified either the character or manners of the Russians we have to deal with here.

Repeated to Moscow as 66 and to AmPolAd as No. 77.

Barnes