874.00/5–2645: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)
1150. Barnes today reports by radio in clear from Sofia to Athens under no. 276 that he with General Crane and 6 soldiers are at his [Page 229] villa 5 kilometers from Sofia, and cut off from Sofia by a substantial Soviet military detachment commanded by Colonel Sviridov, the commander of the place. He anticipates a forceful effort to enter the villa to remove Dimitrov. British General Oxley has tried to reach them but has been turned back.
The Department’s instructions to Barnes sent yesterday63 are being repeated to you separately.
Please take up this matter with Mr. Molotov with all urgency, impressing upon him the necessity for immediate instructions to Sofia that there should be no action by Soviet units which would in any way interfere with the negotiations between the US Representative and the Bulgarian authorities for a satisfactory arrangement in the Dimitrov case, or impede his freedom of movement between his villa and Sofia or interrupt Ms communications.
As you will see from the instructions to Barnes and our 1145 to you64 we wish to avoid any appearance of unilateral action in this matter. We trust Molotov will appreciate the tremendous effect on public opinion in America and elsewhere if anything should be allowed to happen which would impede Barnes’ completely disinterested effort or disparage the position of the United States representation in Bulgaria.
Repeated to London, Caserta and Sofia.65