Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Central and Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

123 Heath, Donald R.: Telegram

The Minister in Bulgaria (Heath) to the Secretary of State

secret
priority

Sofia, February 9, 1950—9 p. m.

193. Reference Deptel 126, February 7¹ received this p. m. Suggestion that I ask for appointment Foreign Office to request clarification my status seems worth trying but should be done soonest. It might precipitate action one way or another by Bulgarian Government which we desire.

My asking appointment Foreign Office might have one of following further results. Most likely Foreign Office would not give immediate answer re appointment if any answer. Also might refuse appointment, thus showing I am still considered persona non grata.

In case of latter action or delay more than three days in receiving appointment, believe Department should call in Bulgarian Chargé Voutov and say I have been refused interview by Foreign Office and that Department must have answer to its January 20 note² within specified time as state of relations is untenable. Then if silence continues, believe Department should announce withdrawal of mission.

Should, however, Foreign Office receive me I would say my Government has asked me inquire of Bulgarian Government as to reply to our note of January 20. Should Foreign Office say verbally they are dropping request for my withdrawal, believe this can be interpreted as victory without our insistence on formal reply, and could be effectively publicized by Department.

Likewise should Voutov convey orally his Government decision to drop withdrawal. However, I think any voluntary mention on our part that my tenure here is naturally drawing to close would be twisted into retreat and would thus lose all ground and more that we have gained by this move. If received at Foreign Office, I think I should come to the point at the beginning of interview and not start off with housing or other minor problems of the Legation. If question raised by Foreign Office re my tour of duty here I would be prepared to say it had originally been set at two years. I agree there is no use asking for guarantee good behavior towards this mission but believe I should state my understanding that if my recall is not insisted upon it means harrassment of Legation and especially persecution of employees will cease.

If break occurs I feel that accreditations of US Minister in Rumania also Bulgaria would detract from straightforwardness and strength of our position as viewed by US press and public as well as by Communists. Strong position in Department note January 20 has given decided pause I believe, to this and other satellites and to Kremlin.³

Heath

1. Supra.
2. Ante, p. 507.
3. Telegram 143, February 10, to Sofia, not printed, replied that the Department of State concurred in Minister Heath’s views. Heath was instructed to request an appointment with the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry and to state the United States position as outlined in paragraph 2 of telegram 126, February 7, to Sofia (supra) as modified by Heath’s suggestions. If Heath were not received in three days, Bulgarian Chargé Voutov would be called to the Department for an interview. If neither interview indicated that Bulgaria had dropped its demand for Heath’s recall, the Department would proceed with the notification of the withdrawal of the Legation from Bulgaria (123 Heath, Donald R.).