CIRCULAR D. 158

CIRCULAR D. 158

My telegram circular D. 84.

Bulgaria

British Political Representative at Sofia reports that according to reliable sources the Bulgarian Prime Minister has been “indisposed” for the last few days and Lieutenant General Terpeshev (see my telegram Circular D. 33 of January 8th, paragraph 2) has been presiding over the Council of Ministers in his absence. M. Georgiev is, in fact, believed to have left Sofia in the company of Soviet officers for the purpose of discussing with Marshal Tito, or his representatives, the establishment of a South Slav Confederation. He is expected, according to the source, to return to Sofia shortly when some declaration on the subject will be made.

2. Source also stated that on March 3rd (anniversary of Bulgarian liberation and of accession of King Boris III) Bulgaria would be proclaimed a Republic. This development would be followed a few weeks later by the cession to an autonomous Macedonian State of the Pirin are of Bulgaria. Source, however, thought that local inhabitants of that district might resist.

3. Finally, source said that Soviet authorities were understood to have indicated that any claim which might be advanced by the new South Slav Confederation to Salonica would enjoy their support.

4. Mr. Houstoun-Boswall comments that this report should not be made before the general settlement with Bulgaria as an enemy state.

5. United States Government do not favour the union of Yugoslavia and Bulgaria as a single unit, since the neighbouring non-Slav States, including Turkey, would consider it a threat to their security. They would, however, consider a plan for a regional understanding

to include all south eastern European States rather than an exclusive Slav block, provided these States decide, with the concurrence of the principal Allied Governments, that it would be to the general benefit of that area.

6. United States Government have not yet made known their views on the proposed Yugoslav-Bulgarian Pact of Mutual Assistance (see my telegram Circular D. 316 of February 20th)

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DOMINION AFFAIRS

Rec’d 7:22 p.m.

Telegram 159 - London, January 26th, 1945

From the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs To the Secretary of State for External Affairs Canada

CIRCULAR D. 159

My telegram circular D. 84.

Yugoslavia

Brigadier MacLean reports that in a moment of indiscretion recently Dr. Smodlaka, Commissar for Foreign Affairs in Yugoslav National Committee of Liberation, confirmed that Bulgarian Government had definitely, agreed to cede Bulgarian Macedonia to Yugoslavia. Furthermore, article in “Politika” (one of Tito’s newspapers) on January 14th by Commissar for Public Works in National Committee referred to Bulgaria’s to cede territory to Yugoslavia as evinced by statement of “official representative of Bulgaria” at last session of Asnom (see my telegram Circular D. 33 of January 8th) that “Bulgaria is prepared to cede her part of Macedonia” to Yugoslavia. However, official reports of Asnom meeting omitted any reference to such a statement. Mention of it in above article may be in nature of an indiscretion.

2. British Political Representative in Sofia drew attention to Bulgarian Minister for Foreign Affairs to this article and reminded him that a member of Bulgarian Government, the Lieutenant General Terpeshev, had attended the meeting. Minister for Foreign Affairs said Terpeshev was not there officially as a Cabinet Minister but as representative of Bulgarian Workers (Communist) Party. Minister for Foreign Affairs added that id people of Pirin are wanted to join their brother Macedonians in might be difficult to stop them, but time was not yet ripe for this sort of thing.

3. Mr. Houstoun-Boawall considers that present spate of pro-Yugoslav propaganda and organization of relief for Yugoslav population may represent Bulgaria’s effort to remove Yugoslav mistrust (see my telegram Circular D. 84 of January 16th). He

comments that, whatever the outcome, this ostentatious demarche can hardly fail to go to Bulgaria’s credit.

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DOMINION AFFAIRS

Rec’d 2:03 a.m., January 27th.

Telegram 182 - London, January 31st, 1945

From the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs To the Secretary of State for External Affairs Canada

CIRCULAR D. 182

My telegram circular D. 159 of January 26th.

Macedonia

In light of the information regarding Bulgarian Government readiness to cede Bulgarian Macedonia to Yugoslavia, contained in my telegram under reference, we instructed Brigadier MacLean to speak to Tito and convey to him our views on questions of Macedonia and Yugoslav-Bulgarian Federation as set out in my telegram Circular D. 1 of January 1st. At the same time, Brigadier MacLean was to inform Tito that we have noted with satisfaction the assurance he has already given (see my telegram Circular D. 1796 of December 12th, paragraph 3). That he has no aggressive intention against Macedonia and that any Yugoslav claims will be raised in an orderly fashion at the Peace Conference.

2. Brigadier MacLean spoke to Tito as instructed on January 26th. Tito reported that he was convinced that this was not the time to try to establish a federation with Bulgaria or any other neighbours of Yugoslavia and that he had no intention of attempting to do so in present circumstances. He also indicated once again that he had no intention of trying to annex territory from Greece or Bulgaria before the Peace Conference when he would put forward any claim he might have in the proper way.

3. Acting on instructions, British Political Representative at Sofia has also informed Bulgarian Government of our views as follows;

While we should welcome a confederation between all Balkan States both Allied and enemy, and including possibly Turkey, we could not approve an exclusive union or federation between Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. Moreover, while we are prepared to agree to the creation of a Macedonian State in the future Federal

Yugoslavia, we should be strongly opposed to the creation of a greater Macedonian State involving claims on Greek territory. We, therefore, look with disfavour on the activities of Macedonian propagandists in Bulgaria which the Bulgarian Government appear to have condoned and we do not recognize the rights of the Bulgarian Government to transfer, without the consent of the United Nations, any part of Bulgarian territory to the Yugoslav Federal State of Macedonia.