740.00119 Control (Bulgaria)/12–2644: Telegram
The American Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 27—11:55 a.m.]
45. Please see my telegram No. 42, December 23, 3 p.m. I spent Christmas Eve in company with General Cherepanov who was greatly upset that I had eluded his search party on the previous evening, which had been sent all over Sofia to find me to apologize for the incident complained of in my letter of December 23 and to insist that I forgive and dine with him even so. I told him that he had been pardoned before I had written the letter but that it was just as well his search party had not found me as the officer in charge apparently had not been authorized to state that the order restricting my movements had been rescinded. The upshot of the conversation was that General Biryusov and Cherepanov are to dine with me tomorrow.
[Page 510]Today General Crane communicated the following letter to General Biryusov.
“My dear General Beresov: Yesterday afternoon, while en route to lunch at General Marinov’s, I was prevented from arriving at his house, as it was situated outside the limits of circulation that you have seen fit to set for me. I find this setting of a limit to my free movements in Bulgaria incomprehensible. I believe that you must appreciate my humiliation at seeing cars carrying Bulgar officers pass without any question where I am stopped. The idea of having a Russian officer to accompany me wherever I want to go is unsatisfactory. They are never available at the time required. I am sure that under such circumstances you will understand my view that the restriction of myself to the limits of your control posts is contrary to spirit of the relations that obtains between our two countries and that you will take prompt measures to put an end to this situation.
Sincerely yours.”