740.00119 Council/9–2545: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
8460. Secdel 120. For the Secretary: Brit Emb here has furnished Dept with paraphrases of Houstoun-Boswall’s message Sept 7 to FonOff and latter’s reply Sept 1169 regarding difficulties encountered by Greek reparations mission in Sofia and has requested that US Rep [Page 338] on ACC Bulgaria be instructed to support Brit position set forth in latter message. Dept is assured AmEmbassy London can obtain from FonOff paraphrase of these messages.
Subject to your approval, we propose to instruct Amrep Sofia to request Gen Crane to inform ACC that this Govt perceives no justifiable grounds for questioning liaison status and powers of Greek mission as fully accredited agent of Greek Govt which status has received approval of all three ACC powers and that accordingly request for confirmation by Govt Athens of claims submitted by. Chief of Mission seems unwarranted.
Moreover, although we agree with Gen Biryusov’s contention (See Brit telegram from Sofia to FonOff no. 1061 of Sept 14)70 that rights and privileges of ACC members in Bulgaria cannot be claimed for Greek Mission, we feel ACC should, in the discharge of its functions with regard to the execution of the Armistice, invoke provisions of Article 15 of the Armistice to require Bulgarian Govt to provide such services and facilities as may be necessary to the fulfillment by the Greek Mission of the purposes for which its establishment was approved. In this connection, Dept would request Gen Crane to add that there is no basis for Bulgarian Foreign Minister raising question of reciprocal treatment for possible Bulgarian Mission as Greek Mission’s presence in Bulgaria is predicated on Bulgarian obligations under the Armistice.