874.00/11-846
The Deputy Director of the Offiee of European Affairs (Hickerson) to
    the Director of the Office of European Affairs (Matthews) I

 TOP SECRET                         WASHINGTON, November 8, 1946.
   DEAR Doc. I refer to our telephone conversation of a couple days
ago about Maynard Barnes' suggestion in his telegram no. 888 of
November 5 that the Secretary discuss the Bulgarian situation with
Mr. Molotov. This telegram was repeated to you in New York and
you probably have its text before you. For easy reference purposes,
however, I enclose a copy of this telegram as well as Barnes' 859 of
October 252 and his 885 of November 4, both of which are referred
to in his telegram of November 5.
  Wally Barbour and I have given a good bit of thought to this whole
matter. We agree with Barques' proposal in his telegram 888 of
November 5 that on balance it would be desirable for the Bulgarian
opposition to be represented in the Bulgarian Government. We also
agree that it would be useful if this matter could be discussed with
the Soviet representatives in New York. I know how busy the Sec-
retary is and I realize that it would be out of the question to expect
him to take up this matter at this time with Mr. Molotov. I wonder,
however, whether it might not be possible for you and Ben Cohen 3
to discuss it with Mr. Vyshinsky.4
  Yours sincerely,                                JOHN HICKERSON
874.00/11-1446
Memorandumn of Conversation, by Mr. George L. West of the Division
                   of Southern European Affairs

CONFIDENTIAL                    [WASHINGTON,] November 15, 1946.
Participants: Mr. Herbert AM. Sichel, First Secretary of the British
                 Embassy
               Mr. Barbour, SE
               Mr. West, SE

  'Mr. Matthews was serving as Special Political Adviser to the United States
delegation at the Third Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers at New
York,
November 4-December 11, 1946.
' Not printed, but see the second paragraph of telegram 888, November 5,
from
Sofia, p. 166.
  'Cohen served as Counselor to the United States delegation at the Third
Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers at New York.
'Attached to the source text, which is the signed copy received by Matthews,
are two handwritten, undated memoranda exchanged between Matthews and
Cohen. Matthews' memorandum to Cohen reads as follows: "I am not inclined
to feel that any useful purpose would be served by approaching the Russians
te Bulgaria now. However, I pass the suggestion on for your reaction."
Cohen's memorandum reads as follows: "I think we will just have to bide
our
time for the right opportunity. In many ways it is a good time for the move
to
be made by the Bulgarian Govt. The problem is how we can help."



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BULGARIA