SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE.

CONFIDENTIAL.

June 23, 1930.

Section 3.

[C 5006/923/7]

Mr. A. Henderson to Mr. Waterlow (Sofia).

(No. 201.)

Sir,

I TRANSMIT herewith a copy of a memorandum recording the discussions which took place at the Foreign Office on the occasion of your recent visit to London, with a view to formulating the course of action which His Majesty's Government should follow when dealing with the problem of improving the relations between Bulgaria and her neighbours.

I am, &c.

ARTHUR HENDERSON.

Enclosure in No.1.

Memorandum.

IN the course of discussions between Sir R. Vansittart, Mr. Waterlow and myself during Mr. Waterlow's present visit to London, an attempt has been made to formulate the course of action which we should follow when dealing with the problem of improving Bulgaria's relations with her neighbours.

• 1. It was recognised that, generally speaking, it is highly desirable that these relations should be placed on a more satisfactory footing, so as to eliminate that feeling of ostracism and that sense of national inferiority which at present pervades public opinion in Bulgaria, and thereby discourages any real effort by the Bulgarian Government or people to put their house in order and seriously set, to work on the economic and financial regeneration of the country. While strongly in favour of any policy or measures which might help in this direction, it was agreed, however, that His Majesty's Government should not put themselves forward in such a way as to make it appear either that they were pursuing an isolated policy or that they were anxious to offer themselves as mediators in the various disputes and claims which at present impede the establishment of normal relations between Bulgaria and her neighbours. His Majesty's Government should, generally speaking, confine themselves to offering, impartially to both sides, general advice as to the desirability of losing no opportunity of improving relations and eliminating points of friction. In doing so, care should be taken not to express any opinion or offer any advice on matters of detail, either as regards methods of procedure or as regards the merits of individual claims and disputes.