The Swiss Government today informed the State Department that the American memorandum protesting the Bulgarian downing of the Israel aircraft was delivered on behalf of the U.S. to the Bulgarian Ministry for Foreign Affairs at Sofia last Wednesday. The American protest was sent through the Swiss Charge d’Affaires who represents American interests in Sofia since the U.S. does not maintain diplomatic relations with Communist Bulgaria.
The text of the American aide memoir had not been made public until today when Swiss representatives acknowledged its receipt in Sofia to the State Department. The complete text reads as follows:
“The United States Government protests emphatically against the brutal action of Bulgarian military personnel on July 27, 1955 in firing upon a commercial aircraft of the El Al Israel Airlines which was lawfully engaged as an international carrier. This attack, which resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and the death of all personnel aboard, including several United States citizens, constitutes a grave violation of accepted principles of international law. The Bulgarian Government has acknowledged responsibility for this action.
“The United States Government demands that the Bulgarian Government 1. take all appropriate measures to prevent a recurrence of incidents of this nature and inform the United States Government concerning these measures; 2. Punish all persons responsible for this incident; and 3. Provide prompt and adequate compensation to the United States Government for the families of the United States citizens killed in this attack.”
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