Northern (N): Bulgaria (NG). Claims Against Government of Bulgaria following Shooting Down of El Al Civil Airliner, July 1955

A file relating to the crash of El Al flight 402. Subjects discussed in the file include the Canadian government's attitude towards accepting the Bulgarian offer to settle the case on a per capita, ex gratia basis; potential applications to the International Court of Justice (I.C.J.) for compensation; and a possible increase in the Bulgarian offer for British claimants suffering hardship. Documents in the file include a report of the latest position of the British families' claims against El Al; a copy of the Israeli application to the I.C.J. to open proceedings against Bulgaria; a telegram reporting that the United States would submit documents to the I.C.J., but wished to avoid publicising this to prevent the Bulgarians rejecting the I.C.J.'s jurisdiction; and a request for greater clarity in Foreign Office requests for information from the Israeli government due to the travel required between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to gather information.