Home
Historical Documents
Department History
Key Milestones
- The Founding Era
- Diplomacy and Revolution
- The Early Republic
- Securing the Republic
- The Antebellum Period
- The Civil War
- The Age of Imperialism
- Into the Twentieth Century
- The First World War
- The Interwar Period
- World War II
- The Cold War
- Bi-Polar Foreign Policy
- Entangling Alliances
- Détente
- Quest for Peace
- Cold War Denouement
- Toward the Twenty-First Century
Guide to Countries
More Resources
Countries
A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: Bulgaria
Summary
Bulgaria revolted against Ottoman Turkish rule in 1876. The Treaty of San
Stefano, which ended the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, established a large
Bulgarian state. The Treaty of Berlin (1878), however, established a smaller
Bulgarian principality north of the Balkan Mountains. Its boundaries were not
finalized until after World War I. Bulgaria became independent of the Ottoman
Empire on October 5, 1908, after which its reigning Prince, Ferdinand of
Saxe-Coburg, proclaimed himself Tsar.
Modern Flag of Bulgaria
Recognition
Bulgaria proclaimed its full independence from the Ottoman Empire on October 5, 1908. Horace G. Knowles, U.S. Minister to Romania and Serbia and Diplomatic Agent in Bulgaria, acknowledged receipt of the proclamation from Bucharest on the same day.
Consular Presence
A Consular Agency was established in Sofia on January 12, 1912. It reported to the Consulate General in Bucharest. It became a Consulate General on February 22, 1915.
Diplomatic Relations
The first U.S. diplomatic representative in Bulgaria was Charles M. Dickinson, who was appointed Agent on April 24, 1901. He held the position until June 30, 1903. Dickinson served concurrently as Consul General at Constantinople, and there is no record that he ever presented credentials in Sofia.
John B. Jackson, who was Minister to Greece, Romania, and Serbia, was the first Diplomatic Agent to Bulgaria, and the first U.S. representative to present his credentials there, which he did on September 19, 1903. This date marks the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and the United States. He was re-appointed in 1911 as Minister to Romania, Serbia, and Bulgaria. Later Diplomatic Agents to Bulgaria (1907-10) were also Ministers to Romania and Serbia. Only one of them, Horace G. Knowles (1907-09) presented his credentials in Bulgaria. Only after World War I was a U.S. representative commissioned solely to Bulgaria.
On December 14, 1914, Stefan Panaretov presented his credentials as Bulgaria’s first Minister to the United States. He served until 1925.
The American Legation in Sofia was established on March 18, 1919, when Charles S. Wilson presented his credentials as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at Sofia. Wilson later was appointed Minister to Bulgaria on October 8, 1921, and presented his credentials on December 5.
Bulgaria declared war on the United States on December 13, 1941. U.S. Minister George H. Earle III left Sofia and arrived in Istanbul on December 27, 1941. The United States did not declare war on Bulgaria until June 5, 1942. President Franklin D. Roosevelt believed that Bulgaria would not have declared war without pressure from Nazi Germany.
The Soviet Union declared war on Bulgaria on September 5, 1944, and occupied the country despite Bulgaria’s acceptance of an armistice on September 8, 1944. The Sovietization of the country proceeded apace, with the country being proclaimed a People’s Republic on September 15, 1946. However, the United States still recognized the pre-war Bulgarian government. The U.S. Legation in Sofia was reopened on September 27, 1947, and Donald R. Heath presented his credentials on November 8 as U.S. Minister to Bulgaria.
The Bulgarian Legation in Washington reopened November 21, 1947, with Stoyan Athanassov as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim. Minister Nissim Mevorah presented his credentials on December 29, 1947.
In 1950, the Bulgarian Government accused U.S. Minister Heath of espionage and declared him persona non grata on January 19. Bulgaria severed diplomatic relations with the United States on February 20, 1950. The United States announced the suspension of diplomatic relations with Bulgaria on February 21, and Heath left the country on February 24, 1950.
The United States and Bulgaria agreed to resume diplomatic relations on March 24, 1959. Edward Page, Jr. was appointed Minister to Bulgaria on November 23, 1959, and presented his credentials on March 14, 1960.
Peter Voutov was appointed as Bulgaria’s Minister to the United States on December 2, 1959, and presented his credentials on January 15, 1960.
The Legation in Bulgaria was elevated to Embassy status on November 28, 1966. Minister John M. McSweeney, who had been originally appointed on May 16, 1966, was appointed Ambassador on April 7, 1967. He presented his new credentials on April 19, 1967.
Bulgarian Minister Luben Guerassimov, who had served since September 1, 1965, was promoted to Ambassador and presented his new credentials on December 14, 1966.
Treaties and Agreements
The first agreement between the United States and Bulgaria dealt with reciprocal trade on a most-favored-nation basis. Diplomatic Agent John B. Jackson concluded the agreement in Sofia on June 6, 1906, and it was proclaimed to be in force on September 15, 1906.
The first treaty between the United States and Bulgaria dealt with naturalization, and was signed at Sofia on November 23, 1923, and entered into force on April 5, 1924.
Key Diplomatic Events
In 1876, Eugene Schuyler, U.S. Consul General in Constantinople, was sent to Bulgaria to investigate what would now be called a human rights issue: Turkish suppression of a Bulgarian revolt. He reported at length on “the Bulgarian Horrors,” and helped shift British policy away from unconditional support for the Ottoman Empire.
Resources
- Bulgaria in World Wide Diplomatic Archives Index