874.00/7–3145: Telegram

No. 831
The Representative in Bulgaria ( Barnes ) to the Acting Secretary of State
secret
us urgent

403. I have just been told the Prime Minister has informed Regents he has “accepted” Petkov’s resignation and decree confirming Petkov’s departure from Govt has already been signed. I fear in absence of any encouraging signs from Washington, London and Potsdam of Anglo-American interest in Bulgarian election situation Petkov’s “departure” may not be followed, as I had hoped it would be, by resignations of Stoyanov, Cheschmedjieff, Pavlov and Derzhanski. I feel very strongly that time has come whe[n] Dept must tell me what, if anything, the US Govt is really prepared to do about local political and election situation. If for some reason we can not make a stand against measures that will force total disintegration of democratic elements in this country I believe that I and the local leaders who have been resisting the Communists should be told the facts. …

Rptd to Moscow as 210.

Barnes