874.00/3–945: Telegram
The United States Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 10—2:35 p.m.]
124. Perhaps the most revealing commentary yet on the Fatherland Front’s attitude toward democratic processes and the Communists Party’s determination to use the FF as a means of acquiring permanent power in Bulgaria is the decree law announced yesterday on eve of the opening today of National Congress of the FF. It is called the “decree law for the defense of the people’s authority”. Briefly stated, its outstanding provisions are:
“To be punished by death or life imprisonment” (1) whoever founds or leads at home or abroad an organization of Fascist ideology for the purpose of overthrowing, undermining or weakening the power of the FF; (2) saboteurs of military or state installations or materials including public food supplies; (3) whoever, inspired FF [by?] Fascist ideology, attempts a coup d’état, a revolt, mutiny, terroristic acts or similar crimes of general danger; (4) whoever leaves his residence and joins an armed group to aid crimes (crimes are defined in 3 above although such is exactly what the patriots who overthrew the Government on September 9 did); (5) whoever causes loss of life to a military person, military employee, militia man or person mobilized in Bulgarian army or militia or persons of an Allied or [Page 172] friendly country; (6) whoever seeks to destroy the economy or supply of the country or to bring confusion to a community or hinders public authority or who hides, damages or destroys materials or machine equipment shall be punished by solitary confinement. “(1) Whoever at home or abroad spreads rumors or approves in any manner whatsoever any of the foregoing acts; (2) whoever seeks to weaken the fighting spirit of the Bulgarian army or to divert it from its tasks; (3) whoever assists organizations or supports the reaction on behalf of organizations mentioned in first subsection of this decree.
Persons condemned under this decree law shall be deprived of their political and civil rights and be subject to partial or complete confiscation of property.”
Repeated to Moscow as No. 51 and to AmPolAd as No. 58.