874.00/6–2645: Telegram
The United States Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:58 p.m.]
333. The press of June 24 carried a “manifesto to the Bulgarian people” from the FF Natl Committee reviewing the achievements of the regime since last Sept and warning the Bulgn people against efforts now being made by the “black reaction” both at home and abroad to undermine the Front’s prestige. The manifesto employed such time-worn Communist phrases as “internatl financial speculators”, “black market operators” etc., and bulked the Front’s enemies together under the term “Gemetovists” (re my house guest) and “reactionaries”. It claimed that by means of rumors and intrigues these reactionaries, “who call themselves democrats”, are directing their attack at the vital juncture of workers and peasants collaboration. The document threatens dire consequences to those who raise theirs against the unity of the four parties, an essential condition, so the Committee maintains, to internal and internatl stability for the country and reiterates the view doubtless first expressed in Padev’s article from San Francisco (Mytel 317, June 14)1 that all elements of public opinion in the US and England support the FF except those reactionaries in the two countries who seek to embitter Soviet-Anglo-Saxon relations.
[Page 262]The shrill tone of the manifesto suggests that criticism of the FF expressed in the US and England has touched to the quick the more rabid members of the Front’s National Committee. In my opinion the manifesto represents an effort to reply and constitutes at the same time a sort of red herring prepared to distract the gullible in Bulgar from the true issue, namely, police govt versus free democratic elections.
Further evidence is available that criticism from abroad is having its effect on the local political situation. The Agrarian Ministers have not yet been ejected from the Govt and there is now some reason to believe the Communists are trying to patch matters up by having Petkov reinstated as Secy Genl of the Agrarian Party and Bumbarov, who was “ejected” from the Party a short time ago by Obbov’s Committee, rehabilitated as a party member. In exchange for those concessions it is suggested Bumbarov accept the post of Minister to Czecho [slovakia] and that he be replaced in the Cabinet by Obbov.
Each day I become more convinced that we can influence the political situation in Bulgar for the better if we are prepared to make our views known from day to day to the Bulgar people and in Bulgar political quarters.
Rptd to Moscow as 179.
- Not printed.↩