874.00/8–2145: Telegram
The United States Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 22—9:16 a.m.]
463. Director of Bulgarian press and propaganda service has issued following statement with respect to US note August 13 on Bulgarian election situation.
Report on Berlin Conference:
“We are surprised by the letter of Mr. Barnes. The points raised in it reveal an insufficient familiarity with Bulgarian reality. It is obvious that his information has not been procured through a direct and unprejudiced study of this reality.
That is why we invite American and British journalists to come to Bulgaria in order to ascertain where is ‘the minority element’ as well as where and with whom does the majority of the Bulgarian people stand.
We are convinced that their judgment will not be in favor of the dissidents, but rather of Fatherland Front which enjoys mass support of Bulgarian people and represents only true democratic line in Bulgaria.”
Reference to invitation to American and British journalists is first we have heard of this matter. As Department knows, entry journalists up to present time has been prohibited even for such well known [Page 300] friends of Bulgaria and personal intimate of Minister of Propaganda as Reuben Markham. Clearances desired Depts 25841 requested yesterday. Favorable action these requests will not bear out statement director of press and propaganda as “rigging” of elections already accomplished and outcome in no way depends on “plebiscite” voting August 26. Unlikely any journalists will be here by then.42
- August 17, 8 p.m., p. 293.↩
- For Department press release of August 24, reporting clearance for entry into Bulgaria of American newspaper correspondents, see Department of State Bulletin, August 26, 1945, p. 283. This was reported in telegram 470, August 23, to Sofia, not printed (811.91274/8–2345).↩