874.00/9–1845: Telegram
The Secretary of the United States Mission in Bulgaria (Rewinkel) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 20—8:40 a.m.]
547. It is ever more apparent that new directives of Communist Party in Bulgaria aim at effecting a rapprochement with Petkov’s Agrarians with a view toward obtaining their participation in FF (Fatherland Front) Govt and forthcoming elections (remytel 531, September 14). I have now received from Petkov through an intermediary the results of his conversation with Kolarov of September 15. At this meeting Petkov anticipating renewed blandishments of the Communists submitted to Kolarov conditions on which his Agrarians and the Social Democrats would participate in any FF (Fatherland Front) Govt. In summary these conditions are as follows:
- (1)
- Since Agrarian Union is greatest political force in country, it must have post of Prime Minister in Cabinet.
- (2)
- Post of Minister of Interior (now Communist) must be held by another political organization in FF (Fatherland Front) or by an independent in order to create tranquility in country. Posts in militia and in its administration must be proportionately distributed among parties of FF (Fatherland Front). Petkov stated that Communist [Page 333] Party has through its effort to maintain a “revolutionary fierceness in the people” caused internal disorder and civil and economic uncertainty. Although Communist Party may use this line for its own internal purposes, it is unjust that this policy should be pursued through govt means and institutions.
- (3)
- FF (Fatherland Front) must revert to its composition and internal structure as of September 9, 1944.
- (4)
- Communists must completely acknowledge their mistaken interference in internal organization and policy of Agrarian National Union and Social Democratic Party with dismissal from FF (Fatherland Front) of the Obbov and Neikov rump groups.
- (5)
- New FF (Fatherland Front) Govt must solemnly declare that it will restore completely the provisions of constitution regarding liberty of persons, press, property security of all Bulgarian citizens.
- [(6)?]
- Such a new Govt must grant amnesty to Muraview Cabinet in order to ensure confidence in Bulgaria and to carry out elections which will express exactly political feeling of country. With some purpose of ensuring tranquility certain past illegal actions of FF organs since Sept 1944 should be amnestied (i.e. forgiveness of Communist acts).
- (7)
- Govt must frustrate by all legal means any attempt to restore present 1944 type of Govt or any other type of Fascist regime. It must prevent with all authority of its democratic people’s power the establishment of any type of dictatorship cast right, left or solitary.
- (8)
- Cabinet Ministers must act autonomously under law within their ministries but they must all be jointly responsible for Govt and must have a common interest in administration of all ministries.
- (9)
- Bulgarian Agrarian National Union Anti- [and] Social Democratic Party must be legally recognized without formalities and they must be permitted without hindrance to publish their newspapers Zemedelsko Zname and Nawod [Svoboden Narod].
- (10)
- Electoral law should be in complete conformity with constitution, the fundamental law of country.
Meeting went into immediate deadlock over question of Minister of Interior with Kolarov stating flatly that any changes here would be impossible and that this Cabinet [post] must be held by Communists. Conversation thereupon became heated with Petkov stating that his party would refuse to participate in elections if his conditions were not met, and with Kolarov accusing him of again attempting to bring foreign intervention into Bulgarian affairs. Amid further mutual recriminations, the meeting ended with no results.
Meanwhile, however, Communists are attempting to work on Agrarians from bottom and it is reported that in many villages and townships Communists or Militia are offering prominent local Agrarians position of mayor as evidence of their alleged desire to cooperate and share administration of country. These offers have thus far all been refused pursuant to unified policy of Agrarian Party.