874.00/10–1545: Telegram
The United States Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:40 p.m.]
599. Secy’s announcement Mr. Ethridge’s Mission to Bulgaria and Rumania has given new life to Govt’s propaganda line that western democracies have been deliberately misinformed on state of affairs in Bulgaria. For example, “Fatherland Front” Oct 13 said in part: “This indirect recognition (Ethridge mandate) of the fact (western misinformation) is a matter of great satisfaction to us. Information received by West thus far has come from sources interested in preventing [painting?] situation Bulgaria as black as possible. This information has come from opposition. We have always maintained that objective inquiry into conditions Bulgaria would hasten recognition real democracy our government.”
It is my own view that insofar as Bulgaria is concerned Ethridge Mission should not be merely fact finding but should be used also to influence FF (Fatherland Front) and Opposition to come to such [Page 348] terms with respect to November 18 elections as would assure participation all democratic parties by permitting separate lists, dispelling fear of militia persecution and intervention, and protecting election results from falsification by administrative organs Ministry of Interior. This will require that Bulgarian Government be induced to give due consideration to such statements as following from “Svoboden Narod” (organ Social Democrats) October 13: “A Ministry (Interior), administrative organs of which already gravely compromised by accusations of serious nature which cannot be answered convincingly, cannot assure free elections. Voter must feel free and secure, protected by law. So long as voter fears secrecy [of] ballot will not be respected, that on day after elections he will be arrested, so long as he sees tommy gun and hears ‘death to the opposition’—there cannot be free elections.”
Repeated to Moscow as 265.