874.00/11–1445: Telegram
The United States Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 15—12:10 a.m.]
685. Senior Regent Ganev told me tonight that in his opinion those who hope that Bulgaria will be saved from one party system under [Page 379] complete Russian domination must consort immediately to prevent November 18 elections. He said that Vyshinski has for some time now made it clear to local govt and to Rumanian Govt as well that Russia will not cede one iota in the Balkans. (Please see final sentence mytel 682, November 14). He said also that he anticipates a statement either tomorrow or the next day by some local authority either Bulgarian or Russian that Moscow has effectively refuted all arguments of Ethridge and that elections will be held November 18 without fail.
I pointed out to Regent that Ethridge’s task in Moscow would be greatly facilitated by some forthcoming gesture from Bulgarians themselves but that I had become convinced that we could hope for nothing along this line from the so-called moderate elements in the govt such as Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs. I then requested permission to ask indiscreet question and when he consented asked him point blank what we could expect from him as Senior Regent of Bulgaria. Ganev replied that for some days now he has been thinking over what possible helpful effect his own resignation could have—would such a step further isolating the Communists and the Russians from the general trend of Bulgarian opinion force the issue of a Cabinet crisis and thus postpone elections or would it further Communist domination. He said that if US and Great Britain were prepared to make a strong statement against elections on November 18 and would follow up with firm policy against recognition of govt that might issue from such elections, he was prepared to do his utmost to influence situation toward postponement, even if this necessitated precipitating regency crisis by tendering his resignation. He confirmed report that the [Zvenar] Minister of Finance Cholakov desires to resign and said that his own resignation would in his opinion encourage Cholakov to take positive action.
I told Regent that I would inform Washington immediately of his position and that at the same time I would make his views known to my British colleague for such action as latter might consider feasible under circumstances. British representative is telegraphing urgently in support of strong statement and firm policy.
Repeated Moscow as No. 303.