874.00/11–1545: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 15—12:55 p.m.]
3867. From Ethridge. Upon consideration of comments contained in Barnes’ 296, Nov 13, to Moscow, repeated to Dept 677, I should like to suggest for Dept’s consideration that course outlined in my 3859, Nov 14, repeated Sofia 124, be amended as follows:
Under paragraph 4 section (b) the National Assembly issuing from Nov 18 elections should be specifically instructed to suppress the Decree Law for the “defense of the people’s authority” or at least to amend it along lines agreed upon by Committee composed of members of all democratic parties. Question of Dr. G. M. Dimitrov[‘s activities] would naturally be covered by general amnesty suggested in paragraph 3.
Ambassador Harriman and I concur fully with Barnes’ suggestion in last paragraph of above cited telegram that full effectiveness of our position could be obtained only through close coordination with the British.
Sent Dept 3867, repeated Sofia 126. [Ethridge.]