874.00/12–845: Telegram
The United States Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 10—3:35 a.m.]
747. Two of the Regents have just seen General Biryusov. The third one, Pavlov the Communist, is momentarily ill, perhaps permanently, with a serious heart condition. Biryusov said that he was departing within a few days on leave for a much needed rest. Regents gained impression “leave” may be of a permanent nature as far as Bulgaria is concerned and therefore feel that their earlier understanding that true election returns had proved disappointing to Moscow was substantiated by something approaching concrete evidence. Biryusov has always been uncompromising in his hostility to concessions to US [Page 407] and UK points of view with respect to Bulgarian political situation and Regents wonder if departure on leave at this time does not imply willingness of Moscow to “give in a bit” about Bulgaria matters. Biryusov spoke of projected meeting of three Foreign Mins in Moscow December 1537 and indulged in oracular comment to effect that time has about arrived when each state should be able again to speak freely for itself. This interpreted by Regents to mean that Biryusov expects meeting of three to hasten peacetime relations for eastern and southeastern Europe. The two Regents continue to hope US and UK will have observations to make both in Moscow and Sofia on Bulgn political situation before Natl Assembly meets December 15.
Rptd to Moscow as 337.
- The Foreign Ministers of the Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and United States met in Moscow from December 16 to 26. For documentation, see vol. ii, pp. 560 ff.↩