874.00/12–2745: Telegram
The United States Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 28—12:45 a.m.]
783. Communist Party newspaper Rabotnichesko Delo this afternoon reveals official FF propaganda line with respect to agreement reached in Moscow on procedure for preparation of peace treaties [Page 418] with ex-satellites. “Reactionary opposition has done everything possible to hinder recognition of Govt and present regime in Bulgaria by US and UK and to impede signature of final peace treaty. Moscow agreement completely defeats their hopes and this traitorous and anti-people’s policy. Procedure for signing final peace is already established and is being acted upon. FF Govt is recognized by Soviet Union and following legislative elections it has become clear to all that Govt is representative, that Bulgarian people stand behind it, that Allies can sign peace treaty with it.” Thus according to Govt exponents Georgi Dimitrov has been proven correct in his contention that “established facts” are always accepted. Excerpt from Acting Secretary’s press conference reported in Radio Bulletin 30453 is also used by Govt supporters to bolster [apparent omission] on threshold of recognition.
To those who seek assurance from me that US has not changed its view with respect to non-representative character of present Govt, reply that I possess no information about Moscow Conference not known to general public but that I assume US Govt is not disposed to adopt more accommodating attitude toward an ex-satellite (Bulgaria) than toward an ally and member of United Nations, viz: US note of December 22 on recognition of Federative People’s Republic of Yugoslavia.54 The text of this note has been published by opposition press.
Repeated to Moscow as 347, sent Dept as 783 and repeated to London as 18.
- December 26, vol. xxiii, October–December, 1945; it reported in part: “Correspondent asked if the agreement on the part of United States [at Moscow meeting] to negotiate peace treaties affecting Rumania and Bulgaria could be interpreted as an encouraging sign toward the possibility of ultimate recognition. Mr. Acheson replied in the affirmative, explaining that he assumed recognition in those cases would depend upon successful conclusion of the negotiation of the peace treaty.”↩
- See text in Department of State Bulletin, December 23, 1945, p. 1020, cf. also telegram 2521, December 14, 8 p.m., to the Secretary of State then in Moscow, Foreign Relations, 1945, vol. v, p. 1297.↩