874.00/10–2446: Telegram
The Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
us urgent
[Received 7:40 p.m.]
856. Kulishev has just admitted to me that he did lie about Biryusov having prohibited publication Secretary’s letter and Georgiev’s reply (re my 850, today’s date). He justified prohibition of publication by himself on grounds that US démarche to ACC, letters about which Biryusov had suppressed, described in detail in Secretary’s letter of September 24. He gave me most categoric assurance that all correspondence will be published tomorrow morning.
He seemed deeply depressed and his state of mind was not improved when I placed before him copies of this morning’s suppressed Zname (see mytel 85596) and subsequent edition replacing news of US views re Bulgarian elections with local elections appeals. He tried to explain that this change had been made by friendly negotiations between himself and editor of newspaper, but gave up when I presented him with details of early morning militia raid on Zname.
His dejection increased when I laid before him 65 signed and sealed blank electoral cards (these would permit plural voting) which had fallen into my hands yesterday. I pointed out that, if I alone could collect 65, there must be thousands floating around to permit plural voting by Government adherents. I then assured him that my concern was same as the Secretary’s namely to do everything in time that could be done to assure that elections held in such manner as not to prevent reestablishment of official relations between our two countries.
I also told him of statement made by General Robertson at ACC this morning (see mytel 850) and I stressed second part of statement and fact that these four points now inscribed in records of ACC. He replied that it was his most sincere hope that out of elections would come government that US could recognize. He said it was also a matter of [Page 163] importance to him that General Stoichev should not be held up. I told him that he would not be.
Sent Department; repeated London 193; Paris 296; Moscow 350.
- Not printed.↩