874.00/7–2646: Telegram
The Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 28—3:10 a.m.]
582. I have just spent 2 hours of vigorous conversation with Foreign Minister. Vigor was on my part. Minister appeared even shameful at times, never combative or resentful. He said in substance that non-Communists of Government understand and appreciate our feelings about Russia and Communist activities in Bulgaria; that this certainly went for himself and Prime Minister and that while performance of our friends in Government must of necessity under present circumstances fall short from time to time of what we quite rightly hope from them, we should not despair because of daily annoyances, even serious ones. He said that Zveno members of Government believe in democratic and not Soviet regime and that if time comes when they can no longer believe that present bad state of affairs can be improved into tolerable state of democracy, they will leave Government. I told him that case of Neville Chamberlain was historic example of how hope against fate can lead to excessive concessions and that it seemed to me that Zveno’s problem was to know when to draw line, beyond which concessions would assure perpetuation of command Soviet regime in Bulgaria.
Conversation was occasioned by forcible arrest of chauffeur, Boris Georgiev (Ignatov) (see penultimate paragraph note to Biryusov [Page 122] quoted my telegram 528, July 12). Arrest made in front of official garage US Military Delegation. When Ignatov sought to resist in presence US military personnel, militia resorted to gunfire in air. After arrest director of national militia sent letter direct to General Robertson of which following is translation:
“Headquarters of national militia has honor to inform you and through you honorable American Military Mission in Sofia that person, Boris Georgiev Ignatov, (Al Capone) driver assigned to your Mission is held, accused of terroristic and conspirative activities directed against standing principles of our national democratic power of Fatherland Front.”
Militia explained orally to Foreign Office that arrest had been “sanctioned” by ACC, which means Biryusov, who of course has made no reply or otherwise paid any attention to General Robertson’s note set forth my telegram 528.
After careful examination of full picture of our present relations here with Russian authorities and Bulgarian Government, General Robertson and I agreed that I should call on Foreign Minister and read to him draft notes we had prepared together, and that I would send to Kulishev unless he was prepared to undertake effective remedial measures. Following are drafts that I read:
1) Bulgarian Government appears either to misunderstand or deliberately to disregard its status under terms of armistice as signed by it on October 28, 1944 with Governments of USSR, UK and US. You yourself appear to view most lightly official and personal assurances given to General Robertson and me. In addition Bulgarian militia conducts itself in presence of General Robertson’s officers and men in manner that can only prove validity of serious charges made against it by many of subjects of your country and generally accepted in my country as basic factor hindering development of official and friendly relations between our two Governments.
I enclose for your information a copy of letter addressed by General Robertson to General Biryusov on July 12 which sets forth views of my Government as to nature of armistice relations existing between it and Bulgarian Government and status and treatment that is due US Missions in Bulgaria. I also enclose text of communication received by General Robertson from director of national militia relating to arrest of Boris Georgiev Ignatov, chauffeur in employ (not “assigned”) US Military Mission. General Robertson and I consider this letter an impertinence.
General Robertson takes much graver view of arrest of Ignatov in total disregard with views set forth in his letter of July 12 to General Biryusov. Circumstances of arrest included militia gunfire in air in presence of US military personnel. You will recall that you yourself on two specific occasions assured General Robertson and me that no such preemptory arrests would take place; that in fact our insistence prior information and notification of militia interests in any Bulgarian [Page 123] employees of US military and political delegations would be respected. As Bulgarian Government functions under overall supervision of ACC and as General Biryusov is Deputy President that Commission communication of views of US Government to General Biryusov in General Robertson’s letter of July 12 should suffice to put Bulgarian Government on official notice as to position of US Missions in Bulgaria.
I shall expect prompt reply to this note. I am sure you will understand that my Government cannot countenance situation which Bulgarian militia has persisted in creating and that it is matter of urgent interest to my Government to know precisely what steps central Government of country intends to take to prevent further flouting of its authority by organ of administration that acts in such manner as to strengthen fear that it receives and executes orders that do not originate with central authorities.
That arrest of Ignatov may have been “sanctioned” by ACC which I understand militia alleges to be case, cannot in any way alter foregoing. As representative of US on ACC General Robertson is of course in position to state that no valid decision to this effect has been taken by Commission as he has participated in no such decision or discussion seeking such decision. This can be seen from enclosed copy of his letter of July 12 to General Biryusov.
2) I have received Ministry’s note verbale of July 25 stating that “by letter of July 15 Deputy President ACC informed Commissariat for Execution of Armistice Terms that US and UK political representations are not part of ACC and in consequence beginning August 1 these representations should be provisioned according to supply system organized by direction of protocol for other foreign missions accredited to Sofia”.
As General Robertson has not participated in any final decision by ACC with respect to provisioning US personnel in Bulgaria, I can of course only refer your note to Washington for consideration there, in light of armistice terms, and for appropriate instructions. My standing instructions now are that no decision taken by ACC on matters of importance are binding unless participated in by US and UK representatives on Commission.
3) When I arrived in Bulgaria as US representative I conveyed to Foreign Minister copy of my letter of appointment from President of United States and certain provisions of my instructions from Secretary of State. Recent order of Commissariat for Fulfillment of Armistice Terms to effect that information should be supplied by organs of State only upon prior consent by ACC appears to be in disregard of instructions I received from Secretary of State and communicated to Bulgarian Minister for Foreign Affairs. I must, therefore, inform you again that it is view of my Government that neither ACC nor Bulgarian Government has any right to prescribe that relations between me and Bulgarian Government are in any way subject to supervision of ACC.
I am to inform you again that I directly represent United States Government and that all instructions issued in sense contrary to foregoing will be ignored by me.
[Page 124]Kulishev thanked me for giving him opportunity to do utmost to correct situation of which General and I complain, before officially communicating such stern statements to him. It was in this connection that he made remarks set forth in first paragraph this telegram. I really felt sorry for the modest little man and left feeling that he would seek to perform this time as never before. I do not believe his failure to date to put an end to militia interference has been from lack of goodwill or failure to try. This time, however, he is armed with argument that his failure to date only strengthens our argument on political side that civil liberties do not exist in Bulgaria primarily militia does not receive and carry out orders from central authorities but from Communist Party and Russian NKVD.
Steps taken by me today may appear somewhat extreme to Department but any one on spot who knows mentality of Bulgarian politicians, realizes normal methods and language of diplomacy make no impression. These people have to be told straight from shoulder if they are to comprehend that one is serious and expects action. They are in no way shocked by such methods. In fact I left Kulishev feeling that because I had given him chance to avoid such notes at moment when question of US and UK recognition uppermost in his mind, he now looks on me as better friend of his country, and even himself, than ever.
Sent Department; repeated Moscow as 261 and Paris for Delsec as 132.