740.00119 Council/8–3146: Telegram
The United States
Delegation at the Paris Peace Conference to the Acting Secretary of State
secret
us urgent
Paris, August 31, 1946—10
p.m.
[Received August 31—8:05 p.m.]
4383. Delsec 885. Acting on
Secretary’s instructions, Barnes suggested informally to Bulgarian Prime
Minister Georgiev, Foreign Minister Kulishev, and Communist President
National Assembly Kolarov that Opposition leaders be invited to Paris
and that joint effort of all concerned, including USSR, United Kingdom
and United States, be made to seek a compromise formula here in Paris
for participation of Opposition in Bulgarian Govt prior to elections for
Grand National Assembly. Proposal was that if Government leaders now
here willing to have Opposition leaders come to Paris and enter into
negotiations with them under guidance of three Great Allies, Secretary
would make proposal in this sense to Russian representatives.
While not accepting that Opposition be called to Paris, Georgiev has now
made compromise reply embodied in following aide-mémoire handed by him to Barnes this morning: - “1. We are ready to continue the contact with the
representatives of the United States in order to investigate
the possibilities of accomplishing something in the spirit
of the wishes expressed by Secretary Byrnes regarding the
internal political situation in Bulgaria.
- “2. The Prime Minister is ready to start negotiations with
the representatives of the opposition in Sofia and hear
their attitude to the election in order to ease the
relations and create a more favorable atmosphere in
connection with the coming elections.
- “3. We consider unsuitable in many respects the proposal
to call the representatives of the Opposition to Paris.
First of all, it would bring confusion and perplexity among
the Bulgarian people at a moment when the attention of the
Bulgarian delegation here, of the Government and the entire
people is centered on the problems of peace and while the
date of the elections for the Grand National Assembly has
already been set. In reality such an important question
cannot be solved far away from the country, without the
direct participation of the Government, Parliament and
political parties. Should certain recommendations be
accepted in Paris, nothing can
[Page 140]
prevent these recommendations from
being reconsidered in Sofia which in the end cannot be
avoided for it is but natural that the final say rests with
the political factors within the country.
- “4. We are of the opinion that the coming elections for
the Grand National Assembly will give the Opposition an
opportunity to enter the Sobranye and exercise from within
it their role.
- “5. The Government is resolved to take all appropriate
measures to ensure free elections for all Bulgarian
citizens.
- “6. The main line of the policy of the Fatherland Front
will be determined in the future by the principles inscribed
in its program and which will be the basis of the future
constitution as provided in the section 12 of the law for
the referendum and the elections for the Grand National
Assembly.”
It is our understanding that the foregoing aide-mémoire was given us after two consultations between the
Bulgarian delegation and Molotov.
Georgiev departing for Sofia September 2. Barnes will probably follow
shortly after.
Sent Department 4383; repeated Sofia 37, Moscow 339, London 658.
