874.00/11–1647: Telegram
The Minister in Bulgaria (Heath) to the Secretary of State
1057. I presented note protesting law dissolving Agrarian Party yesterday (reDeptel 495, November 121) with the remark that I felt sure Foreign Minister understood our conviction that the prompt correction violations the peace treaty was in the true interests of Bulgaria, I followed with oral statement (reDeptel 443, October 17) against campaign of vituperation against US in Bulgarian press and said that while such declaration was hardly necessary I wished to say emphatically that US Government has not and is not engaged in subversive activities against Bulgarian Government and was entirely confident that none of its employees were so engaged. If accusations to that effect by Bulgarian press or officials had any foundation beyond that of internal propaganda, proper course was for Bulgarian Government to communicate to me the circumstances.
Kimon Georgiev did not attempt argue against our accusation of treaty violation. He merely remarked that since matter concerned not only the government but the Sobranje, our note would be studied by other officials and ministries. He said that he was grateful for my statement that US Government had not supported and was not supporting subversive activities. He said “it would be helpful” to him. [Page 187] He then remarked that issue was not as “simple” as apparently indicated by our note. The problem of Bulgarian-American relations was but a part of a general problem. “What we did here” might or might not contribute to solution this general problem. He repeated several times that he wished at an early date discuss with me frankly and at length the issues between our two countries. In such discussion he would like, he said, to analyze and criticize early American representation in Bulgaria which he asserted created unnecessary incidents which were not helpful to eventual solution of the difficulties. It was perhaps he said sadly, permitted to hope that good relations between America and Bulgaria could be restored. I said very emphatically I felt sure they would eventually be restored. He thanked me for this assurance and said “one” must continue to hope and not yield to despair which was so easy to do under the circumstances.
Kimon Georgiev spoke with great care and intentional vagueness, but there is no doubt in my mind he wished to create the impression in my mind that he was on our side. His veiled intimation of approval in support our thesis does not inspire me with any hope, we will be successful in this particular attempt to gain compliance with human rights clauses treaty. Georgiev and his party have now lost the trifling temporary influence at first grudgingly accorded them by the Communists as reward for collaboration. With his long record of political conspiracy and rank opportunism, Georgiev is utterly discredited before the Bulgarian people. He probably feels his days in government are coming to an end. Rumors of his dismissal perhaps to a post abroad are multiplying. There are observers however who while denying him any moral courage concede that he has pertinacity and some personal bravery in extremities citing his causing the release of his party member Damien Velchev from Communist arrest.
Members of little group surrounding Georgiev are less cautious in their indications sympathy with our policy. One adviser inquired when we are going to start putting our protests through machinery of arbitration and eventual submittal to UN as provided in article 36 of treaty. He stated that present situation unprotested violation must not be allowed to continue; and following my talk with Foreign Minister interpreted the latter’s veiled remarks as meaning he would do what he could for our thesis but was terribly handicapped at present time.
I of course am extremely cautious in conversation with these few non-Communist officials remaining in the Bulgarian Government. They are obviously pinning their faint hopes on the US, and I am careful not to give them any present encouragement beyond a general statement that I am confident that treaty will eventually be enforced.
- The telegram under reference here is not printed. For the note delivered by the Minister, see telegram 445, October 18, to Sofia, supra.↩