760H.74/11–747: Telegram
The Chargé in Bulgaria (Horner) to the Secretary of State
1031. From Heath1 and Horner. Re London’s 5747 to Department, repeated Sofia 50, Belgrade 33.2 Reports of impending visit Marshal Tito to Bulgaria once again bring up much discussed subject Balkan or Danubian unification. While this Legation believes that federation of at least southern satellite states possibly including initially only Yugoslavia and Bulgaria is an official Soviet objective (it would be followed eventually by their inclusion [in?] USSR), there is no evidence here to show that Soviets are at present inclined disregard factors militating against early formal political federation.
As indicated Legtel 469, June 24,3 through series economic, political and cultural plants [pacts?] already concluded between Soviet satellites political bloc is already in being. As then reported and this even more the case now trade rapidly being diverted into channels prescribed by Soviet planners. Western thought steadily being suppressed and pattern events in Soviet satellites leaves no doubt that political planning being carried out in Moscow. No problem military coordination would seem exist since all these countries either are garrisoned with Soviet troops or their national armies thoroughly penetrated by Soviet trained officers.
Leading obstacles early conclusion Balkan political union include long standing animosities between Balkan peoples and important question of precedence among Communist leaders particularly Dimitrov and Tito.4 No doubt national animosities could be overcome and effective [Page 849] opposition quashed and possible, if Dimitrov is really in poor health, he might be kicked upstairs to post in international Communist organization leaving Tito as master south Slavs. Moreover, in spite of bold defiance Bulgarian Communist press to “western warmongers” there still seems be some fear of completely open violations of treaties and formal mergers or absorptions of countries. Efforts throw veil—however transparent—over march of Soviet domination of satellite states seems betray still persistent uncertainty.
Sent Department 1031; repeated Moscow 97, London 118, Belgrade 60.
- Donald R. Heath, appointed-Minister in Bulgaria.↩
- Not printed; it reported that the British Foreign Office was considering the implications of a possible declaration of a Bulgarian-Yugoslav federation on the occasion of Marshal Tito’s expected visit to Sofia (760H.94/10–2847). Tito visited Bulgaria in late November, and a treaty of alliance was signed between the two countries on November 27.↩
- Not printed.↩
- A Bulgarian delegation headed by Prime
Minister Georgi Dimitrov conferred with Marshal Tito at Bled,
Yugoslavia, July 30–August 1. There was wide speculation at the time
that these meetings at Bled, which were given very extensive
coverage in the Yugoslav press, were an important step in the
direction of the establishment of a Yugoslav-Bulgarian
confederation. In despatch 61, August 7, from Belgrade, not printed,
Ambassador Cannon presented a detailed analysis of the published
reports on the Bled meetings, and made the following summary
comment:
“The Embassy feels that the primary purpose in convening the Bled Conference at this particular time was not to lay the foundations for a Balkan Federation, but, rather, to promote the War of nerves against Greece and to attempt, by means of beating the drums of Slav unity, brotherhood and economic collaboration, to convince the public in this part of the world that the countries under the protective wing of the Soviet Union have something better to offer in place of, and which will be more advantageous to them than, the Marshall Plan.” (760H.74/8–747)
↩