611.69/2–2350: Telegram
The Minister in Bulgaria (Heath) to the Secretary of State
278. Communiqué of General Office of Press follows:1
On January 19, 1950, on the instructions of Bulgarian Government, Peter Voutov, temporarily in charge of Bulgarian Legation in Washington, presented to Minister for Foreign Affairs of United States a note in which following was announced:
[Here follows the text, as translated by the Legation from Bulgarian into English, of the Bulgarian Legation note verbale of January 19, page 504.]
In reply to this entirely legal step of Bulgarian Government which is in conformity with international diplomatic practice the Government of United States instead of giving orders for recalling of its Minister Plenipotentiary who was guilty of such gross violation of laws of the country which gave him hospitality, presented a note to Bulgarian Government threatening to break diplomatic relations [if?] the latter did not withdraw its demand to recall Mr. Heath.2
Evidently, Bulgarian Government had no reason whatsoever to withdraw its note and to subordinate to such an inopportune and illegal ultimatum, and therefore it did not reply to the note.
The Government of People’s Republic Bulgaria has always given proofs of its constant wish to maintain regular diplomatic relations [Page 524] with the United States based on the principles of equal rights and mutual respect of national independence and states sovereignty. This attitude of Bulgarian Government is a logical consequence of policy of peace and international collaboration followed firmly by it. However, Bulgarian Government cannot fail to reaction the case of Mr. Heath in which there is gross interference on part of a foreign diplomat into internal affairs of our country a violation of its state sovereignty. Diplomatic practice shows that in this way all governments of sovereignty countries have acted and are acting which [with?] respect and keep national dignity of their people and national independence and sovereignty of their country.
It is worthwhile to mention here the fact, rather characteristic of the unfriendly behavior of Mr. Heath towards People’s Republic Bulgaria: Even after he was considered “persona non grata”, he continued his illegal activities, entirely incompatible with his diplomatic functions. By his personal instructions, Bulgarian citizen Mihail Shipkov, a state criminal, wanted by Bulgarian authorities, was hidden in the building of American Legation in Sofia; later, the American Legation supplied him with false documents and facilitated his attempt to escape from Bulgaria.
Instead of taking note of intolerable illegal conduct of Mr. Heath in our country, American Government handed a second note to Bulgarian Government on February 20, 1950, informing that it recalled its entire personnel of Legation in Sofia. Requested recalling of personnel of Bulgarian Legation in Washington.3
This act on the part of the United States is absolutely arbitrary and in full controversy to diplomatic practice and established international customs. It does not have a lawful and moral foundation. It can be expelling only with the desire to strengthen the unfriendly policy and the pressure on the People’s Republic Bulgaria, dictated by reasons which do not have anything in common with peace and security in the Balkans. This behavior of United States Government can be explained only as new form for strengthening struggle of imperialist circles in United States against front of peace—,4 democracy.
For this reason progressive world public opinion and also progressive people in United States can only judge this arbitrary and unfriendly act on part of American Government, whose exclusive fault it is.
Further communiqué follows: “The Ambassador of Polish Republic in Sofia Mr. Alexander Barzchach [Barchacz] visited Vice President of Ministerial Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Poptomov on February 22, 1950 and informed him that Government of Polish Republic is ready to undertake protection of Bulgarian interest[s] in United States, because of recall of Bulgarian Diplomatic Mission from Washington.”