874.00/11–1445: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 13—9:24 p.m.]
3845. ReDept’s 363, November 6 to Sofia.3 From Ethridge. In a 2-hour conversation with Vyshinski this evening4 accompanied by Harriman I presented our views with regard to the forthcoming Bulgarian elections. I described in some detail the conclusions which I had reached as a result of my investigation in Bulgaria (my 645, October 29, and 647 October 30, from Sofia), stressing in particular the representative character of the Fatherland Front Government as originally established, the Communist drive for power accompanied by excesses and coercion which ultimately led to the withdrawal from the Cabinet of those Agrarian and Socialist leaders who refused to conform to the party line, and my consequent conclusion that at the present time the Bulgarian Government could no longer be considered as representative within the meaning of the Yalta formula. I then pointed out that, both because of the coercive measures employed by the government and because of the failure of the opposition parties to register candidates on account of their fear that the results would be falsified, the elections scheduled for November 18 would provide no test as to the representative character of the government issuing therefrom. I also made reference to the fact that certain actions of Genl. Biryuzov, and the numerous telegrams directed to the Bulgarian Communists from Moscow by Georgi Dimitrov, had created the impression in Bulgaria that interference on the part of Soviet Government was an important factor in the situation.
To this Vyshinski replied that he did not believe the situation in Bulgaria to be different from that in a number of other democratic countries in that the various parties all had their own policies and that consequently if the followers of Petkov desired to leave the government and boycott the elections that was their affair and they would have to accept the consequences. He added that he considered the Fatherland Front to be a representative government insofar as the leading democratic parties participated in it and that it was handling its problems in a serious fashion and sincerely trying to restore democracy in Bulgaria. As regards the allegations of Soviet interference in Bulgarian affairs, he replied categorically that no such interference had taken place.
To my direct question as to whether the Soviet Government as a Yalta power would be willing to suggest to Bulgaria that the elections [Page 375] be postponed in order to provide time for the reorganization of the government and creation of conditions in which a free election could be held, Vyshinski replied that his Government would regard this as, an unjustifiable intervention in Bulgarian affairs. In reply to a further question of mine, he stated that in case the Bulgarian Government asked the advice of his Government as to whether it should postpone the elections it would give the matter due consideration in the light of conditions existing at the time.
In view of the stand taken by Vyshinski, which differed in no way from that taken by his fellow-believers in Sofia, I recommend that the Secretary consider an immediate note to the Bulgarian Government along the lines of his statement of August 18, pointing out that our Government will not be able to recognize a government resulting from the scheduled elections and that the Secretary at the same time make the note public. Simultaneous notice should of course be given the Russian and British Governments. The recommendation as to a note coupled with a statement is made because in that form I believe it would have greater impact in Bulgaria and conceivably could create a situation in which the Bulgarian Government would make a request to the Yalta powers for consent to postpone. In any case a statement along the lines suggested in mytel No. 669 of November 10 from Sofia is essential.
In the course of this evening’s conversation I did not, of course, raise the question as to what steps should be taken in the event that the November 18 elections are held and I should appreciate suggestions the Department may have in this connection beyond those summarized in its 363, November 6 to Sofia. In a later telegram I shall elaborate in some detail a course of action which might be proposed.
Repeated Sofia for Barnes as 122. [Ethridge.]