874.00/10–2946: Telegram
The Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
us urgent
[Received 10:15 p.m.]
869. Latest official election figures (still not considered final) are: total popular vote, 4,244,333 of which so-called FF obtained 2,983,803 and combined opposition 1,231,763 with 28,771 votes declared invalid. Distribution by parties within so-called FF: Communists, 2,265,405; Obbov Agrarians, 560,413; Neikov Socialists, 78,268; Zveno, 71,228; Radicals, 8,742. For Opposition: United Petkov, Lulchev and Stoyanov lists: 1,208,882; Democrats, 22,755.
465 mandates distributed as reported mytel 866, October 28 except 18 seats for “central distribution”, 5 of which given to Obbov Agrarians; 6 to Neikov Socialists; 6 to Zveno; one to Radicals.97
Cabinet members listed final paragraph mytel 866 as possibly defeated were defeated in their principal circumscriptions but elected elsewhere as second or even inferior on FF combined lists or by virtue of “central distribution”.
Final returns to be proclaimed not later than 5 days from election date by courts. They may possibly be slightly modified from above by Opposition demands before courts for rectification. They are almost certain to be questioned by Opposition in petition that will be sent to ACC based on charges of voting irregularities and falsification of returns. In this connection please note statement read by General Robertson at ACC meeting October 24, reported mytel 850, October 24.
There can be no doubt that one of outstanding results of elections has been to dispel myth of so-called FF. Even if Obbov chooses for time being to remain mider its banner there can no longer be any doubt that present Government of Bulgaria is Communist Government. Every effort will be made by Communists to maintain fiction of FF. I told Obbov this morning that from now on we would refer to present Government as Communist Government of Bulgaria, not as FF Government, and that term Communist, so far as we were concerned, [Page 164] would include all those who choose to remain in Government with Communists including himself, if he so decides and he said he would proceed cautiously step by step toward Petkov; that he could make no hasty decision to leave so-called front. His predicament is difficult one. If he doesn’t join Petkov he will gradually lose his Agrarian following in GNA to Petkov. If he breaks with Communists now he will be even more hated by them than Petkov, Lulchev and Stoyanov. Zveno, Neikov Socialists and Radicals are like club servants who remain on after hours to look after gambling table; they get their added compensation from the “kitty” that is made up from bit pots, viz., distribution from “central list”.
Truly outstanding fact of elections is that for first time in country’s history, Bulgarian currents of political opinion run in only two large streams, namely, Communist and Agrarian. Close examination of vote as indicated mytel 866 suggests that true relative strength these currents is about two million combine Agrarians as opposed to about 800,000 Communists. Remaining million 400,000 votes represented largely by so-called Government dowry and by smattering of Socialists, Zvenars and Democrats.
Little actual difference in economic and social programs exists between two main currents. Fundamental difference is on score of civil and personal liberties. Communists look east for their inspiration, which means that civil and personal liberties are unimportant as compared to overall interests of state. Agrarians look to west and with west believe that state’s primary function is to assure civil and personal liberties within limits of common good.
Cabinet will meet tomorrow to determine what immediate steps, if any, necessitated by election results. GNA will be convened November 7.
Sent Dept. repeated London 197, Moscow 344.
- According to telegram 866, October 28, from Sofia, the tentative distribution of the seats in the Grand National Assembly was as follows: Communists, 275; Obbov Agrarians, 64; Neikov Socialists, 3; Zveno, 2; United Opposition, 104; Opposition Democrats, nil; remaining 18 seats for “central distribution” among the various parties (874.00/10–2846).↩