Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, Eastern Europe, The Soviet Union, Volume VI

874.00/7–1246: Telegram

The Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State

secret
us urgent

Sofia, July 12, 1946—5 p.m.
[Received 6:15 p.m.]

531. At their request opposition leaders Petkov, Lulchev and Stoyanov were received today by me and my British colleague. They had sought us out confidentially to make plea for some sort of action by Mr Byrnes and Mr Bevin and by Mr Molotov also, if that were at all possible, that might stem rising tide of Communist terror in Bulgaria. In this connection, please see my tels 427, June 8 (52 to Delsec); 456, June 18 (63 to Delsec); 473, June 22 (71 to Delsec); 480, June 25 (74 to Delsec); 487, June 26 (80 to Delsec); 494, June 28 (84 to Delsec); 504, July 1 (90 to Delsec); 505, July 1 (91 to Delsec); 512, July 3 (95 to Delsec).²⁸ In addition to facts reported in foregoing telegrams this third plea motivated primarily by fact;

(1) That Bumbarov and Asen Stamboliski both members Central Committee of Agrarian National Union, arrested yesterday;

(2) That a militia is secretly seizing many younger officers of army throughout country and explaining their disappearance by alleging they have fled country because of fear of current purge imposed by Georgi Dimitrov and General Biryusov;

(3) That out of 800 “nonpolitical” lawyers throughout country who signed protests to govt against illegal arrest and condemnation of Pastuhkov,²⁹ already 200 are in concentration camps;

(4) That throughout country those who do not support FF are finding it increasingly difficult and almost impossible to obtain work, food, clothing, and lodging;

(5) That today it has been officially announced that FF “numerous clauses” will be imposed by all educational institutions on students already entered or applying for entrance;

(6) That since departure of opposition from govt July 1945, state employees have been increased from less than 150,000 to 288,000, this increase being represented almost entirely by persons beholden to Communists;

(7) That only one opposition newspaper Social Democratic Svoboden Narod is tolerated and this under pain of publishing no serious criticisms of Govt;

(8) That about 1000 cases of “illegal enrichment” are about to be presented to courts and that in state budget “revenues” from this source during current year are “estimated” at 13 billion levas.

I know from sources unconnected with three opposition leaders that foregoing substantially correct. I agree with three leaders in belief that this state of affairs dictated largely by Georgi Dimitrov and General Biryusov in preparation for so-called free elections promised by Kolarov in his talk with Mr. Byrnes.

To complete foregoing estimate of local political situation as it has evolved in past 10 days, I should add following: before military purge measure (see mytel 504, July 1³⁰) enacted some days ago Biryusov named 700 officers to Veltchev for summary dismissal. Veltchev refused maintaining that dossiers must be examined and regular dismissal proceedings instituted in each instance where prima facie case of disloyalty established. Biryusov then reduced number to 100 outstanding officers. Again Veltchev insisted on regular established dismissal procedure. Since then Communists and Communist dominated FF press has launched open and vicious attack on War Minister alleging on basis of statements made at Belgrade trial that Veltchev was formerly in touch with Draga Mihailovitch³¹ and is in fact notorious opponent of Soviet influence. Veltchev has issued stinging denial. At same time Communists and Communist dominated elements within FF have launched campaign against other outstanding Zveno members such as former Foreign Minister Stainov and Yurukov editor of Zveno newspaper Izgrev. Central committee of Zveno has been meeting past few days to deal with this situation. It is believed that Prime Minister Georgiev also Zveno member will soon be forced to let Communists know that these attacks on Zveno must cease or that Zveno will depart from govt. Many observers here now believe that Dimitrov is ready to have Communists, aided and abetted by their Agrarian Socialist stooges in FF, assume full control of govt before departure of Russians. It is believed that trials on charge of being in relations with Mihailovitch are in making against Bumbarov and Stamboliski.

Repeated to Paris as 111 for Delsec. Sent Dept; please repeat to Moscow as Sofia’s 234.

Barnes

28. None printed.
29. Social Democratic Party leader Krustyu Pastuhov, arrested in February 1946 on the charge of writing newspaper articles aimed at impairing the military efficiency of the Bulgarian Army, was on trial during June 1946. He was found guilty and was sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment.
30. Not printed.
31. Gen. Draza Mihailović, leader of the Yugoslav Chetnik Resistance Forces and Minister of Defense of the Yugoslav Government in Exile during World War II: executed in July 1946 for alleged wartime treason.