27. Telegram From the Legation in Bulgaria to the Department of State1
436. Department pass USIA. Legtel 433.2 I called on Foreign Minister Bashev 5:00 p.m. January 9. Also present Legation officer Robert Houston; Chernev, Chief, American Section Foreign Office and Garvalov, Foreign Office interpreter.
I first presented at some length US views and reactions to Bulgarian December 27 attack,3 pointing out inevitable harmful consequences which attack has already produced on Bulgarian-US relations, adding this attack had impaired my personal confidence in future Bulgarian intentions. I also emphasized that attack had been harmful to Bulgaria’s expressed interest in increasing trade and tourism with U.S. in view of damage done to good will of American people and that doubts had been raised in minds of U.S. Government officials. I stressed the outrage felt by U.S. press and public opinion.
I then stated my Government and I emphatically reject Bulgarian demand that Legation close its windows, adding U.S. considers this an attack on Legation’s inviolability and direct contradiction to Vienna convention.4 I repeated that this demand completely unacceptable and has only contributed to worsening our already seriously damaged relations.
Finally I suggested that if Bulgarian Government wished to try to regain some of its lost good will and prestige Bulgarians should put forward some alternative constructive proposals which might help to improve relations. I said I would be glad to meet Bashev in few days to discuss such constructive proposals but repeated I could not accept demand to close windows.
Bashev responded by repeating his earlier claims that December 27 attack was “spontaneous” demonstration which Bulgarian Government [Page 114] could not control. While Bashev did not specifically refer to Georgiev, he mentioned attack as a popular reaction to trial.5
He then brought up NBC–TV film re my activities in Bulgaria which he said Bulgarian Government considers offensive. He blames U.S. Government for permitting film he considered derogatory to Bulgaria to be shown in U.S. After quoting from this TV script he turned to subject of Legation windows. He implied that unless we yielded to demand Bulgarian people would be told about NBC–TV derogatory film which might revoke another “spontaneous” demonstration. I categorically rejected any responsibility for NBC–TV film emphasizing that U.S. Government has no control over TV industry, which is entirely private.
Bashev repeated demands regarding windows mentioning they still stuck to their deadline for closing. I responded I could not accept this demand but I would be willing to meet him again in few days to discuss alternative proposals of constructive nature.
Comment: Conversation lasted one hour and was conducted in serious, calm and unyielding vein on my part.
At one point during conversation when Bashev said he would inform his government of my remarks, I had impression he was about to back down on his demand. However, later he again repeated his demand in much the same terms as previously.
I believe extreme sensitivity shown by Bashev and Bulgarian Government regarding unfavorable publicity in U.S. may be restraining factor in further demonstrations against windows. Bashev did not cite any instances of improper use of windows. Only justification given for closure request concerned extra situations such as NBC–TV film and so-called Bulgarian popular reaction against U.S. Noteworthy that although I mentioned several times the hope that Bulgaria and U.S. could resume improvement of our relations Bashev responded to this by saying “we wish to develop normal relations with U.S.” This is distinctly retrogressive in contrast to position taken by Chernev December 31.
Legation intends to maintain normal window display and await developments. I believe we have given Bashev sufficient opportunities to take up some new line and that meanwhile we should remain unyielding.
Pouching details soonest.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 1 BUL–US. Limited Official Use. Repeated to Vienna and Munich.↩
- Telegram 433, January 8, reported that cancellation of Anderson’s flight from Vienna had forced a cancellation of her meeting with Bashev. (Ibid., ORG 7 SOFIA)↩
- On the second day of the trial of accused spy Ivan-Asen Georgiev, a “spontaneous” demonstration of approximately 3,000 people gathered before the U.S. Legation, hurling ice chunks, rocks, and other solid objects at the building’s windows. The mob also damaged four automobiles belonging to Legation employees.↩
- For text of the convention on consular relations, done at Vienna on April 24, 1963, see 21 UST 77.↩
- During the trial of Georgiev, the prosecution introduced evidence designed to implicate a Legation Second Secretary in the espionage.↩