740.00119 European War/2252: Telegram
The Consul General at Istanbul (Berry) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 10—2:34 p.m.]
162R20. The Bulgarian Prime Minister, speaking at Varna on March 5, devoted primary attention to internal problems and policies. At the same meeting Minister Vasilev39 restated the Bulgarian position [Page 313] on territorial questions reaffirming the Government’s position, namely, that Bulgaria regards the territorial problem as justly and finally settled. He said that the efforts of the Government are directed toward maintaining the frontiers as now established and toward strengthening the internal front by just reform measures on one hand and by strict police control on the other.
The tenor of all speeches of recent date indicate and people recently arrived from Bulgaria state that decided action by the Government in the direction of peace cannot be expected until military events of more decisive importance occur directly affecting Bulgaria. Pending such events, however, responsible people in Bulgaria are inclined to support the Government policy through fear (1) of a repetition on Bulgarian soil of the Italian experience and (2) of the development of an internal state of affairs through the growth of partisan bands and Communist agitation similar to that that now exists in Yugoslavia.
- Dimiter Vasilev, Bulgarian Minister of Public Works.↩