874.01/9–1144: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 12—8:35 a.m.]
3425. Press for September 10 published Tass despatch from Sofia dated September 9 listing personnel of new Bulgarian Government as announced by Bulgarian radio.
Another despatch of same date and place quotes radio speech by propaganda Minister of new Government, Dimo Kazasov. Kazasov quotedly described steps taken by new Bulgarian Government in liquidating everything which had led to country’s present grievous situation. Steps included decree dismissing regents. Council of Ministers also ordered arrest of all those guilty of bringing country to catastrophe, namely, all Ministers of Governments since January 1, 1941, and all Deputies of National Assembly of 25th convocation who approved policy carried out against national interests. Property of all those persons is being confiscated.
Council of Ministers appointed delegation consisting of Professor Dimiter Mihailchev, Colonel of General Staff [Kiril] Slavchev [Stanchev?] and Dimiter Ganev to contact Army General Tolbukhin, commanding third Ukrainian front, with aim of learning armistice terms for terminating war between Soviet Union and Bulgaria and of reestablishing diplomatic relations with Soviet Union and working out plans for concerting operations of Bulgarian and Soviet troops to expel Germans from Bulgaria.
From this day on, continued Kazasov’s statement, all political liberties and rights are reestablished, and laws against the people’s interests are annulled. All present organs which helped bring Bulgaria to verge of ruin are suppressed. All other organs of press have [Page 413] full freedom. Censorship is abolished. Also abolished are restrictions on freedom of circulation.