874.00/5–3145: Telegram
The United States Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 31—2:15 p.m.]
285. The Senior Regent Ganev lunched with me today. His views remain the same as reported in my 269, May 24, namely, that above all we must save Dimitrov for the future of Bulgaria from the hatred and excesses of the Communists. I reviewed with him all of my conversations on the Dimitrov case with the various Bulgarian authorities since May 24. He urged that “the US stick to its guns” and confirmed me in my estimate of the duplicity of the Communists and of the Russians and of the importance for the future of Bulgaria and of the country’s status as a European state that if necessary [Page 242] the Russians and the Communists be forced into the open and made to reveal their disregard for the fundamental interests of the Bulgarian people. He thinks if we can say to the Bulgarian Govt that we believe it possible for us to obtain the consent of Moscow to the departure of Dimitrov the Govt will capitulate to the position I have thus far taken in the case, that is, that Dimitrov’s security can be assured only by his departure. On his advice I am seeing Kostov, Secretary Genl. of the Communist Party, this evening.
Rptd to Moscow as 144.