874.00/8–3045: Telegram
The United States Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 1—3:20 a.m.]
496. Mytel 495, today’s date. While on the surface all is “light and reason”, underneath the militia continues to bear down and intimidate [Page 316] somewhat and the Communists to rail against the “Fascists” and to shout rather shrilly that they will yet prove the predominance and the unity of the FF. For example, yesterday morning the Agrarian leader, Petkov, was warned ‘by the head of the militia that he and his followers must be mindful of the laws of the country against the distribution of political tracts and pamphlets and that the “law for the defense of the people’s rights” (mytel 124 March 9) is still in force.
Yesterday the official newspaper of the FF also warned the populace that this law is still in effect. The journal’s leading article stated that “the people’s regime has sufficient power to frustrate by a single blow any hostile attempt directed against the people and their regime. Let the enemies know that the Bulgarian people will defend their rights and liberties at the cost of all sacrifice, however heavy that may be.” The article concludes by giving the following sound advice to anyone tempted to exaggerate the significance of the decision to postpone elections: “The Government’s decision was dictated only by its great desire to facilitate the conclusion of peace and to give proof that it follows firmly and systematically the principles incorporated in the Atlantic Charter50 as well as in the Yalta and Potsdam decisions. The decision had nothing to do with the aspirations and plans of reactionary Fascist circles here. May this also be remembered”.
Burov and Mushanov have apparently been too active politically past few days for taste of militia chief and Communists. Today all visitors turned away with explanation militia must guard health of the two.
Repeated to Moscow as No. 252.
- Joint statement by President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Churchill on August 14, 1941, Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. i, p. 367.↩