874.00/11–1745: Telegram
The United States Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 20—11:41 p.m.]
700. I have just received the following note dated today from Bulgarian Minister for Foreign Affairs:
“The Bulgarian Government, having taken note of your communication of November 16 addressed to the President of the Council of Ministers, has directed me to convey to knowledge of US Secretary of State following information: ‘Inspired by desire to conclude early peace, Bulgarian Government proposed August 24 to three powers that signed the armistice convention adjournment of legislation [legislative] elections that had been fixed for August 26. Pursuing this path, Bulgarian Government took, through its own chief, a series of measures having as objective creation of political atmosphere even more favorable to faithful expression of the will of people by way of new legislative elections. That is to say, certain ameliorations that made this law definitely more democratic in present day Europe. They gave legal status to opposition parties and assured greater liberty to press and accorded necessary paper to opposition newspapers. In consequence, different opposition newspapers were able to appear and circulation of tracts against government and engagement in other political activity of a critical nature against government made possible with full liberty.
In this improved atmosphere government announced to Bulgarian people that new legislative elections would be fixed for November 18.
Fatherland Front and President of Council of Ministers personally tried to obtain once more participation in government and collaboration in elections by all elements who took part in deed of September 9 and who had recently left Fatherland Front. Efforts of President of Council were unavailing and FF was obliged to engage in elections on basis of lists composed of five democratic parties who remained faithful to position established by September 9 and who supported govt program announced long ago. These elements, whose democratic character cannot be questioned, represented and still represent today predominant element of democratic Bulgaria. It therefore follows that government supported by this element is democratic govt of most representative nature possible in country under existing circumstances. Elections of November 18 will show fully to what point this assertion is justified by confidence expressed by Bulgarian people.
By measures taken after August 26 and with adjournment of balloting for 3 months govt gave all possibilities to opposition to take free and organized part in legislative elections, at same time National Committee of FF took decision especially underlining its desire and its readiness to work without cessation for enlargement of basis of FF by reincorporation therein all dissident groups and by drawing new democratic forces to it that for one reason or another were outside the Fatherland Front.
[Page 388]I allow myself to recall to you that in course of conversation you had with President of Council at beginning October you expressed the desire that efforts be made to integrate into FF groups that had left movement so that state of affairs of September 9, 1944 might be reestablished. President of Council gave his approval for action in conformity with your suggestion. Up to present time he has made many public declarations along this line. In this same conversation President of Council brought up desirability of trying to convince opposition participate in elections even if efforts to bring opposition back to FF were ineffective. President of Council expressed opinion that in this manner it would be possible, by virtue of parliament that issued from elections, to resume effort to group together again forces included in initial constitution of FF.
Unhappily despite appeals of National Committee of FF efforts employed by President of Council and by other elements of FF envisaging understanding with opposition, have come to nought. Even worse, opposition parties, motivated by considerations that cannot be justified in any way, decided not to take part in elections and thereby lessened even more possibility of understanding.
Despite all this, decision of National Committee Fatherland Front as well as of govt to seek to enlarge the democratic basis, on which govt rests, by attraction to Fatherland Front of all democratic forces and especially by reintegration those groups which participated in it on September 9 remains in force. This fundamental idea has never ceased to inspire President of Council, govt and National Committee of Fatherland Front. After elections November 18 we shall seek to take advantage of every occasion that presents itself to realize this objective of our own initiative.
It appears from your letter you have not been able to give just evaluation to character and worth of single coalition list of candidates, suggesting even that by this single list pressure designed to exclude certain political elements has been exercised. I wish to point out that single coalition lists conform to spirit and mechanisms proportional electoral system. It is for this reason in past as well as today such lists have been preferred by political parties. And it is this liking for coalition lists that caused opposition of today, as well as opposition organized for legislative elections of August 26 to present single coalition lists. With respect to all of these lists, Fatherland Front included, it is impossible to pretend that they have been imposed by any threats, in view of fact that law guarantees freedom with respect to these understandings, as well as to the possibility, to each party in each circumscription, not to adhere to single lists and to present independent lists. Single coalition lists therefore are result of free understanding between all parties. With respect to acts of violence and threats to which you make allusions in your letter as a manifestation of electoral pressure, I find myself obliged to call to your attention fact that opposition refused to take part in elections long before electoral campaign started, that is to say, before it could have been possible for electoral pressure to be brought to bear. Fact of opposition’s abstention excludes all possibility of violence. At same time appropriate measures have been taken to avoid all menace and all excesses, no matter from where they may come.’”
Comment on note seems unnecessary—note’s specious nature, in view of Dept’s knowledge of local conditions, should be self-evident. [Page 389] To comment on it would be something like kicking a dead dog, or resorting to elaborate argument with man already convinced of point argument designed to affirm.
Repeated to Moscow as No. 317.