874.00/11–2045: Telegram
The United States Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 21—1:40 a.m.]
708. Final returns on November 18 elections as announced by the Govt are: 4,504,735 registered voters of whom 3,862,492 cast ballots of which 3,407,355 were for the FF (Fatherland Front).
Thus it is claimed that 86% of the electorate voted, 88% for the FF. In other words, that nearly 76% of total electorate “freely” declared in favor of present Communist-dominated, Russian supported govt. Opposition points to the fact that no precinct election figures available as evidence of “doctored” nature of returns, “if any proof is required”.
[Page 391]Elections were run off in exceptional calm and as far as I could note in Sofia, with no enthusiasm whatever on part of populace as whole. I have never seen fewer people on streets of Sofia than on November 18.
Rptd to Moscow as No. 320.