874.00/12–1245: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 12—6:35 p.m.]
13046. FonOff official today made following remarks to us about Bulgaria:
There are indications that the Bulgarian Govt might be willing to “liberalize” itself by taking in Petkov and other Agrarian leaders with a view to obtaining recognition from the Western Powers.
Although Dimitrov’s presence in Bulgaria is an undoubted strengthening of the Russian position, this position rests primarily on the large number of Soviet troops in that country. The Russians have absolutely [Page 410] no justification for maintaining these large armies in Bulgaria, because they cannot claim, as they do in relation to Rumania and Hungary, that Bulgaria is on their lines of communications with their forces in Austria. Once the Soviet forces are withdrawn from Bulgaria, Communist domination may cease to be so absolute.
The only way to get the Russian troops out of Bulgaria would seem to be the conclusion of a peace treaty with that country.
Sent Dept as 13046, repeated to Sofia as 6 and Moscow as 413.