874.00/3–2546: Telegram
The Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
urgent
[Received March 26—6:50 a.m.]
266. Personal for the Secretary from Barnes. In London Mr. Vyshinski said to Mr. Cohen that we might use our influence with Bulgarian Opposition to enter Government under Moscow decision. I believe time has come when message from you to Opposition and to Kimon Georgiev, if this is at all possible under Moscow decision and in view of what Vyshinski said in London, might bring about immediate implementation of decision.
Negotiations between Georgiev and Petkov have reached following point: Georgiev has offered Ministry of Justice and “Assistant Ministry of Interior” to Opposition. Georgiev seems prepared to meet Petkov’s insistence on general amnesty and release of Opposition members from concentration camps. He, however, remains adamant against Opposition’s demand for new elections for Ordinary Nations [National?] Assembly before signature of peace. Important members [Page 88] of “Zveno”, Georgiev’s party, disposed secretly to support Petkov in this demand.
I have good reason to believe that compromise could be found on this point if you were to say to these two leaders, after consultation with Gromyko78 who might be able to get an immediate reaction from Moscow, that you are gratified by progress that has already been made toward mutual compromise and that you feel certain that opportunity for broadening Government presently by resignation of Georgiev Cabinet will not be lost by failure to find formula on election issue.79 In connection with this question of elections, I recall that in his conversation with Mr. Cohen, Vyshinski said there would be elections in Bulgaria in March. He doubtless had in mind Government’s earlier plan to hold partial elections for Grand National Assembly (please see paragraphs 3 and 4 mytel No. 49, January 14). Therefore, now to refer again to future elections should not affront Moscow if formula in no way raised question of validity of November 18 elections.
Best formula under circumstances would seem to be one secretly favored by some “Zveno” members. This is that sometime within next 6 months general elections be held for Grand National Assembly with 276 of the candidates standing simultaneously for election to new Ordinary Assembly. These candidates when elected would convene as Ordinary Assembly to prepare agenda for Grand National Assembly which would then meet for few days necessary to amend Constitution after which it would disband leaving 276 elected as deputies to continue as Twenty-seventh Ordinary National Assembly. This formula would meet Government’s position which is also position of Russians that present assembly was properly elected. At same time it would afford Opposition opportunity to participate in preparation of agenda for constituent body and assure Opposition of Parliamentary representation in succeeding non-constituent assembly. However I do not suggest that in your statement it would be necessary to go into any details as to nature of compromise election formula to be sought. I realize that under Moscow formula only Russia was to advise Government but now that Government has resigned although continuing in power to look after current affairs and also because of Vyshinski’s remarks in London situation would seem to warrant action along these lines. In any event I feel certain that if message from you broke [Page 89] present deadlock everybody concerned, Russians, FF leaders and even Opposition would be deeply grateful. Such happy result would open way to early recognition by US and UK and would thereby eliminate Bulgaria as cause for discord between West and Russia. It would also afford Bulgarian people, FF and opposition stabilizing satisfaction of knowledge that they all had contributed to accord between three Great Powers.
If action of this nature is to be taken it must be immediate as “Cabinet crisis” now 5 days old and cannot be allowed to extend probably beyond March 27. If you think suggestion at all feasible will you telegraph at once to that effect so that Georgiev and Petkov may be asked to do what they can to keep situation liquid pending final word from you.
- Andrey Andreyevich Gromyko, Soviet Ambassador to the United States.↩
- In telegram 270, March 26, 1946, from Sofia, Barnes assured the Secretary that both the Government and the Opposition would welcome a message in the sense proposed here. Barnes added: “I believe I can also assure you that for first time Russians are making serious effort to implement Moscow decisions here. They are pressing for formation of Govt by tomorrow night Sofia time. Word from you in concord with this Russian effort would, I believe, induce both sides, that is, resigning govt and opposition, to make final effort in interest of full compromise.” (874.00/3–2646)↩