FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1946, VOLUME VI



then pointed out that as it was only now that he really had the facts,
it should be apparent to me that Russia had had nothing to do with
shaping course of negotiations between Govt and Opposition. (I
had of course never suggested any such thing but when I let ForMin
Stainov know this morning of this he laughed heartily). As Kir-
sanov was in calm mood, I told him of Vyshinski's conversation with
Mr. Cohen in London. He made no observation. When he asked me
whether I was now prepared to agree with him that Govt had made
serious effort to implement Moscow Decision, I said that I was com-
pelled to take a different view than he as earlier in the week I had
been led to believe even by PriMin himself, that real concessions in
form of Ministry of Justice had been offered to Opposition, and now
had been told by same source that all was a misunderstanding. I
said that under the circumstances I could only say that I had been
under misapprehension earlier when concluding that Govt was mak-
ing, serious effort to implement agreement. Here again Kirsanov
had nothing more to say except reiterate his view.
  We parted with joke by him about how at last he had obtained his
vengeance by imposing Russian visiting hours on me in exchange for
the time when I had made him adhere to European hours.
  Repeated to London as 118 and to Moscow 135, sent Dept as 282.
                                                          BARNES

874.00/4-146: Tele-rain
lThe Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State

SECRET                                SOFIA, April 1, 1946-3 p. m.
                                   [Received April 2-12: 16 a. m.]
  288. Mytel 287, March 31.87 There can be no doubt that outcome of
Cabinet crisis has been extension of Communist control over Govern-
ment. Appointment of Communist Vice Prime Minister88 affords
party and its leader Georgi Dimitrov means of direct and constant
pressure on leadership of Council of Ministers with respect to delibera-
tions of Council, administrative activity of Secretariat thereof, and
the broad general political influence exercised by Office of Prime
Minister. Project for Assistant Ministers has merely been postponed
not rejected. Party has retained unrestricted control of Minister of
Interior 89 and of militia. It has not lost real control of Ministry of
Justice as new Minister,90 an Obbov agrarian, appears disposed to ac-

87Not printed; it reported that Prime Minister Georgiev had formed a new
government on March 31 (874.00/3-3146).
8 Traicho Kostov: also Minister of Electrification and Natural Resources.
89 Communist leader Anton Yugov remained as Minister of Interior.
' Lubomir Kolarov.



96