that the election held last Fall was considered by the foreign press
to have been free. The Opposition had declined an opportunity of-
fered them to participate in the governmiient. He wished a full re-
sumption of normal friendly relations with the USA.
  The Secretary in reply spoke generally of the friendship of the
American people for the Bulgarian people and stated that even though
Bulgaria had declared war on the USA we had no feelings of revenge.
The Secretary stressed the great importance attached by the USA to
the maintenance of civil rights for all the population, adding that the
USA could not understand or approve any system of government
where the opposition is permitted to have no press, where political
arrests are continually taking place and where there is no possibility
for people freely to express their will in elections. The Secretary
stated that he was unable to accept Kolarov's contention that the Bul-
garian elections had been regarded by foreign correspondents as free.
The Secretary also referred to the Ethridge report 23 which showed
that the opposition were not given full civil rights. He stated that
lie had understood that Stalin and Molotov were going to exert in-
fluence to bring about conditions in Bulgaria under which the opposi-
tion could have such rights, but his understanding on this point had
not been fulfilled. Secretary stated he wanted it clearly understood
that USA was not asking for reparations. In regard to the limitation
of Bulgarian Army Secretary remarked that if Bulgaria had no ag-
gressive intentions against its neighbors as Kolarov declared, its future
security would depend not on its Army but on the United Nations.
Secretary stressed fact that U SA would support the United Nations
with all of the forces at its command.
  In conclusion Kolarov stated that he would promise that within 3
months Bulgaria would hold free and open elections with adequate
guarantee for a Constituent Assembly.
  Secretary stated that this promise of free elections made him happy
and that he looked forward to its f ulfillment and the removal of ob-
stacles to normal friendly relations which now exist not only between
the Bulgarian and American people but between their Governmients.
  Sent Department 3239, repeated Sofia 18.
                                                           CAFFERY
 23 In October and November 1945, 'Mark Ethridge. at the request of the Secre-
 tary of State, visited Bulgaria and Rumania in order to ascertain the representa-
 tive character of the Governments in those countries. For text of Ethridge's
 summary report to the Secretary, dated December 7. 1945, see Forcign Rcla-
tions, 1945, vol. v, p. 633.



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BULGARIA