Telephoned Telegram from Deputy Chairman of the Allied Control Commission in Bulgaria S. S. Biryuzov to A. Va. Vyshinsky

Telephoned Telegram Transmitted Via Secure Line from Deputy Chairman of the Allied Control Commission in Bulgaria S. S. Biryuzov to A. Va. Vyshinsky About the Danger of an Emerging Government Crisis In the Country ^[l]

Sofia

From Bulgaria

April 6, 1945

VERY URGENT

To comrade A. Ya. Vyshinsky

Stainov said the following in his conversation with comrade Yakovlev:

The farmers raised the question that those involved in the incident of the 31st (from the militia and the workers' party) should be punished^[2] and that the farmers should be given a guarantee that the workers' party and the militia would not suppress them again; in a contrary situation they (ministers-farmers) were going to leave the government Stainov hinted that the Zvenary would not work with other ministers-farmers in the government. Therefore, we are faced with the possibility of a governmental crisis.

The session of the Council of Ministers is scheduled for 1 p.m. today, April 6. Stainov asked that I. Biryuzov, get involved in this issue and put pressure on the farmers and on the workers' party.

I believe that we should not bow to the farmers. Let us give a fight to the farmers, which might end in resignations of two or three ministers-farmers and in replacement of them by other ministers, also farmers. In that case, the cause of the workers' party will only benefit, not lose. If we make concessions now, then next time they will put up even higher demands.

I am waiting for your instructions^[3]

BIRUZOV

[1] Copies sent to V. Molotov, A. Lavrishchev, and to the files.

[2] On March 31, 1945, the General Workers' Trade Union (GWTU) led by the Communists and the Social Democrats organized a mass campaign for unity of the GWTU and for repealing of the regulations of the trade union legislation of 1934 aimed at preserving the unions organized around different professions in the biggest cities of the country. A large rally was planned for Sofia. The leadership of the BZNS did not support that initiative, and held a separate rally in P. Slaveikov Square with demands of freedom of professional organization (in particular of creating  a General Farmers' Trade Union) and against high prices. Clashes among the participants of the rallies took place that were accompanied by shooting.

[3] In connection with this request from S. Biryuzov, head of the IV European Department of the USSR People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs emphasized in his letter to A. Vyshinsky: "I believe that we should make the leaders of the Farmers' Union (FU) understand that the Workers' Party (WP) is not afraid of one or another representative of the FU leaving the government. We can say with confidence that if the WP takes a firm position now in the issue of bringing to justice those farmers who were organizers of the provocative rally, which took place on March 31, if the WP shows that it would not make concessions on issues of principle... then the farmers will take a more conciliatory position... Today I had a conversation with O. Dimitrov, who expressed the same opinion. Comrade Dimitrov said that if there indeed were some illegal actions, or excesses, towards the farmers during the putting down of the incident on the part of some of the militiamen, in that case the WP could make some formal concessions (firing and replacement of the individual perpetrators from the militia), but in Dimitrov's opinion, the WP should not make any concessions to the farmers on matters of principle"(Foreign Policy Archive

of the Russian Federation, Fond 074, Finding aid 34. II. 116. File 18. pp. 18-19).