BULGARIAN ELECTIONS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 268, 23 August 1945, Page 5

BULGARIAN ELECTIONS

BRITISH ATTITUDE DEFINED LONDON, Aug. 21. The Foreign Office announced that the following communication was handed over to-day to the Bulgarian Prime Minister by Mr W. E. HoustonBoswall, the British political representative in' Sofia: “His Majesty’s Government has under consideration the Bulgarian Government’s announced intention to hold general elections in the near future. While his Majesty’s Government would welcome elections which gave full and free opportunity for the Bulgarian people’s expression of opinions, they are unable to believe that, such opportunity will result from elections held under the present Bulgarian electoral law, and in conditions now obtaining throughout Bulgaria. They consider the form of law is designed to operate to the advantage of the Government at present in power, and to the disadvantage of its opponents. “Very recent concessions are proof that freedom of expression previously has been denied to the Opposition and his Majesty’s Government cannot have confidence that the tardy concessions are in any sense adequate. They have now also received reports, which they consider reliable, that persistent efforts have been made to intimidate Opposition supporters and influence voters in a manner entirely inconsistent with democratic principles. Accordingly, I am instructed to inform you that his Majesty’s Government will be unable to recognise as democratic or representative any Bulgarian Government formed as the result, of elections held under these conditions.”