BULGARIAN REGIME ALLEGES METHODISTS CONFESS TO SPYING

Grey River Argus, 22 February 1949, Page 5

BULGARIAN REGIME ALLEGES METHODISTS CONFESS TO SPYING

SOFIA, February 21. The Bulgarian press has published an alleged confession by the Rev. Yanko Ivanov, Supervisor of the Bulgarian Methodist? Church, who is one of the 15 arreested non-Conformist leaders. . These church leaders , are being charged with espionage, high treason, and currency speculations, says the Associated Press correspondent. The alleged confession names Cyril Black, secretary of a former. United States political mission to Bulgaria,a head or chief instigator of espionage activities, and Miss Melany Turner, former principal of an American Methodist College at Lovech, as his principal assistant. Rev 7 Ivanoc is also reported to have “confessed” that at his instigation Cyril Black arranged for regular payment of all Ivanov’s pastors. Rev Ivanov is quoted as saying that he received instructions from Black first to carry out political activity through all evangelical churches; secondly to give information on the people’s dissatisfaction against the “Fatherland Front” Government and on all rumours about internments, Russian troops and economic statistics. Ivanov, in his “confession,” said he received a total of £7500 through a representative of Metro-Goldwyn-Maver.

The Bulgarian Government has also released an alleged written testimony of Rev Vassil Ziapkok, representative of the Bulgarian Evangelical Churches. He is also alleged to have named Black and is stated to have admitted that he served the British Legation as well.

The Communist Party newspaper published alongside the alleged Ivanov confession, statements from leaders of various denominations “strongly condemning such treacherous activity.”