UNITED STATES DENOUNCES COMMUNIST BULGARIA

Wanganui Chronicle, 14 December 1949, Page 5

UNITED STATES DENOUNCES COMMUNIST BULGARIA

Charges Her With Falsely Accusing Legation Officials WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 (Rec*. 6 pin).—The United Slates denounced Communist Bulgaria today for subjecting American Legation officials to “indignities, restrictions and false charges.” ,The Under-Secretary of State, Mr. James Webb, hinted at the possibility of a diplomatic break.

He told Doctor Peter Voutov, Bulgaria’s Charge d ’Affaires: 'The United States takes a most serious view of such deliberate actions which must inevitably affect relations between the two countries.” The State Department protest alleged that th° Bulgarian Government .iad attempted to involve the United States Minister a* Sofia. Mr Donald Heath. in the current purge trial of Traicho Kostov, Bulgaria’s former Vice-Premier.

i The protest also charged Bulgaria with having permilled “scurrilous attacks” in her controlled press on Mr Heath and the State Department. These actions were not an isolated development. "For some lime the United States Legation in Sofia has been subjected to a series of indignities and restrictions, including false charges against American officials, intimidation and persecution of local Bulgarian employees,” says the State Department Bulgaria had shown an apparent intention to disregard international law in her relations with the United States, added the protest.