18 JANUARY 1946, Page 1

Hold Up in Bulgaria

It has proved even more difficult in Bulgaria than in Rumania to carry out the terms of the Moscow agreement. In Rumania, as a result of the visit of The Three Power commission, it proved possible to broaden the government by the inclusion of representatives of the opposition parties. In Bulgaria, where M. Vyshinsky, the Soviet Deputy Commissar for Foreign Affairs, has been holding pro- longed conversations, it has not been possible for the Government to secure the co-operation of the opposition. It appears that the repre- sentatives of the National Agrarian Party and the Social Democratic Party were not satisfied with the offer of two seats in the Cabinet, but insisted on a complete reconstruction of the Bulgarian Govern- ment. According to Moscow radio, they demanded the dissolution of the Bulgarian Natibnal Assembly, presumably to be followed by new elections, and changes in the present Government. The Government refused these demands, which the Opposition leaders were not willing to moderate. This failure to reach a compromise is unfortunate, as in Bulgaria, at least, it threatens to cancel the

good effects which were hoped for as a result of the Moscow con- ference. One consequence would appear to be that the British and American Governments will continue to withhold recognition from the Bulgarian Government. It is difficult to believe that a fresh start can be made in Eastern Europe until existing regimes have been accorded recognition ; so long as their legitimacy is not re- cognised, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to make con- cessions to their opponents, and they are inevitably driven to look to the Soviet Union as their sole support. It was the recognition of this fact that persuaded the British and American Governments, at Moscow, to make concessions which some critics have considered excessive to the Soviet point of view.