HC Deb 08 April 1946 vol 421 cc262-3W
94. Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has received from the British political representative in Bulgaria in regard to the recent negotiations for the inclusion of representatives of the Opposition groups in the Bulgarian Government; and whether the proposals submitted by these groups, as a condition of their participation in the Government, are in accordance with the agreement reached by the Council of Foreign Ministers at their meeting in Moscow last December.

Mr. McNeil:

Following the resignation of the Bulgarian Government on 21st March the retiring Prime Minister approached the Opposition leaders with an offer for their participation in the Government. As a result of the preliminary negotiations Mr. Georgiev stated on 27th March that his final terms included an undertaking that a date would be fixed for the dissolution of the Sobranje and for the subsequent election of a Grand National Assembly and a new Sobranje. He also offered the Opposition the posts of Minister of justice and of two assistant Ministers in the Ministry of the Interior. I understand that the Opposition were still considering this offer when the negotiations were broken off by Mr. Georgiev.

As regards the second part of the Question, the Moscow Agreement did not prescribe any conditions on which the Opposition should enter the Government and in view of His Majesty's Government the agreement does not restrict the liberty of either party to negotiate as to the terms on which they will cooperate in a reorganised Government.

95. Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has laid down any condition for recognising the Bulgarian Government other than that a representative of each of the two Opposition groups shall be included in it.

Mr. McNeil:

The terms on which His Majesty's Government will be prepared to recognise the Bulgarian Government were laid down in the Moscow Agreement of 27th December. No additional conditions have been laid down since that date.