Evening star., 1947-08-27
New Moves Planned
By U. 5. 10 Prevent
Execution Of Petkov

The United States planned un-
disclosed new moves today in its
efforts to save Nikola Petkov,
Bulgarian anti-Communist lead
er, from execution in the face of
Russian opposition to any Allied
interference in the case and.Bul-
garian insistence that it's impor-
tance is much exaggerated here.
Russias rejection Of American
and British demands for Big Three
consultations looking toward a re-
view of Mr.. Petkov's death sentence
was made public yesterday.
Mr.. Petkov, leader Of the opposi-
ton Agrarian Party in Communist
dominated Bulgaria, was sentenced
to death by a Bulgarian court Au-
gust 16 on charges of plotting
against his government.
Moscow Opposes Move.
The United States and Great
Britain, invoking the Big Three
Yalta pledges Tor joint action to
assure democratic liberties in liber-
ated Europe, urged steps by the
Allied Control Commission in Bull
garia to block the execution while
it reviewed the case.
Moscow turned down any such
move. In a note made public by
the State Department yesterday,
Russia contended the Allied Com
mission has no right to review ju-
dicial matters decided by Bull
garian court because this would in
fringe on Bulgarian sovereignty.
The note expressed confidence in
Bulgarian courts and saw mo pos
Sibility" of agreement with the
American proposal.
Asked If this exhausted American
efforts to save Mr.. Petkov, a State
Department spokesman said, "No,
indeed" He refused to indicate
what further action may be taken,
however.
Bulgarian Comments.
Contention that the Petkov case
is being unduly exaggerated in the
western countries came from Nissim
Mevorah, Bulgarian political rep
resentative here, in a press con-
ference.
Mr.. Mevorah said the Petkov mat
ter was relatively insignificant in
view Of many other important"
problems with which his country is
busy He added that he did not
want to see it inflated" to worsen
international relations.
In its note to Moscow last week,
the United States insisted that "the
sentencing to death of duly elected
leader of the Bulgarian opposition
is a most grave matter, which if
carried out will jeopardize the es-
tablishment of representative
democratic government in Bull
garia."
Mr.. Mevorah insisted that Mr..
Petkov had received a fair trial,
with no political interference. He
pointed out that Mrs. Petkov still
has recourse to an appeal in the
Bulgarian courts.
Reviewing many other phases of
Bulgarian policy, Mr.. Mevorah said
his country would be quite ready"
to join eventually In application of
the Marshall plan for European
economic recovery provided mo po-
litical strings were attached"
Bulgarian action will depend on
conditions under which the plan is
finally offered, he said. - ;. q.
AeEoI ~ ,r,o,rlI not
tually on what Russia does, he said
Bulgaria and Russia were closely
linked by economic and cultural
ties but this does not mean in any
way that Bulgaria is dependent
economically or politically on the
Soviet Union" He added that Bull
garia would pursue "an independent
foreign policy" but always in
friendship with the Soviet Union"
British Intervention" Scored.
He charged British Intervention
has encouraged a policy of "discrim-
ination and persecution of the op-
position in Greece" and insisted
that Bulgarian-Greek border Incl
dents were absolutely minor" af-
fairs.
Mr.. sMevorah said Bulgaria has
given asylum to. political refugees
from Greece, but denied any armed
support Of Greek guerilla bands.
He said Bulgaria could not &C.
cept a border watch by a United
Nations commission because I'VE
knew it to be screen for an inten-
sification and justification of for