Evening star., 1948-02-16
Dimitrov Seen Ruling,
'Communistkingdom'
In Satellite Bulgaria
By Wes GoIIoqher

fought half century as a reVolu-
zionist takes over the government
power he sought to deprive others
of exercising?
The answer is found in this
peasant country of 100000 and in
its Communist ruler, 65-year-old
Georgia Dimitrov, top international
agent of the Kremlin.
Al revolutionist at IS, Communist
Party leader at 81, defendant and
taunter of Hermann Goering at the
famous Reichstag fire trial at 81,
secretary general of the Commu-
mist International at SO. and prime
minister of Bulgaria at 63 is
thumbnail sketch of Dimitrov's
career.
Today he is more than a prime
minister; he is the absolute ruler
Of this one-time kingdom. Figur-
atively, Bulgaria is now Com
munist kingdom"
Two Brothers Killed.
The one-time revolutionist, who
had two brothers killed in political
struggles, takes no chances Of hav-
ing the tables turned on him.
His Russian-built ziis sedan zips
through Sofia streets with blue cur
tains drawn, preceded by an open
car of bodyguards. Two more open
cars of guards flank either side of
his sedan. He appears suddenly at
political rallies, always with cold
eyed men nearby with hands in
their pockets.
For the most part he lives in the
palace just outside Sofia once occu-
pied by the royal family he fought
over the decades. He lives much
like Stain, whom he has known in
timately for many years. Some
times, perhaps unconsciously, he
even initiates the soviet leader in
public.
Rise Is Described.
It would take book to describe
the rise of his Communist regime to
power in the last two years. Here
briefly are the main steps:
September 9, 1944-With Soviet en-
dorsement a coalition fatherland
front government was formed with
Communists receiving such key
posts as minister of interior which
controls the state police (militia.
August, 1s45-The powerful Agra
rina and Social Democratic parties
withdrew from the coalition on the
ground it had become front for
Communist seizure of power.
October 27, 1946-In the election
the Agrarians and Social Democrats
received % per cent of the coun-
try's votes. Communists and their
followers won a strong majority.
May, 1e47 - Opposition papers
were suppressed by DimitroV's Com
munists government.
Petkov Arrested.
June 5, 1947-Two hours after the
United States ratified the peace
treaty the Dimitrov government ar
rested Agrarian Party Leader Nj
kola Petkov. and expelled % Agra
rianr deputies from the national as
sembly.
August .l6-Petkov sentenced to
hang.
September % Despite United
States and British protests, Petkov
= is hanged =, u ~
- - Februarx q, Bulgaria be
comes virtually. one-party state
by the reorganization of the father
land front into single party domi-
L,,+ oy,oi1oicfc
Peoples courts" have tried hun
dreds of persons as Fascists and
reactionaries and sent them to
death, prison or forced labor camps.
Thousands of others have been sent
without trial to labor educational
communities.
The militia Estate police have
become the most powerful force in
the country. Thought by Allied
military attaches here to number at
least $1,000, the militia have their
own tanks, artillery and cavalry and
are perhaps stronger than the army
itself.
Servants Reported Seized.
Western diplomats here say their
servants have been arrested, threat
ened, sometimes beaten and then
released with instructions they must
spy on their employers.
Thousands of Bulgarians who
used to be on friendly speaking
terms with American and British
officials have disappeared. Diplo-
matte delegations of the west gradu-
ally are being placed in Moscow
like isolation.
Every effort has been made to in
doctrinate the youth in Commu-
mist teachings through the father
land front. Religious teaching has
been barred from schools taken over
by the state. Parents in some cases
have been warned not to interfere.
The fatherland front platform calls
for elimination of all schools run by
religious groups.
Dimitrov has described youth as
the backbone of the fatherland
front" and large proportion of his
followers are young.
Picture Hangs Everywhere.
His picture hangs in every school
and public building. Busts of him
crowd store windows, hotel lobbies,
foyers and every place where there
is spare space.
School children organized into
groups carry his picture or slogans
In frequent parades past reviewing
stands. Pistol packing militia block
anyone except officials from coming
within accurate throwing distance.
They chant somewhat Historically
In monotonous highschool-like
yell; Long live Dee-meet-troff!"
Tens of thousands surged past the
opera house reviewing stand recent
ly pouring out waves of adulation
for their blue-coated leader. Inside
the opera house his political ma
chine whipped through his party
program with speed which would
have put the Reichstag to shame
In two days voting by thousand
delegates there was not a single neg
ative vote.
AS the months have passed and