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U N I T E D N A T I O N S
N A T I O N S U N I E S
INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S EMERGENCY FUND
FONDS INTERNATIONAL DE SECOURS A L'ENFANCE
Sofia, Bulgaria
February 24, 1950
My dear Mr. President:
I have been a resident of Sofia since November 1948 and in a posi-
tion which has brought me close to the Bulgarian people and in daily con-
tact with the Government. Since I am the only American here not connected
with the Legation, who has been able from first hand observations and
experiences to evaluate the situation, I thought it possible you might
appreciate this letter.
First may I say that no writer whose articles or books I have read
has been able to portray life in this part of the world to a degree
understandable in our land of freedom, and I know that the members of
the American Legation Staff returning to the States will not be able to
truly convey to anyone at home how intolerable their situation has been.
I will not try.
As an American I have been exceedingly proud of the conduct of the
representatives of my country under the leadership of Mr. Heath. Espe-
cially during these last trying weeks, no one could failt to be impressed
by the loyalty, outward calm and correct behaviour of every member of the
Legation Staff. They are fine American types but the leadership of Mr.
Heath has brought out the best in all of them.
Minister Heath has the friendship and respect of all foreign diplo-
mats here and of the Bulgarian people to an extent not enjoyed by any
other foreign representative here. He has been firm, friendly and honest
in dealing with this government and I am confident that even they secretly
admire him.
Both the Minister and Mrs. Heath possess the qualities which we at-
tribute to our Middle Mest--sincerity, frankness, honesty=wand they are
democratic in the true sense of the word.
They know intimately every member of their staff and to them they
are Bill, Jim and Mary, and their problems are the personal concern of
the Minister and Mrs. Heath. In my five years in Europe I have been
associated more or less with the Diplomatic Corps and I have nowhere
else seen American democracy so truly demonstrated. In the home of
Minister and Mrs. Heath there is no rank and clerks, guards and all are
entertained. Their friendliness and interest has kept a loyal staff on
even keel in the midst of danger and frustration and has made an in-
delible impression on all here.
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"ocrText": "U N I T E D N A T I O N S\nN A T I O N S U N I E S\nINTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S EMERGENCY FUND\nFONDS INTERNATIONAL DE SECOURS A L'ENFANCE\nSofia, Bulgaria\nFebruary 24, 1950\nMy dear Mr. President:\nI have been a resident of Sofia since November 1948 and in a posi-\ntion which has brought me close to the Bulgarian people and in daily con-\ntact with the Government. Since I am the only American here not connected\nwith the Legation, who has been able from first hand observations and\nexperiences to evaluate the situation, I thought it possible you might\nappreciate this letter.\nFirst may I say that no writer whose articles or books I have read\nhas been able to portray life in this part of the world to a degree\nunderstandable in our land of freedom, and I know that the members of\nthe American Legation Staff returning to the States will not be able to\ntruly convey to anyone at home how intolerable their situation has been.\nI will not try.\nAs an American I have been exceedingly proud of the conduct of the\nrepresentatives of my country under the leadership of Mr. Heath. Espe-\ncially during these last trying weeks, no one could failt to be impressed\nby the loyalty, outward calm and correct behaviour of every member of the\nLegation Staff. They are fine American types but the leadership of Mr.\nHeath has brought out the best in all of them.\nMinister Heath has the friendship and respect of all foreign diplo-\nmats here and of the Bulgarian people to an extent not enjoyed by any\nother foreign representative here. He has been firm, friendly and honest\nin dealing with this government and I am confident that even they secretly\nadmire him.\nBoth the Minister and Mrs. Heath possess the qualities which we at-\ntribute to our Middle Mest--sincerity, frankness, honesty=wand they are\ndemocratic in the true sense of the word.\nThey know intimately every member of their staff and to them they\nare Bill, Jim and Mary, and their problems are the personal concern of\nthe Minister and Mrs. Heath. In my five years in Europe I have been\nassociated more or less with the Diplomatic Corps and I have nowhere\nelse seen American democracy so truly demonstrated. In the home of\nMinister and Mrs. Heath there is no rank and clerks, guards and all are\nentertained. Their friendliness and interest has kept a loyal staff on\neven keel in the midst of danger and frustration and has made an in-\ndelible impression on all here.\nARCHIVES AND\n\"INATIONAL RECORDS SERVICE\"\n: saves)"
}