4 Sep 1941 - The Macedonian Regional Committee refused to remain in contact with us and
linked up with Bulgarian CP as soon as the Occupation of Macedonia started,
Sharlo [Metodij Shatorov, Secretary of the Macedonian Regional Committee]
refused to answer the CC's thrice repeated summons to come to Belgrade for a
meeting in which the Macedonian question could be thrashed out. He refused
to distribute the proclamation of the CPY CC calling for military actions, issued
a directive that all arms should be surrendered to the authorities and adopted a
stance in favour of a Soviet Macedonia and of awaiting the coming of the Red
Army. He adopted a hostile attitude towards the Serbian comrades in
Macedonia. Sharlo has been making speeches to the members against the
leadership of the CPY and its Secretary, dubbing him pro-British because it was
stated in the proclamation that Yugoslavia has been enslaved [i.e. that Macedonia
was not 'liberated', as the Bulgars claimed].
We sent a delegate to Macedonia and Sofia. The CPB Supports Sharlo and says
that Macedonia has been attached to the CPB on instructions from the
Comintern. We consider the CPB's conduct to be incorrect. We have expelled
Sharlo from the Party for sabotage, grave infraction of discipline, making
speeches against the leadership, and for national chauvinism, etc.
Up to now there have been no operations of any sort and no Partisan
detachments because of this criminal attitude.
We are sending our delegate to organize Partisan detachments, operations, and
other activity, and we shall bring the wrong-doers before our Partisan military
court. Please inform us whether it is true that the Regional Committee for
Macedonia has really been attached to Bulgaria on your instructions. We
consider that this is not a good thing, for the Bulgarian Party is in a bad
position with regard to operations and communications, since its
communications have been cut.