Northern (N): Bulgaria (NG). Annual Review for 1957

A file containing a report produced by the British legation in Sofia concerning developments in Bulgaria during 1957. The report covers the view of Richard Speaight, the head of the legation, that 1957 was "an unspectacular year in Bulgaria and gave rise to no new developments"; internal developments within the Bulgarian Communist Party, which continued to be dominated by a group headed by Todor Zhivkov, the Bulgarian leader; and the introduction by the Bulgarian government of a gradual process of decentralisation. The report also comments on economic developments in Bulgaria, including the apparent over-fulfilment of the Bulgarian state economic plan for 1957; and the signature of a number of foreign trade deals by the Bulgarian government, including an agreement with the Soviet Union under which Bulgaria would receive a credit of 200 million roubles. The report further discusses developments in Bulgarian international relations, particularly Bulgarian relations with Britain.