To further its goals, the BCP enlisted the support of leftist former activists in
Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization (IMARO), who espoused pro-
Balkan Federation views. In 1918 they outlined their policy in a
manifesto, its main points being the restoration of Macedonia to its original geographical boundaries. In 1919 they formed the
Temporary representation of the former United Internal Revolutionary Organization and later in 1921 the
Macedonian Federative Organization (known as the "Federalists"). The Federalists were supported by the Bulgarian government of
Aleksandar Stamboliyski. Their policy led them into open confrontation with the right-wing faction of the
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO). At the Balkan Communist Conference in
Vienna in May 1922, the Bulgarian delegate
Vasil Kolarov first raised the issue of Macedonian and
Thracian autonomy. Knowing the proposal was a threat to their countries borders, the
Greek and
Yugoslav delegates were unable to endorse it at this stage; however, in order for any chance of success, the communists needed the support of the IMRO. In June 1923, the IMRO collaborated with a nationalist military clique and
overthrew the Bulgarian government of Aleksandar Stamboliyski and assassinated him. The new premier,
Alexandar Tsankov, released the imprisoned IMRO chiefs
Todor Alexandrov and
Alexander Protogerov who were arrested by the old regime as part of their IMRO crackdown agreement with
Yugoslavia. The government was condemned by the
Communist International, as well as the absent communist resistance to it. When the communists did try to revolt during the
September Uprising, they were quickly crushed by the government and its IMRO allies. At the Sixth Conference of the
Balkan Communist Federation in November 1923, Kolarov stated that the "Macedonian population wishes to be recognized as nationality, to obtain its own national rights." Before this the term nationality, likely implying ethnic difference, and the national rights reference were not used for the Macedonians by the BCP, thus this can be seen as a significant step toward recognition of Macedonian national identity. However, initially the use of terms such as nationality and nation had a good deal of uncertainty, since the BCP leaders referred to "Macedonian and Thracian nationalities" in plural. During the spring of 1924, at the sixth conference of the BCP, they unveiled their Macedonian resolution, which stated that an autonomous Macedonia can “assure right and liberty to all its nationalities”, and hails the “Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, the real leader of the Macedonian slaves". Macedonian autonomy was portrayed in light of a
class struggle of its inhabitants against the oppression of the middle class of the occupier countries, not an ethnic struggle. ==Signing and contents of the Manifesto==