New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-16
RUSSIA AND BULGARIA.

The revelation that the late Zankof1st Min
istry in Bulgaria agreed TO give Bourgas and
Varna to Russia as naval stations may or may
not be true. but it certainly has an air of
probability 1t has never been secret that
Mr.. Zankoff is so friendly to Russia as TO be
practically a Russian agent in Bulgaria. 1t is
also perfectly obvious that Russia would greatly
like to yet possession of Bourgas and Varna, 50
mucu that she would doubtless be glad TO pay
a handsome price for them. They may not be
INDISPENSABLE to her. but they would be I'M
commonly convenient and serviceable to her in
an advance upon Constantinople. For il will
not escape notice that her advance upon Con-
stantinople must be by sea, and not by land.
In IST1-'Ts the land route was open to her, for
Rumania was a weak principally, disposed to
let Russia do what she wanted TO do, and, Of
course, Bulgaria was still Turkish territory.
But now, whatever Bulgaria might do. Ru-
mania would bar the way. That country is
now almost a great power, and its capital is
the strongest fortress in Europe. Moreover,
Rumania is now decidedly anti-Russian in senti-
ment and policy. Russia could not get permits
sion 10 march across Rumania to Constantine
ple, and to fight her way would be TO involve
herself in a war with Austria Hungary as well
as with Rumania. On the other hand, If she
could get pDSSeSSlOu Ol Douledo anu 'oiHo o1N
would have a splendid foothold on land within
striking distance Of her goal.
This scheme appears TO have been signally
defeated. In the recent elections in Bulgaria
the Zankoffsts were utterly routed, and the
followers OF the late Stephen Stambulof, the
greatest man Bulgaria has produced in mod
ern times, secured an overwhelming majority.
Tho Stambuloflists are, of course, resolutely
anti, Russian Indeed, IL is reported that there
are only nine prO-Russians in the whole So
hranie Of nearly two hundred members. This
remarkable revolution is attributed by some TO
tho personal initiative of Prince Ferdinand
himself IL so, IL is a strange turn or affairs
that the Prince. who so long coquetted with
Russia. and for the sake OF Russians favor con-
doned the murder of Bulgaria's greatest states
man and truest patriot, should now secure the
triumph of that statesman's policy and thwart
the designs of Russia. II seems probable, how
ever. that whatever the Prince may or may not
have done, Bulgaria has largely been turned
against Russia by Russias attitude In the Mace
DOMAIN business. Had Russia promoted Bull
garfan conquest Of Macedonia. as the Bulgars
hoped and expected, Bulgaria would have been
Russia's subservient vassnl But Russia did
not On the contrary, she showed herself dis
tinctly hostile TO Bulgaria's ambition and so
Bulgaria turns against her.
On the whole, this is suspicious of good for
Bulgaria. That country has suffered much
through being subject TO Russian and anti
Russian intrigues. What it needs most of all
is TO adopt the policy OF Bulgaria for the Bull
gars, and to act in the interest OF its own peo-
pie. and not in that of any foreign power II
is not well for any State TO be pawn in a
game played ut will by stronger powers. The
cacrot Of Ruipania's fine deyelopment in recent
years is in her devotion to her own interests and
her independence OF external intrigues Bull
garla has not Rumania's elements of greatness
but she nas some OF her own. which should have
been developed far more than they have yet