Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-15
RECEIVED AT SOFIA
MINISTER JACKSON TREATED
. WITH MARKED COURTESY.
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations
With Bulgaria-Descriptio
Of the Ceremonies.

The establishment of diplomatic rela-
lions with Bulgaria last September was at
tended by interesting and unusual cere-
monies, according to the diplomatic corre-
spondence just made public Mr.. John b.
Jackson. the United States minister to Bull
garia. in n report to the State Department
on the subject, said in part:
'On my arrival In Sofia l called at the
Bulgarian foreign office. made the ac-
quaintance of the minister and several
other officials, and left a formal request.
in French. that arrangements be made for
me to present my credentials to the prince
The next day l was informed that au-
dience would be granted me the after
noon of Saturday. September 10. At the
time set l was called upon at my hotel by
an adjutant "a colonel, who accompanied
me to the palace In a court carriage drawn
by four horses, and with a cavalry escort.
At the palace l was received with the GUS
tomary ceremony, which was quite as
much as that connected with the reception
of an ambassador at Berlin.
Presented to the Prince.
Having been told that IT was usual to
make a formal speech I'm connection with
the presentation of my letters. l spoke
follows on being received by the prince.
'Monseigneur: l have the honor to pre-
sent herewith the Presidents letter accred-
iting me as diplomatic agent of the United
States to Bulgaria. In delivering this let
ter it is my agreeable duty to convey
surances of the best wishes of the Amer
lean government for the prosperity of Bull
garia and of the cordial friendship which
is felt in the United States for the govern
ment of your royal highness. / am charged
to act IN a manner to cultivate and main
tain harmony and good will between the
two countries. and am happy to say that
1t Will give me pleasure to my best
efforts to this end
"On receiving my letter (standing) the
prince replied in French Afterward he
gave me his hand, we sat down and a gen.
eral conversation followed, which lasted
for about half an hour. Gen. Petroff. the
prime minister of Bulgaria and the minis
ter of foreign affairs, was present at the
audience. and number of court and other
officials were In attendance in the ante
rooms. ! escorted back to my hotel
with like ceremony.
In the evening a dinner was given in
my honor at the palace, at which were
present, among others, the prime minister,
Mr.. Elliot. the personnel of the British
agency and the American colony. During
our conversation in the afternoon the prince
learned of my fondness for Wagner's music.
and in the evening specially arranged
program included Marching Through Geor
gia, The Belle of New York Sousa's
High School Cadets as we'll as selections
from the Rheingold. Meistersinger and Par
sifal. During the dinner the prince PRO
posed the health of the President in Eng
lish, and after cheers were given the or
chestra played The Star Spangled Banner
In reply l proposed the health of the prince,
the royal family and Bulgaria in few
words in French.
Given Special Car.
1.-The prince had heard of the discomforts
connected with my trip from Rustschuk to
Sofia there being no sleeping car. and my
having to sit up all night in a compartment
with five other people,. and on my arrival
at the station on Monday evening 1 found
that. by his orders. special car had been
placed at my disposal This l enjoyed
far the Danube. the Bulgarian-R ouma
Mar frontier. The prince had offered to
give a special train, as l at first thought
of returning to Sinaia by another route, on
which there were no good connections, but
was able to decline the honor, as did not
wish 10 put myself under any great obiga-
ton.
In this dispatch 1 have gone into more
detail than usual, as | wanted to show that
everything possible was done to make 1t
evident that great pleasure is felt at the
naming of an American displomatic agent
to Bulgaria. In conversation the prince
ferred to this fact repeatedly. The news
papers announced that he had returned
from EoXinograd for the express purpose
of receiving my credentials. The princes
secretary told me that the prince had sent
telegram to the President and subse-
quently he let me know that "a very amia-
BILE answer had been received by his royal
highneSS.
The date of my reception was the ami
versary of the union of South Bulgaria to
the principality Cor, as the Turkish COM
missioner called it-with a different point
of view-the Anniversary of the appoint
ment by his majesty the sultan of the Prince
OF Bulgaria as governor general of East
Roumelia). and considerable stress was laid
upon my visit to Bulgaria at this sad
| time ~