Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-07
First Cause of BuIgaria's
Quarrel With Turkey.
HER MINISTER NOT INVITED
Then Came Trouble Over Control of
Oriental Railroad.
STATEMENT BY M. POPR1K0FF
Bulgarian Minister of Foreign A.
fairs Sets Forth Reasons for
Declaration of Independence.

NJ. Poprikoff, the Bulgarian minister of
foreign affairs. has sent a cable dispatch
TO the Associated Press giving an authori-
tatiye explanation of the Bulgarian situa-
ton which is now absorbing the attention
of Europe and the world at large. The
dispatch is in reply to cablegram re-
questng NJ. Poprikoff to send an official
statement of the facts His answer. dated
at the ancient capital of Bulgaria. is a.
follows:
''T1RNOVO. Bulgaria. October g. 1905
Pursuant to the treaty of Berlin. Bulga-
ria has been a principality, tributary to
Turkey. Many years ago Bulgaria ac-
qllired the right to have diplomatic rep
resentatives accredited to all the great
powers. She maintained such a repre-
sentative at Constantinople. Until re-
Gently the diplomatic representative OF
Bulgaria to Turkey was invited. with the
other members of the diplomatic corps
in COnstantiOple. to all official ceremonies
receptions and dinners. On the 18th of
last September. the occasion being the
anniversary of the Sultan's birthday, the
Turkish minister of foreign affairs gave a
dinner to the diplomatic corps to which
the diplomatic representative of Bulgaria
was not invited. Steps were at once taken
to secure explanation of this neglect.
The Ottoman government replied that the
Buiga rian representative had no right to
expect an invitation to this diplomatic
dinner Bulgaria was vasSal state OF
Turkey.
Bulgarian Rights Ignored.
There then followed a diplomatic con-
flict between Bulgaria and Turkey. Bull
garia considered that Turkey was not re-
speeding the rights acquired by her and
she desired to defend these rights. This
was the first incident.
THE Oriental Railroad Company oper-
ates 800 kilometers 1S6 miles, of line in
Bulgarian territory. The same company
operates also about 1000 kilometers (621
miles, of line in Turkish territory. A re-
cent strike on the property of the ORR
entail Railroad Company in Turkey
spread at the same time to Bulgarian
territory. This strike was decided upon
and directed from outside of Bulgaria.
Following an understanding with the rep
resentative of the Oriental Railroad Com
pany the Bulgarian government took over
temporarily the running of the road. The
strike. however, spread until the ma
tional security of Bulgaria was threat
ened. and the people became discon-
tented with the state of affairs
1T then became the duty OF the Bull
garian government to continue running
the road. and we asked the company to
sell us its rights IN Bulgaria. in ac-
cOrdance with an understanding reached
pany ten years ago. Turkey then pre-
tended that the line was her property,
and i'm a note the Turkish government de-
manded that the line be returned to the
company. The Bulgarian government re-
piled that it would treat only with the
company. This was the second conflict.
Forced to an Issue.
This situation imposed upon the Bull
garian government the necessity of fix
hat hn
prircipality and Turkey. The new regime
in Turkey made it imperative for Bull
garia to maintain the best of relations
with her neighbors, especially as this
fictitious condition of vassalage created
feelings Of suspicion and distrust. which
might at any moment result in disturbing
the peace of the Balkans.
Bulgaria understood clearly that Aus
tria-Huneary soon would annex the occu-
pied provinces of Bosnia and HERZEGOVINA,
and the general situation was such that
Bulgaria was sObliged without delay, to
declare her complete independence.
Consequently yesterday. October 8,
Bulgaria was proclaimed an independent
kingdom, and Prince Ferdinand accepted
the title of King of Bulgaria. This act
was communicated to all the great pow
ers by proclamations declaring that Bull
garia was Independent. Bulgaria has no
aggressive aims. She has given regular
form to situation that already existed
de facto.
Has Faith in the Powers.
We believe that the powers will ap-
prove the proclamation of Bulgaria to
be an independent kingdom This act
need In no way trouble the peace of
Europe or the Balkans.
THE powers, who desire peace in Eu-
rope, and particularly those who desire
the maintenance of the new regime in
Turkey. will be the more convinced of the
truth of what l say as soon as they are
satisfied that it is Bulgaria's purpose by
this act to aid in the strengthening of
this regime.
(Signed) "POPRIkOFF,
Minister of Foreign Affairs"