The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-03
FEAR FOR SAFETY OF FERDINAND OF 4
BULGARIA IF HE VISITS THIS COUNTRY

render himself guilty of homicide, either
Intentionally or through carelessness.
as. for instance through running over
and killing some one with an automo-
bile which he might happen to be driv-
ing, he could not be held to account
criminally, nor would any civil suit lie
against him. The only thing that the
United States Government could do In
such circumstances would he to request
that he should leave its territory with
out delay.
No end Of speculation exists on both
sides OF the Atlantic rs to the real OBJ
ject of the King and queen of Bulgaria
in coming to America at time when at
any rate Ferdlnand's presence in his
own domnions Is a matter Of such i'm
perative necessity In financial and
official circles in Paris. as well as at
Vienna and in Berlin. 1t Is claimed that
the aim Of the King is to arouse in
America such sympathy and interest in
Bulgaria as will enable his Govern
ment to float a loan here.
Bulgaria Is sadly in need Of funds.
Her treasury Is exhausted by the two
successive wars In the Balkans, wars
which not only cost millions out which.
moreover. paralyzed for the time being
trade and industry to such an extent is
to render the collection OF imposts a
matter of difficulty IL not of impos-
sibilty. The staple industry OF Bull
garia Is agriculture, and although the
people are extremely thrifty yet they
are not enterprising, and moreover weI
compelled to leave their fields lying
fallow and untitled during the recent
struggle in the Balkans. SO great Is
the destitution Of the masses that
Queen Eleonore has been missing APP
peals to the charitably inclined in for
eign lands, especially here in America,
for the relief OF their misery.
1t is owing to this condition OF af-
fairs and also perhaps in no small meas
ure to the hostile influence OF Russia
that the Bulgarian Government has
been unable to obtain the loans which
1t had hoped to secure In France, and
upon which 1t counted to repair the ruin
Of the past two years: and since Lon
don and most Of the other money mar
kets of Europe take their cue from Paris
in such matters the applications of the
Bulgarian treasury to other Financial
centres abroad for loans have met with
failure.
The only remaining money market
from which Bulgaria could possibly
hope to secure a loan would be that of
New York, and IL Is assumed, with a
considerable amount of plausibiliiy. tina.
the coming to America of King Ferdi-
nand and his Queen is to pave the way
for the issue of Bulgarian loan in the
United States.
Certain 1t is that IL must be some very
powerful incentive such as this tina
would lead the King To absent himself
from his dominions at this critical juno
ture. when the State trial of Gen. Savoff, |
the bulgarian commander In chief dur
ing the recent wars. ana Of the eX-Cabi- |
net Ministers concerned. is in progress |
at Sofia. n trial which has led the ac-
cused to formulate all sorts of charges |
against their sovereign In the hope Of |
eNculpating themselves at his expense.
In the early days of Ferdinands reign |
in Bulgaria his Government found it |
absolutely impossible to obtain any loan |
abroad without his personal guarantee
based upon his enormous private for |
tune--a fortune which for the first |
decade Of his rule permitted him |
TO dispense with any civil list |
and to relieve the Bulgarian tax
payers Of any burden on his account. |
Even To this day his personal financial |
credit IL UNNECESSARILY superior To- that |
Of his Government. hut whether or not |
he will he willing again to risk .
his fortune by Offering moiety |
or the bulk thereof as collateral |
security for an American loan to |
the bulgarian Treasury is an op n |
question. American investors might find |
it worth their while to assume the risk |
without any such guarantee. provided |
they receive valuable concessions ~ |