New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-01

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In to-day's Tribune read with much
interest your editorial article on Bulgaria,
which dwelt at considerable length and
evinced much Insight on the Balkan situation
in general, as it Is affected by the present
pulling attitude of the overambitious and
intractable Bulgarian Gar.
However, it seems TO me that the manifest
promptness with which you absolve the Bull
CARS for their present disposition to get ad-
vantage of the exhausted and depleted con-
dition of tho brave Serbian army, and attack
it on the rear while its gallant but broken
regiments arc fighting desperately against
tremendous odds in defence of their country
from invasion by the legions of the two
Kaisers, is not only unjustifed, but wholly
unfair and revolving In the mind of every
chivalrous person. In justifying this selfish
warlike display of Bugarias in order TO
blackmail Serbia into acquiescing to her ar
rogant and excessive demands, and thus re-
alize the Bulgarian pet ambition of acquiring
supremacy In the Balkans at the expense of
their neighboring peoples, you refer TO the
treaty of st. Stefano (Which, happily, was not
carried QUIT as being the chief cause for the
present Bulgar disafection, thus implying
that Bulgaria was rightfully entitled to all
the provisions therein contained.
That treaty was not drawn with any re-
gard to the principle Of nationality or with q
due respect for the wishes Of the peoples
affected by its arbitrary provisions But it
was dictated by Russia at the conclusion of
her successful campaign against the Osman-
lis, and was drawn mainly with the view of
enhancing the Muscovite designs on Byzan-
tium and on the now historic Dardanelles,
while Bulgaria proper and the adjacent non
Bulgarian provinces would in the process of
time become a Muscovite satellite, with
Petrograd its centre OF gravitation. So
the uninspiring and melancholy spectacle
which Bulgaria presents in seeking the throat
of her former worthy antagonist while that
courageous little kingdom is being fought TO
her knees by infinitely more powerful and re-
sourceful enemies should not be upheld;
rather il ought to evoke the strongest pos
sible condemnation it so richly merits, for il
must be remembered that Serbia during the
frst Balkan war rendered invaluable services
u bulgaria d. HtI lOyti Gay ~ ANAPAhb ~
smash through the forts Of Adranople, and
in fact, Serbs were the first soldiers who
entered that city.
But ingrstitude and obstinacy are the twin
characteristics for which the Bulgarian tenn
permanent stands 30 conspicuously dstin-
guished. Ii was but natural that this Asiatic
race, which had done so much TO undermine
and weaken the Byzantine Empire, and thus
paved the way for the incursion in Europe of
/ Othmans hordes, should once again turn
about face and make common cause with
their cousins, the Turks, and so perpetuate
/ their abominable presence on the shores OF
the Golden Horn. Their only grievance
against Serbia Is that that country, in con-
junction with Greece, repealed and punished
| them for that trescherous attack they started
against their allies at the instgation of Aus
tria. And in this juncture my memory runs
back TO the time OF the negotiations for
peace In London which ended the first Balkan
war, and l recolect an editorial in The Trib-
une in connection with the signing Of peace
which, in the light of subsequent events
proved singuarly prophetic. 1t was cap
toned "Peace and War in the Balkans" To
quote "rhe making OF peace is concident
with what threatens 10 be the beginning
of another and still more serious war, for
which the powers must be deemed directly
responsible. Had the allies been left
| 10 settle with Turkey and partition the spoils
of war at their own will, there would have
been no trouble. Europe will be
fortunate, then, If another war does not
speedily arise, OF greater extent and of
grsvsr menace 20 the rest of the Continent
than that which yesterday was technically
ended"
At that time, while Bulgaria was being