New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-20
ALLIES WARNED
AGAINST BULGARS
Loss of MOnastir Expected
to Bring Offer for
Peace Treaty
By GORDON GORDON-SMITH

Headquarters of the Serbian Army,
Nov. II via London, Nov. l9).-The
advance of the Serbs in the effort to
reclaim their country brings up once
more the question of what Bulgaria
will do; for the retention of Serbian
Macedonia, with Monastir as its centre,
was one of the lures that brought Car
Ferdinand into the war.
1t is more than likely that when the
Sofa government recognizes that "the
game is up" it will endeavor to save
what it can from the wreckage by Of
fering in exchange for concessions by
the Allies to refrain from fighting to
a finish"
Such offers will doubtless impress
certain sentmentalists, who will point
out that by the timely acceptance of
these offers the lives of number of
soldiers on the Allies side will be
spared. We will be told that We should
hold out the hand of friendship to
these erring brothers and lead them
back to the fold.
No Concession to Bulgaria
There could be no more fatal error.
Any territorial concessions made to
Bulgaria after her cynical ingratitude
and her Judaslike breach of her pledged
faith would be a betrayal of the in
teiests of every other Balkan people.
Bulgaria's history during the last
five years is one of treason and periidy,
in which the nation at large had it's
share as much as King Ferdinand and
bis government. The initial treason, on
June rs, 1913, when the Bulgarian
army treacherously struck at it's Greek
and Serbian allies and attempted to
stab them in the back, was only the
starting point of an era of diplomatic
duplicity in which the Sofia government
was the willing tool of the Central
Powers.
1t is established beyond all doubt
that in the summer and autumn OF last
year VI. Radeaslavof conducted nego-
tiations with the Allies with view to
Bulgaria joining them. for weeks after
a hard and fast treaty with Germany
and Austria had been signed, sealed
ard delivered" Under the orders OF the
Nilhelmstrasse he dragged out these
negotiations in order to allow OF the
concentration of the Austro German
armies for the invasion of Serbia to
render 1t impossible for the Allies to
come TO the aid OF King Peters king
dom in time to save IL from destruc-
ton.
Since then Bulgaria's record in Serbia
is one long catalogue of massacre, Pill
lage and oppression.
Ingratitude to Russia
Her attitude toward Russia is one
OF cynical ingratitude. On her SOIL
are tie graves Of half million Rus,
sian and Rumanan soldiers who TEL
in 1877 to redeem the principality
from the yoke Of the hated Turk. In
1916 Bulgarian soldiers are lighting
shoulder to shoulder with their for
rler Turkish oppressors against the
soldiers of the Gar Nicholas.
And side by side with this cynical
,unscrupulousness OF the Sofia govern
ment has developed the national
rapacity and boundiess ambitions.
ANYBODY would have thought that the
mdGNlllCeUL Itsulbo VI thN NHNA 70 VI
the Balkan League would have given
fresh cause for mutual trust and con-
fdence. But Europe reckoned without
Bulgarian greed.
Ar eminent Balkan statesman, one
Of the main artisans of the Balkan
League, said TO me a year ago, Just
Lefore the Bulgarian betrayal:
81 prefer a Bulgaria small and dis
contented TO a large Bulgaria with q
great appetite. She will grumbie-
bat let her grumble.'
This somewhat brutal phrase sums
up the sentiment of Bulgaria's neigh
bors in her regard. Every other Bal
kan people regards Bulgarians as the
"Prussians of the Peninsula" a race
filled with n limitless land greed and
one which regards generosity on the
part Of its opponents as an expression
Of fear and every concession as con-
fession Of weakness.
e there should be any hesitation In
Furnishing her for her black treason,
Bulgaria would look upon IL as justl-
fed by results. She would nurse her
wrath TO keep il warm and prepare
for the day OF revenge. Nothing but
short sharp punishment for her mis-.
doings will curb her power for evil
in the future. II is for this reason
that the Serbian and other Balkan
% ople look 10 the Allies. and espe-
cia,ly TO England, to mete out stern
justice TO Sofa.