Evening star., 1916-09-10

MUCH mas peou Saiu Oh DuiBafih dtt-
tude in the war recently in the European
and American press. Those
No Possible who have given credit to
Bulgaria for a desire to
detach herself from the
cause to which she is allied have sin
gularly failed to remember Bulgaria's
treachery to Russia and Serbia, double
treachery. to which Rumania's entry
on the scene adds additional weight.
This forbids that Bulearia's offense
could be condoned even IL Bulgaria had
experienced a change of heart, which is
doubtful Bulgaria. SO far as Russia,
Serbia and Rumania are concerned. vol
unfairly left the Balkan game, and, be-
ing out. will stay out
Herr Tochew, the Bulgarian minister
to Austria-Hungary. interviewed in the
Neue Freie Presse of Vienna. says,
Newspapers in hostile camps publish
insfnuating reports to the effect that
there is vacillation on the part Of Bull
garia. All these reports incite the
greatest indignation and honest disgust
in Bulgaria"
DR.. Rizow, the Bulgarian minister to
Berlin, in an interview the same day
in the Berliner Tageblatt said:
The entire Bulgarian nation knows
perfectly well that, Rumania hates us,
and that she cannot support the idea Of
a great and strong Bulgaria after the
war allied to victorious Prussia ana
strengthened Austria Hungary. Every
one knows that Russian triumph would
Lead to The end of Bulgarian indepen-
dence. as the way to Constantinople Is
through Bulgaria.
For these political and moral rea-
sons" continued DIR. Rizow, Bulgaria
could not take any other decision. If
we waited until Rumania took the first
step 1t will now be understood why"
To appreciate Bulgarias present at
titude 1t will aid our perception of
events by reference to the past. Bull
gars are Scythtan by origin and from
the Volga migrated to the Danube in
the middle ages when Boris was con-
verted to Christianity (s6D. Conquered
by the Byzantine empire in the eleventh
century. the Bulgars were vanquished
by the Turks in the fourteenth century.
In 1870 a firman of the sultan consti-
tuted the Bulgarian Church a separate
religious community under an "ex-
argue"
Bulgaria revolted in 1875 against the
Turks and was ravaged by the bashi-
bazouks. The atrocities
Creation of committed excited the
conmiseration of the
Christian world for the
Bulgars. Russia made war against
Turkey in 1877, and in the treaty of San
Stefano May 3, 1873. Russia provided
for a Grand Bulgaria" by the addition
of oriental Rumelia as vassal to Tur-
key. In December, 1878. the national
assembly at Tirnova elected Prince AL
exander of Battenberg as Bulgaria's
ruler. King Milan of Serbia declared
war in 1885 and Prince Alexander alb
dicated in 1885. Prince Waldemar of
Denmark was designated November IL,
1885. but declined. whereupon Prince
Ferdinand of SAKE -Coburg succeeded
August, 1887 and was recognized by
Russia and the powers in 1897
A page of Bulgarian history very little
known or remembered may be recalled
here. In January. 1895. the position Of
Baron Burian, then charge d'affaires Of
the dual monarchy at Sofia, asked Of
Francis Joseph, through his father-in-
law, Gen. Fejervary, personal friend OF
the emperor. What situation would the
court of Vienna guarantee to the prince
In case that political events, which SEEM
ed imminent, should force the prince to
follow the path Of his predecessor. Alex
ander of Battenberg?
For fact, the struggle Of parties was
provoked by the prince. who saw in 1t the
means of ridding himself of min
istry presided over by the honest but
little perspicacious Stoilof too Russian to
suit the prince. and the agent of the
Ba1lplatz, maintained at the court at
Sofia, Baron Hoening.
The confusion in the country was o.
treme. the prince, 1t was well known,
was engaged in playing Austria against
Russia, and, reciprocally. in such manner
as to guard an open door, either at Vienna
or at Petrograd. or at both.
Now. 1t happened that both doors
closed before the prince: Austria Hun
gary suspected his sincerity and dis
avowed his diplomatic representative;
Russia. which had cordially welcomed
the election of the Coburg, addressed
him one of those frigid communications
for which the Pont aux Chantres. on
occasion. was distinguished.
But the diplomatic Muscovite did more.
Ferdinand of Bulgaria, always ready to
create embarrassment for
Ralir;op. the cabinet, presided over
by NJ. Stoilof, and to excite
SueStlon. pressure on the Catholic
sentiments of the emperor, Francis Jo-
seph, found that the question of the re-
ligion of the infant Prince Boris, heir to
the throne, was raised. and soon general
emotion spread among the people.
Russia caused public opinion to be
worked upon to the point that the con-
version of the young Boris to the ortho-
dox faith soon became the pivot of the
policy of all Bulgarian parties. and it
manifested itself with such violence that