New-York tribune., 1918-09-30
The Willy Broker Unloading

Bulgaria entered the war on a strictly
business basis. She never pretended to
be fighting in self-defence. The Allies
did not attack her On the contrary,
they went to ill-advsed lengths in trying
to win her to their side-or at least to
keep her neutral
In 1915 Ferdinand the Unscrupulous
put Bulgaria on the auction block He
finally accepted Germanys bid, because
1T looked more tempting and because he
thought that Germany was going to win
and would thus be able to redeem bor
promises in unclipped coin Moreover
he had enough rancor in his composition
to wish to get revenge on Serbia, cspc-
cially since such revenge dovetailed in
with long cherished Bulgarian aspira-
tions in Macedonia
Yet, as whole, Bulgara's alliance
with the Central Powers was matter Of
cold-blooded calculation. Ferdinand has
never played favorites. He has no
dynastic attachments and is entirely free
from sentimental Weaknesses. He put no
makeweight of loyalty into his compact
with Germany-not the slightest fgment
of what the Germans and Austro- Runga-
rians, when discussing their own bond of
union, u~ed to extol as "Niblung faith"
1t is profitless to assume, therefore,
that Bulgaria is acting now from any
other motive than absolute self-interest.
Her policy is one Of self preservation.
If she' can buy that by making peace
with the Allies, on terms that do not
seem to her prohibitive she will buy it
without the slightest compunction as to
the effect Of her purchase on the fortunes
OF her present associates. Her people
have deeply resented the contemptuous
I disregard Of their interests exhibited in
the negotiation Of the Treaty of Bucha
rest. They have grown weary Of Ger
man arrogance. They despise Austria
Hungary knowing that Nienna's only
role now in the Quadruple Alliance is to
echo meekly the edcts of Berlin They
hate the Turks; and they would probably
be glad to make good at the expense of
Turkey the territorial ambitions which
they will have to relinqush, so far az
Serbia, Rumania and Greece are con-
cerned
Germany has tried to deny that Bull
garia sent delegates to General d'Es-
perey's headquarters to discuss armistice
and peace terms. But the Bulgarian en-
voys have already arrived at Salonica.
The Vienna press claims that Austria
Hungary has made arrangements to dis
patch relnforcements into Serbia and
Bulgaria and to give the Bulgarian army
the utmost support. But the naive and
significant admission is also made that
the Bulgarian forces isolated west of
Prllep and Krushevo care getting into
touch with our forces in Albania and
have been removed from the control of
the Bulgarian army command
This suggests that Vienna and Berlin
are no longer confident of their ability
to give orders to the army chiefs in Sofia
II the Bulgarian army, except the parts
of it in Albania and Upper Serbia, is be-
hind the Bulgarian Cabinet in seeking an
understanding with the Allies, there is
no power left in Sofia to guarantee a
further observance of the conditions of
the alliance with Austria Hungary and
Germany. Ferdinands S will and word go
for nothing against the will and word of
a defiant Sobranje. And Ferdinand is
now, as always, for anything assuring
his tenure of the throne.
1t would be rash to consider the rupt
ure of the Quadruple Alliance as already
realized. Bulgaria's secession would
change the whole aspect of the war on
the Near Eastern front Ii would bring
about the speedy collapse of Turkey. the