New-York tribune., 1918-03-14
Already Planning to Hold
Her War Gains, Athens
Paper Charges
Fears Germany,Is Plea
Trying to Bargain With Both
Sides After War as Before,
Is Charge
[Stof Correspondence

WASHINGTON, March 13.-The Bull
garian government, through a confiden-
tial agent in Switzerland, has sought to
ject of peace, according to "Le Dra-
peau," French newspaper published
in Athens, which carries the following
article from its Swiss correspondent, a
translation of which was obtained in
an Entente diplomatic quarter to- day: {:
"a Bulgarian merchant of good
standing, Shipkotf, who is a confidential
agent of the Bulgarian King and was
many times before used on special Sc
cret missions abroad. is Ct present in
Berne, where he has been trying to
get in touch with the American Charge
dAtfaires and to sound the American
government through him on Bulgaria S
aims and the final settlements at the
peace conference.
"He was introduced by the Bulgarian
Minister, which is a proof that he real
ly is on a semi-official mission there.
In conversation with American resi-
dents he pleaded that the United States
should not declare war on Bulgaria for
the following sentimental and practical
reasons:
"'America founded the Roberts Col
lege, in Constantinople. where many
Bulgarians were educated. These men
are now very influential in Bulgaria; !;
consequently it is not to Russia, but
to the United States that Bulgaria
owes her culture and independence, and
therefore America cannot declare war
on her own child.
Fears Germany's Power
Bulgaria entered this war at Ger
many's invitation to take Macedonia,
the Dobrudje and the part of Serbia to
which she lays claim. Having occupied
these territories, she wishes to retain
them, but being completely in Ger
many's power and fearing her, she ap-
preached England and France, asking
tor help, but in vain. Bulgaria there
fore now addresses herself to the
United States to save her from her
wicked and untrustworthy Balkan
neighbors and from German domina-
ton.
At the conclusion of peace the
United States should help Bulgaria to
retain the territories now in her pas
session, and also assist her with cap
ital, which would bring great benefits
to America herself. Bulgaria believes
that she will replace Germany in the
East, for, owing to the Turkish peoples
aversion to work, Turkey is to-day
economically dependent upon Bulgaria.
For this reason the Allies must
make of Bulgaria barrier against
German expansion in Asia. Having a
common frontier with Hungary
Through the occupied Serbian terri
tory, Bulgaria could democratize the
Magyar kingdom. Bulgaria does not
wish to attack Salonica, for she has
already achieved the objects for which
she entered the war. She cannot for
mally or technically conclude peace,
but she will fulfil all future peace
conditions, provided the United States
does not declare war on her. Bulgaria's
aim is to civilize and educate the Bal
kan peoples, in which she would sue
ceed If all her territorial claims should
be recognized; and, thanks to her ex-
perience and determination, she would
absorb all the Serbians and Creeks
Bulgaria's Plan Denounced
"In these conversations, the Bull
garian also made use of the well-worn
German argument of rivalry between
the United States and England"
After having exposed the intrigues
of Shipkoff, "Le Drapeau's" correspond
ent comments on them as follows:
Inc bulgarian conversations were
utterly devoid of any trace of morality
and neighborly regard toward a free
and brotherly people, and lacked even
the sentiment of honor of the most
primitive tribes. In we'll informed cir
cles here the opinion is that Bulgaria
wishes to insure benefits to herself
from both sides, and her intentions are
absolutely immoral. Her aims are mon
strous, contemplate and hypocritical.
Her programme is based on merciless-
ness and unlimited baseness. Just as
she bargained with both sides before en-
tering the war, just as she attacked her
ally, Serbia, in the rear, in the same
manner she now makes advances to the
Entente for her own benefit. She is
now endeavoring basely to deceive the
powers Of the Triple Alliance in order
that the Allies should assure her per
manent retention of her actual spoils.
Separate peace with Bulgaria would
destroy the faith of the small nations
in the lofty principles proclaimed by
the Allies since the beginning of the
war. No military advantage could sub
stitute the moral loss to the civilized
world should America and the Allies
consent to bargain with Bulgaria. In
so doing they would betray martyred
Serbia, Venizelos, Greece and Rumania,
and the small martyred nations would
forever lose faith in the United States. ."