New-York tribune., 1918-06-22
The Obvious Duty

"
to call attention again to situation
which must be the source of real regret
for thoughtful Americans, viz: that we
are still at peace with two nations who
are at war with our allies and whose
acts have been as great offences against
the principles which we are championing
In this war as those of the nations with
whom we are actually engaged in hos
tilities. 1t is difficult to understand why
we have remained at peace with Bull
garia and Turkey during the period Of
months in which both Bulgaria and
Turkey have struck at our allies on the
firing line and have committed atrocities
beyond palliation upon civil populations
within their power.
The case of Bulgaria is simple. Bull
garia entered the present war solely for
the purpose Of aggrandizement. Bulga-
ria was in the market for purchase. Her
military resources were sold out to the
German bidder The price was money
and territory belonging to her neighbors.
But even before the present war Bull
garia preciptated the Second Balkan
struggle by a crime more indefensible
than the German invasion of Belgium.
To-day Bulgaria occupies territory of
Serbia and Of Greece. She has subjected
the civil populations of conquered
regions to untold brutality. Her pur-
poses are Prussian. She is seeking to
obtain for herself in the Balkans pre-
cisely the position Prussia obtained in
Germany. She is using the same meth
DDS, with the same complete defiance of
all moral law.
No nation of all which are fighting has
made more gallant defence than Serbia.
AS long as the United States fails to
declare war upon Bulgaria she ccn-
tributes to Bulgarian supremacy in the
Balkans. She does wrong to the gallant
Serb people, who have continued hope
less fight for liberty and independence.
We do violence to our stated cham
pionship of the small nation when we
apply the principle in Western Europe
and ignore it in Eastern Europe.
1t is simple to understand why the
United States has not declared war upon
Bulgaria. Owing to the influence of
Robert College there has been an active
pro-Bulgar propaganda in this country,
cleverly utilized by the Bulgarian Min
lister. Every sort of influence has been
exerted in Washington, precisely as it
was exerted on behalf of Bulgaria in
London in the critical months. of 1915,
when Bulgaria was getting ready to
strike Serbia in the back and Bulpar
agents had the ear of Sir Edward Grey
and Sazonoff and persuaded the Allies
to leave Serbia defenceless against
the premeditated Bulgar attack.
AS for Turkey, there is no argument
that one can think of that can seriously
be presented against our declaring war
promptly upon the authors of the Ar
menan massacres-upon that nation
whose offendings, not alone in the pres
ent war but over the past centuries,
should have doomed the Ottoman Empire
long ago, and now must carry its death
sentence.
A declaration of war upon Bulgaria
and Turkey by the United States would
have profound effect all through the
Near East. In Sofia, in Constantinople.
1t would have real meaning, and it
would be a final evidence to the Gree,
and the Serb people that this great coun-
try stands with all the Allies fighting
Germany. big and little, and means to
champion the small peoples in the Bal
kans south of the Danube as well as in
Western Europe.
We are not in this war now with a
limited liability. We have become part
ners In great struggle, which, if it is
TO have permanent value, must bring
ABOUT reorganization east and west
north and south, based on principles of
right and justice and liberty. 1t is n
matter OF surprise in Rome, in Paris and
in London that Washington is to-day
paralyzed by precisely the same intrigues
which held sway in Allied capitals two
years ago, to the very great injury of
the Allied cause in Europe The enemies
OF our allies are our enemies, because
they are the foes of the principles for
which we and our allies are fighting.
No Indictment Of Germany can be more
severe than that of Bulgaria, which has
become servile imitator of all that is
worst in German methods while cor
tinuing to protest to American ears a
fidelity to American principles taught
IN Robert College. Bulgaria is the
plague spot OF the Balkans, and weak
seatimentality and mistaken sympathy
are contributing to the injury Of fyc oaJ-