New-York tribune., 1920-06-20
Loss OF 'l'Ian,sace
Chains Bull 9 ggan'ia
Says Premier
Denial of Outlet on Egean
Sea Puts Country Under
Commercial Domination
Of Germany, 2e Declares

SOFIA, May %. - The award of
Thrace to Greece by the Supreme Coun-
ell was denounced by Alexander Stam-
buliwsky, Premier Of Bulgaria, in a
talk with the Associated Press CORE
spondent today as the "gravest in
justice ever done to Bulgaria.
II cannot believe the reports to that
effect" he continued at viii drive
cur people 20 despair. But, on behalf
Of the government, I want to say that
in spite Of such misfortune if come
it must, We viii Loyalty keep to our
Obligations to The Allies TO fulfill the
terms Of peace
(Under the peace treaty, Bulgaria
coded TO the Allies Western Thracc,
which it had occupied before the war.
The peace conference later awarded it
80 Greece).
Premier Stambuliwsky is the man
who served three-yoar prison term
for telling King Ferdinand that if he
went to war on the side Of Germany
he would either lose his throne or his
head. Ho is leader OF the powerful
.Agrarian or Peasant party
Because oI his humble birth and his
peasant parcntage, the Prime Minister
is regarded as the Lincoln Of Bulgaria.
Like the great Nlinoisan, he is essen
TALLY a man Of the people He received
the correspondent in a simple, unpre-
tentlous Office, the Oldest feature in
which was desk as high as man.
shoulder at which the Minister did all
his writing while standing.
Writes Standing Up
you must excuse me for receiving
you in this fashion, said he lauehinglv
, to the reporter, "but you see while /
was serving my prison term for daring
TO oppose the former king, the only
light in my cell came through mar
row opening near the ceiling and [
acquired the habiu Of writing while
standing. In TINS way 1 wrote twenty
volumes within three years. I still
continue the practice of doing all my
work while on my feet.
Nv hen | signed the peace treaty on
behalf Of Bulgaria," he said, at was in
the firm conviction that the Allies
would make Thrace separate state
under the control Of one or more Of
the great powers and would give US
an outlet on the .Egean Sea. If now
Thrace is given 10 the Greeks, we must
| believe that the Peace Conference de-
sircs to deprive us Of that outlet and
cripple us economically, for we could
not accept seaport on Greek terri
/ tory"
Mr.. Stambulwsky declared that
every foreign mission that had investi-
gated the Thracian question urged that
autonomy be given the people there.
or. II not autonomy, that they be allow
! ed TO express their preference for
union either with Bulgaria or Greece.
AS between a choice Of having Bull
garia or Greece "a q master" said the
Frme Minister, there is absolutely no
/ question that the Thracian people
would choose Bulgaria. They feel that
1fe granting of self government to
them would lead TO the creation OF
many autonomous states in the Balkans
and that this III turn would tend 10 the
formation OF a federation of Balkan
Countries which has been the hope of
statesmen for so many years
Allies Fnrbllnd, Says Minister
Il cannot sec" continued the min
!!ster, how the Allies could be so nur-
bllnd as 10 award this marrow strip
or territory 20 Greece and deprive Us
/ or all access TO tho sea. Hy CLOSING,
tho door to rs on the .4gean they are
forcing US north to the Danube Which
can mean only one thing q rcsump-
ton OF our trade and economic rcla-
tlons with Germany. They have all
ready punished us for our aseociation
with the Central Powers. Now tbov
arc forcing us TO follow the same pat6
mere IS no logic IN such d decision.
Bulgaria intended to construct rail-
ways TO Dedcapatch ON tLn eo,,,l, - NJ