Evening star., 1923-06-17
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

TN HE question mark is the new
ly created insignia of Bull
garia.
There, where human emo
lions sweep swiftly as leaping forest
fires. where jealousies run gamut.
where life is cheap in the achieve
tuent of political purpose-there lies
The big puzzle of southeastern Eu
Inpe today.
\ government has been overthrown
hy. a revolution. A new one is
seated. a former premier has been
slain. Political cauldrons are bub-
bling as they have been wont to do
curing the centuries, foreshadowing
strife of prolonged character.
Bulgaria may be torn further by
contentious political elements and
their warfare. or Bulgaria may be
the target of outside interference, in
Spired by the hope that through in
tervention Bulgaria forever may be
removed as d truubemaker in Balkan
politics.
Questions Involved.
Former Premier Stamboulisky. who
headed the peasant government,
which gained power shortly after the
overthrow of King Ferdinand. has
died at assassins hands. Whether or
not his influence will continue to pre-
dominate the 50 per cent peasant
. population Of Bulgaria and cause his
followers to rise en- maSSe against
In" new regime remains to be seen,
but until the new Bulgarian govern
nent eutrencheS itself firmly there
can lie little peace either in Bulgaria
or elsewhere i'll the BalkanS.
StamhouliskN. man of massive
frame and Il degree of CleverneSs,
rose I" the most exalted position
which his country could give Il COM
moner. but only after prolonged as
against the government headed
lT Is inG Ferdinand.
Hulgar peasants, long downtrodden
under the iron heel ef selfish royal
DEGREES, long exploited by interests
close to the throne in Sofia. weary
and sick at heart of Bulgaria's war
losses, followed StambouliskY, needed
ms dictates and at the first favorable
opportunity seized the reign of
l"Wer.
The peasants established a strict
j. peasant regime in Sofia. All
other political parties were ignored
IN the organization of the new GOV
.rnment Political persecution was
life from the very start In the early
days of his regime. Stamboulisky
directed his energies against the
communists. who We're gaining
aSceDdenCy and working in close uni
son with Lcniu and Trotsky in Mos
COW. StambOuliSky'S rise to power
was hailed in the older capitals of
Europe as step in the right direc-
tion and iuSurinG RulgariaS fulfill
ment of the terms of the treaty of
Neuilly. noxious as that pact might
he in the eyes of the Bulgarian peo-
pies. Stamhoulsky did 20 far in com
mitting his government to fulfi!l-
ment of treaty terms, but he ever was
the target of abuse at home. As
result of this abuse there We're eXecu-
tions. Most certainly. StamboullskI
showed no quarter to his enemies and
AS II result of this he became hated
hy large section of the more intel
1igent classes of people VINO stood
for more liberal forms in government,
al least, in 50 far as they personally
were concerned.
Dreaded His Power.
The actual crisis in Stamboulisky's
career, however. came when he for
got his peasant beginnings. overesti-
mated his capabilities aud strove for
even greater power within Bulgaria.
King Boris. long q fgurehead under
Stamboulisky. who really hated roy
atty but feared to do away with the
old form entirely. is declared to have
heen cognizant of the plans for the
recent coupe and. in fact, gave royai
sanction To AlcAaIldeF Hdii iNol' d
university professor, who for the
past two years has silently plotted
for the day of Stamhoulisky's over
throw.
1t was Stamboulisky's idea to over
throw the king during the present
wear It is declared that Zankof
followers determined to act immedi-
ately only when they heard of STAN
hnuliSky'S proposed custer of the
king with his own possible ascend
Once seated il might have been diff
tiCult for antagouiStiC political ele-
rnentS in Bulgaria ever to have GUST
I'd StamboufiSky. and most certainly.
there would have been no medium OF
safety for his enemies. The revolu-
ton presumably. was the direct re-
:,ult Of Stamhoulisky's efforts to over
stem the bounds of prudence.
=, Many Grimes Charged Ia Him,