Evening star., 1923-06-17
BALKAN QUESTION MARK
NOW RESTS in BC-GARIA
Stamboulisky's Overthrow May Open
Flood Gates of 'Strife--Other
Powers Watch Closely.

All manner of crimes have been
charged ag gainSt Stamboulisky since
his overthrow by his enemies. but
the fact, nevertheless, must be borne
in mind that the peasants of Bull
earia. for the first time in centuries,
have received the unrestricted rights
of free men and have been permitted
to advance as their premier declared
their heritage called for. Most GER
tainly wa% royal intolerance ended,
exploitation of peasant clements of
the nation Scotched. But the premier
is declared To have gone to the eN-
treme in his dealings with all other
political elements of the nation an
tagonistic to him and unrepresented
in the government.
Grave Problems for Powers.
Whatever the cause and effect of
the Stamboulisky regime, it's sudden
end has brought grave problem
for powers adjoining in the Balkans.
Jugoslavia possibly is the most con-
cerned by the sudden upheaval to
the east OF her, for the Bulgars have
been Serbia's hereditary enemies for
centuries and the Jugoslavs today
attribute many schemes OF revenge
to the BulsarS. Though the latter
nave consented to the treaty of
Neuilly, nevertheless they have car
ried on with the hope of some day
reclaiming territories lost as the re-
suit of the war. While Stambou-
lisky ruled, Serbia was approached
with plan which would have
closest sort of political and economic
toIcn, but the Serbs inherent SuS-
piciOn Of the Bulgars would not
down. and as a result all plans look
ing toward rapprochement were
dropped.
New Regime PrO-German.
1t is not expected that the Ser
bians can take any great need of
comfort in the Bulgarian situation.
inasmuCh as Premier Zankoff is
known to have been a close friend
of King Ferdinand and to have been
instrumental in welding support
among the Bulgars for the German
cause in the world war. Though
Zankoff's new cabinet is composed
Of leaders representing all political
parties. il nevertheless is a fact that
these parties are of ro-German SYM
rathies, andthere is some doubt in
the minds of the Serbians as to
whether past allegiance can be
waived with ease. If il is true that
the new bulgarian government car
rieS into power the same antipathN
toward things Serbian as existed
previously. and particularly under the
regime Of Ferdinand, then the imme
diate future may bring trouble.
unless the Serbians themselves
CheCkmate ii.
There is every indication that Bel
grade. fearing some movement to the
disadvantage of the Serbs. is not to
be caught mapping. reports indicat-
irg that already large forces have
been assembled within striking dis
tance of the frontier.
IaukCtf, the new premier. has an
nounccd that the new government
faithfully will live up to its interna-
tiOnal obligations; that he will strive
for an of friendship with all
while seeking prosperous economic
land political advance within Bulga-
ril. But Zankoff yet has the peas
ants of the little kingdom to deal
with individually the workers of
the land are well armed, ani if they
should resent the assassination Of
Stamboulisky, who they decla~c has
brought them to their present state
of prosperity. no one can tell how
far reactions will carry them. Stam-
houlisky, their cherished leader. IS
gone and il still remains n question
as to whether they can rally around
another as successfully as they did
him. If they can the present govern
ment's tenure may he considered in
grave danger. There undoubtedly
would he prolonged civil war, with
chaos directly affecting all other
countries surrounding Bulgaria.
Questions of the Hour.
Belgrade, Bucharest. Athens and
even the larger chancellerfes of
Europe are considering these ques
tions:
Will the present regime identify it
self with the Hungarians and the
Austrians in the hope Of restoring a
balance .of power in southeastern
Europe in the face of the tremendous
pressure from the little entente?
is the Bulgarian revolt but the be-
ginning of period of strife soon to
spread over Macedonia and the whole
of the Balkan peninsula?
Should or should not the Httle en-
t.nte step into the situation at the
mcment and so denude the Sulgars of
their power as to forever preclude
tEeT: becoming dangerous again"
~ he meantime the Buigars are
carving their own fate :Snd others
must mark time until there be events
more significant than hose Of the
pt<' week.