The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-03-04
BULGARIAN REFUGEES
BY Nancy Lauder Brunton
American Friends Service Commit

American Friends Service Commit
tee Representative in Bulgaria
There have been refugees in
Bulgaria from 1878, when she first
became free from the Turkish rule.
In 1913 there was also an influx
after the Balkan Wars. These
have now been absorbed
The new arrivals who have been
coming in during the last few years
are in a very difficult position.
Many were interned in the Greek
islands to make room for Greek
refugees coming from Turkey; they
found on returning home before
they were sent to Bulgaria that all
their belongings had been stolen;
some were robbed 8 or A times on
the journey. The Bulgarian Gov
eminent organized their reception
very efficiently, and succeeded in
distributing land to 8,748 families,
with the possibility of supplying it
to another 5000 families.
The burden of Preparations, how
ever, has prevented the possibility
of the Bulgarians dealing with their
refugee problem unaided. Add to
this 29,500 Russian refugees and
10000 Armenians whom the Gov
eminent has treated with great
generosity. We cannot wonder that
mountainous country like Bull
garia with a small area of arabic
land should find itself in over
whelming difficulties. Turkey and
Macedonia have again entered the
tobacco trade and caused slump in
Bulgarian tobacco, which was its
chief article of export.
Bulgaria has now received
loan from the League of Nations
for constructive work; to supply
ploughs, oxen, and seed to refugees.
and for draining swamps and re
claiming scrub forest land. The
loan will be a great help. 1t is
being administered by Frenchman,
Monsieur Rene Charron, who is
very much interested in the ques-
ton of the refugees, and has sue
ceeded in getting some seed distrlb
uted this autumn. He hopes tc
supply all the refugees with ploughst
cattle and seed by spring, and to
begin building operations as soon as
the winter is over. Monsieur Char
ron will try to distribute reclaimed
land to the refugees as far as
possible, so that there may be nc
dispute about ownership.
None of the money of the loan,
however, can be used for relief,
and it is evident that if the refugees
are weak from want of food they
will not be able to do the heavy
work entailed in draining and clear
ing. Their resources are now all
used up, and this will be the most
critical time, from now until the
end of next June when it is hoped
that most of them will be able to
reap a harvest of some kind.
In the summer with the funds at
our disposal we opened kitchens for
1880 children for two months in
villages and 4 towns. The improve
ment in the children's health wal
rapid and marked. They quickly
put on weight, and instead of being
white and fragile they began to get
sunburnt.
In Haskovo, Stanimaka and $3.50
pol there were highly Intelligent
people on the Committees and the
kitchens were excellently run. Even
m the villages they are astonish-
.ngly quick to learn. The children
must present clean hands and face
20 the teacher before coming to the
neal, and the dinners are providing
IN opportunity for education In
manners and cleanliness. The doc
tors wife in Haskovo is now often
hailed in the street by small
creatures who think that a com
panion' is not upholding the standard
Of behaviors expected OF Haskovo
citizen as he ought.
1t can be easily imagined what the
lot of these people in the remote
villages will be this winter, when
the harvest was, not entirely ade
quate for the old inhabitants, and
most Of the refugees had no meanf
of sowing one, and have nothing.