Evening star., 1938-08-03
Peaceful Change.

The question of how changes in world
political relations can be brought about
peacefully-that is, without the use or
threat of force-has been the topic OF
many erudite dissertations by the schol-
ars, but no more vivid practical ex-
ample is to be found than the manner
in which the Balkan Entente removed
the military restrictions against Bull
garia.
And that this shining illustration of
how governments can win modification
by peaceful negotiation should occur in
the Balkans, which for so long was re-
garded as the tinder-box OF Europe,
makes 1t doubly significant.
What has happened is that Bulgaria,
finding the limitations of the peace
treaties of Neuilly and Lausanne oner-
GUS, undertook to win their rescission
by negotiation. This was accomplished
by an agreement between Bulgaria and
the Balkan Entente-Greece, Turkey,
Rumania and Yugoslavia acting
through Premier John Metaxas of
Greece, president of the Entente At
the same time non aggression pact be-
tween Bulgaria and the Entente states
also was signed. Thus Bulgaria frees
herself in legal and orderly fashion
from the Neuilly treaty limitations upon
the size and quality of her armed forces
Including conscrption-and abolishes
the demilitarized zone-her Rhineland-
set up by the Lausanne treaty along the
Thracian frontier.
The method by which this goal was
achieved is in striking contrast to the
arbitrary and belligerent manner of Ger
many in abruptly pronouncing the
Versailles treaty restrictions dead and in
marching into the Rhineland. Germany
won the condemnation of civilized peo-
pie for her defiance of the League and
the rest of Europe; Bulgaria deserves
the heartiest commendation for her re-
spect for treaty obligations.
If Bulgaria's treaty with the Balkan
Entente was a victory for orderly and
lawful process in international relations
1t was even more victory for peace in
the Balkans, and thereby throughout
Europe. The way is now open for Bull
garia to join the Entente, and assist in
the furtherance of its objective of re-
pelling the rival hegemonies which kept
ho po1 1kon i, t,,rp fo,
From a political standpoint the Bull
garian-Entente agreements are evidence
of the Transformation which is under
way in the balance of power in Europe.
Hitherto, the Little Entente-Rumania
Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia-has
been the dominant factor in Eastern and
Central Europe, supplementing Great
Britain and France in keeping Germany
and Italy III check Germany now half
surrounds Czechoslovakia and has been
gradually drawing Yugoslavia and Ru-
mania within its orbit. Italy also has
composed most of her differences with
Yugoslavia. Thus the power of the Lit
tie Entente has suffered severe setback.
In its place, however, has arisen since
1884 the new Balkan combination, in
Guiding two Little Entente members
Rumania and Yugoslavia-having as its
basis the consolidation of the Balkan
states against involvement in the i'm
perialistic intrigues of the major Eu-
ropean powers.
The first line of defense against the
German "Drang mach Osten" has crum-
bled with the awakening ofe the Little
Entente. The second line of defense
the Balkan Entente-is stronger because
1t is based not on the maintenance of
the status quo of the peace treaties, but
on the establishment of reign of true
peace, with plenty of flexibility for
modification as changing relations of
the member states require.
More power to Bulgaria and the
Balkan Entente for this brilliant exhi-
bition of peaceful change.