Evening star., 1939-04-23
Germany Spurring
Bulgaria 10 Make
Demands in Balkans
Reich Motive Is to Have
Ally as Dominant
Southeast Power
BY WILLIAM BIRD.

BY WILLIAM BIRD.
PARIS. April % &C. P. A).-Ef-
forts are being made by Germany
to spur Bulgaria toward making de-
mands on Greece and Rumania
There is no question that Bulgaria
has grievances, having lost the
Dobrudja, one of her richest prov
inces, to Rumania in the second
Balkan War, and having lost her
outlet to the Aegean to Greece.
But after successive defeats, in
cluding the defeat of 1918, the Bull
garians have until now renounced
war as a method of settling griev-
ances. They have not given up hope
OF getting back their former terri
tories, but their policy has been to
let time work for them. I spent
some time in Sofia not long ago and
conversed with numerous leaders,
All of whom declared that Bulgaria
would not only do nothing to pro-
Yoke conflict, but would resolutely
strive to remain neutral if her
netghbors got into war.
It seems to be the German idea,
however, that the time is now ripe
dor Bulgaria to assert herself. Now
That the Italians are occupying AL
bania, it may appear that the
chances of intimidating Greece are
peter than they have been for some
time. AS for Rumania it is already
directly menaced by Germany. and
might not be able to resist a simul-
,faneous pressure from Sofia and
Berlin.
- Bulgaria Could Aid Germany.
The German motive behind the
attempt to aggrandize Bulgaria is
p simple one. A greater Bulgaria,
such as existed after the first Bal
kan War would be the dominant
power of the Balkan Peninsula, par
ticularly If it had German backing.
IT would be in position to press
with great efficacy against Rumania,
Greece and Turkey. 1t would also
be we'll placed to complete the en-
circlement of Yugoslavia.
The occupation of Albania by Italy
looks more and more like move
TO forestall, if possible, too-rapid
Expansion of German influence in
sthe Balkans. Italy has always re-
garded the Balkan Peninsula as by
right an Italian sphere of influence,
and the speed with which Germany
IN recent years has extended her in
iy, no po1l
caused considerable concern in
Rome. 1t will be remembered that,
IN 1923, the Italian fleet bombarded
Corfu. occupied it for month, and
,exacted an indemnity. 1t was gen.
orally believed then that the italian
intention was to annex the island,
which occupies key position at the
entrance to the Adriatic, but British
opposition appears to have dissuaded
-Mussolini, then at the debut of his
career as dictator.
Salonika Strategic Port.
Now that Albania is occupied, the
italians are in an excellent position
to exact tribute from Greece. The
Albanian frontier Is only 100 miles
from Salonika. which is not only
vital port for all of Northern Greece.
including Thrace and Macedonia,
but Is also a vital port for Yugo-
sslavia.
! It must not be forgotten that the
allied occupation of Salonika during
the last war was one of the principal
factors in the ultimate victory. But
Tor the possession of Salonika it
would have been impossible to iso-
late and defeat both Bulgaria and
turkey, whose surrender in the fall
OF 1913 marked the beginning of the
collapse OF the German coalition. It
Is understandable, therefore, that
both Italy and Germany should now
pc driving toward the Aegean port,
. 1t Is probably idle to ESSAY predic-
lions as to what England will do in
tho race OF this new menace. 1t is
worth while pointing out, however.
That England has recently given
Greece very formal assurances of
protection, and it seems unlikely
that the British government could
Af1ord to permit either Italy or anv
power friendly to Germanv-such
fs Bulgaria-to obtain control of
the port of Salonika.
England, Soviet Draw Together.
5. What seems even more unlikely is
chat England could permit Bull
garlan aggrandizement to the point
of menacing Istanbul. No other
menace, indeed, would be so likely
to throw England into the arms of
Soviet Russia. Constantinople was
coveted by Russia for generations.
and England always managed to
prevent the Russians from getting
1t. 1t seems certain that ENGLAND
end Russia would be together TODAY
an insisting that Germany or an
ally of Germany should not get
possession of Istanbul.
England until now has been wary
OF making any pact with the Soviets,
but circumstances are gradually
drawing the two together. The
further Hitler pushes eastward, the
nearer he comes to interests that
are vital to both Russia and Eng
land. 1t may be repugnant to Eng
land TO form a partnership with a
government of the character of
Russia's, but. in the long run. ma
tional interests will take nrecedence