Evening star., 1939-11-24
Neutrality, Return
OF Lost Territory
Bulgarian Aims
Balkan Bloc Impossible
From Standpoint Of
Sofas Policy
By RICHARD MOWRER.

Chicago Daily News Foreign Correspondent
SOFIA, Nov. 24-Bulgaria has two
ambitions-to keep out of war and
to regain some of the territory 1t
lost in 1913 and 1919. In the last
war, Bulgaria backed the wrong
horse when it sided with the central
powers in the hope of winning back
what it lost in the second Balkan
War. AS result it got stepped on
and trimmed off around the edges.
This time, with the French and
British and the Germans again at
war. Bulgaria is resolved not to
make any mistake. The Bulgarians
swear up and down that their policy
Is one of strict neutrality. On the
other hand, they have refused to
resign themselves to the loss of
South Dobruja to Rumania, and
their corridor claims-Yugoslav
Macedonia and Rumanian North
Dobruja-they are willing to drop,
and have dropped, say Bulgars in
authoritative positions here.
AS far as South Dobruja and an
outlet to the Aegean are concerned,
Bulgaria is adamant. The loss of
South Dobruja to Rumania killed
the seaport of Varna, say the Bull
garians. Varna has no hinterland
and is now merely a summer resort.
South Dobruja is more important
to the Bulgarians than it is to the
Rumanians from an economic and
population viewpoint, the Bulgarians
claim
35 Per Cent Bulgarians.
According to Bulgarian figures,
in 1918, 48 per cent of the South
Dobruja population consisted of
Bulgarians, against 2 per cent Ru-
manians The other so per cent
was made up of Turks and various
other minorities. In 1899, still &C
cording to Bulgarian figures, 35 per
cent of the population consists of
Bulgarians, against 20 per cent
Rumanians.
With regard to an Aegean outlet,
the Bulgarians' victorious enemies,
the Greeks. Turks and Serbs, gave
the Bulgarians an outlet in 1913.
A suggestion of the establishment
of free port on the Aegean for
Bulgaria is snorted at here.
However strong their desire to
get back these lost territories, the
Bulgarians are not likely to con-
slider the use of force to this end
At least not just now. So far as
Rumania is concerned Bulgaria is
content to watch and wait.
There are two good reasons why
the Bulgarians are not likely to take
advantage of the situation to invade
Rumania and seize South Dobruia
One is that the Turks might pounce
on them from behind. The other is
that Bulgaria strongly desires the
solution of its territorial claims over
the conference table.
Won't Relinquish Claims.
So far as the Bulgarians are con-
cerned the formation of a Balkan
neutral bloc is impossible. A neutral
bloc would signify an agreement to
try to preserve the status quo in the
Balkans, and Bulgaria does not want
w AClilIluLoll It's CldlIIlS on FLuInanla
and Greece.
Hungarian Foreign Ministe,
Count Stephen Csaky recently
stepped forward and said as much
as far as Hungary's claims on Ru-
mania are concerned. Bulgaria may
or may not do likewise. In any case,
with Hungary and Bulgaria definitely
against a Balkan neutral bloc, such
setup in Southeastern Europe is
impossible-especially as it is not
Fundamentally or publicly supported
by any great power.
The war is still young and every-
thing in Europe is very uncertain
and Bulgaria, with its 100000 in
habitants, is the little guy of the
Balkans. So the Bulgarian policy
Tor the time being, is to be neutral
and non-committal while letting the
situation jell
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