Evening star., 1941-11-21
Bulgarian Envoy
Replies to Critic
Minister Quotes Churchill
And Grey Against
YuqosIov Contention
To the Editor Of The Star:

peared an article by the Military At
tache OF the Yugoslav Legation here, in
which 1t was stated that the comitadjis
tried to change" the Serbians into
Bulgarians. In my letter to The Star
published on October "a, refuted that
incorrect assertion with all its implca-
tions by quoting impartial and compe-
tent authorities on the subject. The
Yugoslav Minister in Washington in his
letter to The Star Of october % dealt
with anything but the point under
discussion, namely, the ethnic character
OF the population In Macedonia.
One is reminded by such a reply OF
q charming work by the philosopher,
Arthur Schopenhauer. "The Art of Con-
troversy" where ironical advice is given
to disputants who have been worsted In
a discussion. I quote part of stratagem
No. 20 from the English translation by
| T. Bailey Saunders: If you find that
you are being worsted you can make
a diversion, that is, you can suddenly
begin to talk of something else, as
though it had a bearing on the matter
In dispute and afforded an argument
against your opponent
I will ignore as irrelevant the personal
references. But unfortunately even the
statements contained in this diversion
need themselves rectihcation.
l. The events of April last are too
close for an impartial judgment. History
will pass its verdict. Nevertheless, I will
recall that the treaty of 1887 was de-
nounced and diplomatic relations be-
tween the two countries were severed.
chiefly as a result Of the established
participation Of members Of the Yuso-
slav Legation in Sonia in activities aim
ing at the overthrow of the existing order
in Bulgaria. On the other hand the war
in Yugoslavia was over and its army
had formally surrendered on April 18.
before the Bulgarian authorities took
over the administration and protection
OF Macedonia. inhabited by an over
whelming Bulgarian population.
2 Neither in 1913 nor in 1918 are
there any acts which could warrant the
sweeping and slanderous statement that
the Bulgarian government chose to stab
its neighbor in the back.
1t is true unfortunately that in 1918
Bulgaria started the conflict But the
report of the International Commission
set up by the Carnegie Endowment to
inquire into the causes and conduct of
the Balkan wars states that while
recognizing that Servias violations ,of
the treaty of alliance between Bulgaria
and Servia OF March 13, 1922 made
conflict inevitable, the responsibility Of
formal breach must lie with the Bull
garians.' And there could not be any
question OF stabbing in the back. because
the same report reveals that there
could be no surprise since the Servians
and Greeks had regarded war as in
evitable from the beginning OF time.
They were In fact in q much better
state OF preparations, from 4 military
point OF view. than the Bulgarians The
latter IN beginning the war were with
out being aware OF 1t playing the
Servians game as Mr.. de Pennenrun
we'll observes"
As to 1915, no other than the present
Prime Minister Of Great Britain VIM
ston Churchill was amongst those who
were urging that the great wrong done
to Bulgaria by the treaty of Bucharest OF
1913 should be rectified. In a secret
memorandum of July is, 1915, to the
British cabinet, he insists upon securing
the assistance Of Bulgaria which could
be done only by territorial concessions
and afflrms that: "Servia should cede
the uncontested zone in Macedonia to
the Bulgarians, to whom 1t belonged by
race, by history, by treaty and until it
was taken from them in the second
Balkan war-by conquest ." Right
and reason, the claims of justice and
the most imperious calls of necessity
alike, counseled the Servians to surrender
at least the uncontested zone
There is nothing in Bulgaria's claims as
now put forward which is not reasonable
and honorable"
This memorandum was made public
after the war and is summarized in Mr..
Churchills book, The World Crisis"
How did Servia react7 I will let Sir
Edward Grey, afterward Lord Grey of
Falloden. who at that time was Secretary
for Foreign Affairs. speak. Sir Edward
Grey in his book, twenty-five Years."
observes: "Servia was quite intractable,
my efforts were futile and the only result
OF giving advice was the report that
was anti-Serb."
When one speaks q! traditions one
must have good and long memory.
Yes, there was a stabbing in the back:
but that occurred in 1885, At that time
the Principally Of Bulgaria and the
Province of Eastern Rumelia proclaimed
their union. While the young and small
Bulgarian Army was concentrated on
the Turkish border in the east, expect
Ing an attack by Turkey, Servia without
justification invaded and attacked Bull
garia.
Those are facts not only to be put
on the record but to be pondered over
as well, If one wants to get an objective
picture Of the sequence Of events in the
Balkans
Truth sometimes hurts and it is no
wonder that silence is desired by those
who too long preferred to ignore truth.
D. A. NAOUMOFF.