The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-03-28
Bulgaria
BY R. HI. MARKHAM

ference. Iney snow the neeu VI suCH lued1S
| and the necessity of greater efforts to bring
about their realization.
| The Crimea Declaration Liberated Eu-
rope" says that 'They the three leaders,
agree to assist the peoples liberated from
Nazi Germany and the peoples of the former
Axis satellite States to solve, by democratic
means, the pressing political problems.
They will jointly assist the people in any
liberated or former Axis State to form
interim governmental authorities broadly rep
resentative of all democratic elements
Conscientious and informed Americans
doubtedly applaud this declaration. It repre-
sents what Americans have been striving
toward since 1776. 1t is duty to help
bring this ideal to realization wherever pos
sible. AS a first step toward that must
study the conditions under which We work
and ascertain the success lack of success
in fostering such democracy in those iber-
ated countries where we are already jointly
operating An excellent test case is Bulgaria,
now under Allied control nearly six months.
Bulgaria was an Axis satellite State" 1t
joined Germany early in 1871 and declared war
on both the United States and Great Britain
on December IL of that year. 1t remained at
peace with Russia until September 5, 1914,
when Russia declared war on Bulgaria and
invaded the country. Bulgaria offered re-
sistance but asked for an armistice which was
granted four days later.
NONE OIL the CnISe HAIL Allies QlQ any
ground fighting against Bulgaria but the
Americans and British carried out fairly
large number of air attacks. The Americans
were chiefly responsible for these, took most
of the risks and suffered most of the losses.
Nearly hundred American aviators were
captured in Bulgaria and spent much time in
Bulgarian prison camps Thus America did
more of the actual fighting against Hitler's
Bulgarian satellite than any of the other
chief Allies, although OF course, it was the
advances of the mighty Red Army that actu-
aIyally forced Bulgaria's capitulation.
America has long had large cultural and
spiritual interest in Bulgaria. For example,
Americans founded the first Bulgarian paper
first girls schools and one Of the first boys
schools Indeed Americans maintained an ex-
tensive cultural and public welfare activity in
Bulgaria until the present world war.
The British were likewise interested in Bull
garia, partly from altruistic motives and part
ly for considerations of Empire. Gladstone had
been one of the statesmen responsible for
Bulgaria s liberation from Turkey, and British
governments at various times had made Wig
orous efforts to prevent Bulgaria from be-
coming a tool Of interested European states.
During a number Of years Immediately pre-
cedlng this war, Great Britain had carried on
propaganda aimed at gaining Bulgaria's good
will
Russia, as is well known was chiefly
responsible for freeing Bulgaria from the
Turks in 1778, and by race, language, tenn
permanent and religion is closer to Bulgaria
than any other great nation These cordial
past relations OF the three chief Allies with
Bulgaria created not unfavorable basis for
joint allied action in the promotion Of demo-
cratic reconstruction.
Let US see how the situation has devel-
oped. First of ALL internally. The new Bull
garlan regime, which seized power by means
of revolution the night Of September g.
1914, was based on an underground organi-
cation known as the Fatherland Front con-
sisting of conspiratorial Officers League, a
few Socialists, most Of the aggressive Agra
rains, and all the active Communists. The
new Cabinet contained all four elements
while a loosely formed league or union of
the same four groups set out to reorganiZe
the whole country. It seized control of every
organization and activity in the land and
ers Red Cross, priests, youth, sport societies,
artists, lawyers, writer's, journalists etc.
This vigorous, radical and speedy reor-
ganlZaton was natural and commendable. And
in the ensuing turmoil, also natural,
the best organized and the boldest group moved
toward domination. That was the Communists.
AiiSJ arc AoPioAy OAliiSAlS Du1Sdlld uIloel
their control. They officially have charge of
internal Affairs and of Justice; so con-
troll of the police and other agencies close to
the people. They also exert great influence
over State Propaganda. Through their militia,
sort of Communist S. S., they maintain rath-
er effective control over the army, and are
wedding out most officers of whom they do
not approve.
This group is certainly not broadly repre-
sentative of all democratic elements the
population the Crimea Declaration rec
ommends. By far the largest social group in
Bulgaria are the peasants, organized in the
Peasant Party. The peasants most active lead
er is DR.. G. M. Dinlitroff who has been as
heroclally devoted to the cause of the Allies
as any man in the land. The Communists have
forced him into inactivity. Another Agrarian
leader, Dimiter Gicheff, who was always
against Hitler and went to concentration camps
because of his stand, has been sent to Jail
by the new regime
purge is being carried out in all parts of
Bulgaria through improvised peoples Courts,
influenced by extremist public propaganda
and practically all bourgeois rivals of the
Communists are being imprisoned or liquidat-
ed. The press is under the most rigid con-
troll and the last weak, faltering bourgeois
daily, Mir has been suppressed, while every
journalist is forbidden to follow
his profession. No more autocratic regime has
existed in Bulgaria for full decade.
In addition to this, Bulgaria's relations with