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Relations between Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, 1918-1941

Sheperd, David

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Sheperd, David (1968) Relations between Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, 1918-1941, Durham theses, Durham
University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/9932/

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Abstract of Thesis

R e l a t i o n s between Y u g o s l a v i a and Bulgaria. 1918-1941

W i t h i n the B a l k a n p e n i n s u l a there a r e two South S l a v s t a t e s ,

Yugoslavia and B u l g a r i a . These two s t a t e s have common, ethnic,, l i n g u i s t i c
and r e l i g i o u s o r i g i n s but the p r o c e s s of h i s t o r y has been s u c h as to
d r i v e them a p a r t . D u r i n g the l a s t c e n t u r y t h e r e have been numerous
a t t e m p t s to b r i n g the S l a v p e o p l e s t o g e t h e r w i t h i n a s i n g l e u n i o n or
f e d e r a t i o n but these have f a i l e d . The period from 1918-1941 was a time
when the most s e r i o u s attempts, were made.- to b r i n g about a rapprochement
but i t was a l s o a time of the g r e a t e s t b i t t e r n e s s and disillusionment.
I n the p e r i o d following the peace s e t t l e m e n t of 1918, Y u g o s l a v
l e a d e r s r e g a r d e d the c r e a t i o n of the Kingdom as a t r i u m p h f o r the;
century-long Y u g o - S l a v movement, and sought to c o n s o l i d a t e this
achievement by m a i n t a i n i n g the s t a t u s quo. B u l g a r i a , however, d i d not
see the s i t u a t i o n i n the same l i g h t . Her leaders believed that their
c o u n t r y had a r i g h t to c e r t a i n l a n d s w h i c h were now p a r t of the Yugoslav
Kingdom - p a r t i c u l a r l y Macedonia.
A l t h o u g h moderate l e a d e r s i n both c o u n t r i e s r e a l i z e d t h a t their
d i f f e r e n c e s could o n l y be s o l v e d by c o - o p e r a t i o n and f r i e n d s h i p , some
Bulgarians believed that only by t e r r o r i s m and the d e s t r u c t i o n of the
"Yugoslav mosaic" could Bulgaria recover her rightful r o l e i n European
a f f a i r s . This powerful minority opinion, w h i c h shaped B u l g a r i a n policy
i n the inter-war p e r i o d , was s u p p o r t e d by K i n g B o r i s and encouraged by
those other c o u n t r i e s - e s p e c i a l l y I t a l y and Germany - who wished to
p r e v e n t the f o r m a t i o n of a s t r o n g S l a v bloc i n South-Eastern Europe,
P o s t - w a r developments have shown t h a t the problems of 1918-1941
were by no means an i s o l a t e d e p i s o d e . But the axis, Belgrade-Sofia, i s
a genuine a x i s a l o n g w h i c h the d e s t i n y of the p e n i n s u l a revolves. For
w h i l s t the two c o u n t r i e s r e m a i n p o l i t i c a l l y and economically divided,
there can. be no sure f o u n d a t i o n f o r peace and s t a b i l i t y i g j the Balkans.

D a v i d Shepherd
R E L A T I O N S B E T W E E N Y U G O S L A V I A

AND B U L G A R I A , 1 9 1 8 . 1 9 4 1 .

by

D A V I D S H E P H E R D .

A T h e s i s s u b m i t t e d f o r t h e

D e g r e e o f M a s t e r o f A r t s i n

H i s t o r y i n t h e U n i v e r s i t y

o f D u r h a m .

F e b r u a r y 1 9 6 8 .
 (i)

Foreword.

T h i s d i s s e r t a t i o n h a s been p r e p a r e d under t h e
s u p e r v i s i o n o f Mr. W.V. W a l l a c e t o whom I owe a
very s p e c i a l debt of g r a t i t u d e f o r h i s comments and
c r i t i c i s m s w h i c h have been i n v a l u a b l e i n the p r e s e n t a t i o n
of arguments and i n the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f e v e n t s .
I s h o u l d a l s o l i k e to thank t h e s t a f f s of the
B r i t i s h Museum L i b r a r y and the R a t i o n a l L i b r a r y of
Scotland i n Edinburgh f o r t h e i r help i n the c o l l a t i o n
of m a t e r i a l for this thesis.

David Shepherd.
F e b r u a r y 19<>8.
 (ii)

Preface.

The underlying a s s u m p t i o n of t h i s t h e s i s i s t h a t i n
ethnic, l i n g u i s t i c and r e l i g i o u s o r i g i n s , the South S l a v
p e o p l e s of S e r b i a , C r o a t i a , Macedonia and B u l g a r i a are one;
and that h i s t o r i c a l evolution, c u l t u r a l development, economic
d i s p a r i t y and mutual j e a l o u s y have f o r c e d them a p a r t . My
o b j e c t i s to show how, through the y e a r s - and more e s p e c i a l l y
between 1918-1941 - t h e r e have been e f f o r t s to b r i n g the Slav
p e o p l e s of the B a l k a n s t o g e t h e r ; e f f o r t s w h i c h have done much
to f u r t h e r a rapprochement, e f f o r t s w h i c h have been v i t i a t e d
by a n i m o s i t y , senseless s t r i f e and personal r a n c o u r . Thereby,
I hope to c r e a t e an u n d e r s t a n d i n g of why, today, as e v e r , the
South S l a v p e o p l e s remain d i v i d e d by b a r r i e r s g r e a t e r than
t h e i r geographical f r o n t i e r a l o n g the Hhodope mountains*
 (iii)

Contents.

Foreword i .

Preface i i .

Contents i i i .

1. The H i s t o r i c a l Background 1.

2. B u l g a r i a and the Peace Settlement 27.

3. The I n f l u e n c e of I t a l y 49.

4. T r o u b l e d Waters 70.

5. The F r o n t i e r Question 89.

6. The E r a of the C o n f e r e n c e s 113*

7. B a l k a n E n t e n t e or B u l g a r i a n I s o l a t i o n ? 137.

8. The I n f l u e n c e of Germany 160.

9. The D e s t r u c t i o n of R e l a t i o n s 181.

10. Conclusion 205.

Appendices 226.

Bibliography 232.
 C h a p t e r 1.

The H i s t o r i c a l Background.
 (2)

There can be no c e r t a i n t y about the o r i g i n of the Slav

p e o p l e s and not much more i s known of them t h a n t h a t they were
an Indo-European r a c e who spread into p a r t s o f E a s t e r n Europe
between the f o u r t h and s i x t h c e n t u r i e s A.D.* The date and form
of t h e i r p e n e t r a t i o n of the B a l k a n p e n i n s u l a i s e q u a l l y u n c e r t a i n ,
but t h e r e i s r e a s o n to b e l i e v e t h a t a m a j o r S l a v i n v a s i o n took
p l a c e i n the f i f t h and s i x t h c e n t u r i e s , on w h i c h the B y z a n t i n e
2
w r i t e r s of t h a t p e r i o d p r o v i d e a good d e a l of i n f o r m a t i o n . The
B a l k a n p e n i n s u l a has a l w a y s c o n s t i t u t e d a c r o s s r o a d s between E a s t
and West and t h i s g e o g r a p h i c a l f e a t u r e has l e d to a f u s i o n of
r a c e s and a f u s i o n of c u l t u r e s . * ^ One s u c h development was the
c o n v e r s i o n of the S l a v p e o p l e s t o C h r i s t i a n i t y by S t . C y r i l and
S t . Methodius. The work of t h e s e two b r o t h e r s was not c o n f i n e d
to e v a n g e l i s m ; t h e y i n v e n t e d a w r i t t e n S l a v language (Cyrillic)
upon w h i c h a common c u l t u r e and r a c i a l u n i t y has grown. The
o t h e r major development was the i n f i l t r a t i o n of the p e n i n s u l a
by the B u l g a r people, whose B l a c k Sea s t a t e had been d e s t r o y e d
by the A v a r s i n 560 A.D. The Bulgars, although belonging to a
different racial group, m a i n t a i n e d their identity for a relat-
i v e l y l o n g time but, being g r e a t l y outnumbered by the local
S l a v p o p u l a t i o n , were a s s i m i l a t e d , a d o p t i n g t h e i r language and
culture but l e a v i n g behind them t h e i r e t h n i c name, w h i c h was
adopted by t h o s e S l a v t r i b e s l i v i n g on.the e a s t e r n s i d e of the
1. F . D v o r n i k , The S l a v B : T h e i r E a r l y H i s t o r y and Civilizat-
i o n , Boston, 1956, pp. 3-12.
2. I b i d . . pp. 34-36.

3. 11.J. K e r n e r and II.N. Howard, The Balkan Conferences and the-

Balkan Entente 1930-35. Berkeley, 1936, pp.1-5.

 (3)

peninsula.^
It i s one of the g r e a t m i s f o r t u n e s of h i s t o r y t h a t even
from the e a r l i e s t times, the South S l a v t r i b e s s h o u l d have been
u n a b l e to c o a l e s c e i n t o a s i n g l e n a t i o n . D u r i n g t i m e s of e x t e r n a l
danger or under the hand of a s t r o n g r u l e r , t h e r e were certain
p e r i o d s of u n i t y but t h e s e were u s u a l l y of s h o r t d u r a t i o n . The
First and Second B u l g a r i a n Kingdoms p r e s e r v e d a Slav civilization
for some f o u r hundred y e a r s and, later, the e i g h t h Nemanjid k i n g
of S e r b i a , Stephen Dusan, b e n e f i t t i n g from the d e c l i n e of the
Byzantine E m p i r e , s u c c e e d e d i n e s t a b l i s h i n g a Serbo-Roman
5
Empire. But t h e s e t r a n s i t o r y a t t e m p t s to form a s i n g l e S l a v
s t a t e were d e s t r o y e d by the advance of the T u r k s who defeated
a S e r b o - B u l g a r i a n army a t Kosovo i n 1389. Kosovo s e t the seal
of Ottoman d o m i n a t i o n i n the B a l k a n s and e x t i n g u i s h e d the light
of South S l a v freedom - and the p o s s i b i l i t y of u n i t y - f o r
almost f i v e hundred y e a r s .
D u r i n g the e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y R u s s i a became i n t e r e s t e d i n
the B a l k a n s as an a r e a f o r e x p a n s i o n and the t i d e of fortune
turned a g a i n s t the Ottoman E m p i r e . I n 1717, P e t e r the Great
recognized the independence of Montenegro and Empress C a t h e r i n e
had hopes of e s t a b l i s h i n g a huge S l a v Empire e x t e n d i n g as f a r
as Greece and Constantinople. Napoleon too, f o r the sake of h i s
s o - c a l l e d C o n t i n e n t a l system, was i n t e r e s t e d i n c r e a t i n g , under
F r e n c h a u s p i c e s , a c i v i l i z e d S l a v s t a t e w h i c h might e v e n t u a l l y
i n c l u d e a l l C h r i s t i a n people under T u r k i s h r u l e i n the Balkans.
H i s e s t a b l i s h m e n t of the " I l l y r i a n P r o v i n c e s " a f t e r the Treaty
of Schoenbrunn i n 1809 i s g e n e r a l l y regarded as the first
modern a t t e m p t to c r e a t e a genuine Y u g o - S l a v i a . S e r b i a , being
on the o u t e r edge of T u r k i s h r u l e and c l o s e r to t h i s e x t e r n a l
i n f l u e n c e , was b e t t e r p l a c e d to g a i n independence than B u l g a r i a .
K a r a d j o r d j e P e t r o v i c , the l e a d e r of the 1804 Serbian uprising,
asked both F r a n c e and R u s s i a f o r h e l p to s e c u r e n a t i o n a l i n d -
4. D v o r n i k , op. cit., pp. 64-67.
5. I b i d . , pp. 126-33. 138-46. and 337.
 (4)

ependence. Hoping f o r a i d to l i b e r a t e a l l the South S l a v s under

T u r k i s h d o m i n a t i o n , K a r a d j o r d j e wrote to Napoleont
"The S e r b i a n s a s s u r e h i s I m p e r i a l and R o y a l M a j e s t y
t h a t t h e i r c o m p a t r i o t s , the i n h a b i t a n t s o f B o s n i a , and of
the grand duchy o f U e r c e g o v i n a and t h o s e who live i n the
Kingdom of Hungary, n o t e x c e p t i n g the B u l g a r i a n s who
d e r i v e , so to speak, from the same b r a n c h , w i l l follow their
example a t the f i r s t move w h i c h i s made."^
His hopes came to n o t h i n g f o r a l t h o u g h t h e r e were numerous
F r e n c h p r o j e c t s conceived f o r c r e a t i n g independent s t a t e s , they
came to n o t h i n g when Napoleon r e s o l v e d to p r e s e r v e Ottoman
i n t e g r i t y and a t t a c k e d R u s s i a instead.^
One of the g r e a t e s t v i s i o n s of the n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y was
t h a t of a huge B a l k a n s t a t e embracing the G r e e k s , the S l a v s
and even the Rumanians. But because the b i r t h of freedom i n
the B a l k a n s came on narrow e t h n i c and g e o g r a p h i c l i n e s and
through n a t i o n a l initiative, B a l k a n f e d e r a t i o n "was d e s t i n e d to
wage a h o p e l e s s b a t t l e
a g a i n s t the overwhelming n a t i o n a l i s t and
n
8
i m p e r i a l i s t movements." R h i g a s P h e r a i o s was one o f the f i r s t
to urge the need f o r a u n i f i e d B a l k a n s t a t e . H i s p r o p o s a l ,
made i n 1793-4, e n v i s a g e d Greek hegemony. He a l s o founded a
s e c r e t r e v o l u t i o n a r y s o c i e t y to urge the B u l g a r i a n s , A l b a n i a n s ,
S e r b s and G r e e k s to j o i n t o g e t h e r f o r the o v e r t h r o w of the
a
Ottoman E m p i r e . C z a r t o r y s k i ' s p l a n f o r a B a l k a n f e d e r a t i o n ,

6. A. Boppe, Documents i n e d i t s s u r l e a r e l a t i o n s de l a
S e r b i e a v e c Napoleon I , 1809-14, B e l g r a d e , 1888, nos. 6 and 7.
See a l s o E . D r i a u l t , L a p o l i t i q u e o r i e n t a l e de Napoleon, Paris,
1904, pp. 389-90.
7. L . S . S t a v r i a n o s , B a l k a n F e d e r a t i o n . A H i s t o r y of the
Movement towards B a l k a n U n i t y i n Modern Times. Northampton,
Mass. 1944, pp. 38-41. 8. I b i d . . p. 34.
9. T . I . G e s h k o f f , B a l k a n Union. A Road t o Peace i n S o u t h -
E a s t e r n Europe, New York, 1940, pp. 1 8 - 1 9 . See a l s o D. Michev
and B.P. Petkov, L a f e d e r a t i o n b a l k a n i q u e , S o f i a 1 9 3 l i p« 6ff.
 (5)

put f o r w a r d i n 1804-5, was designed to s t r e n g t h e n R u s s i a n power

a g a i n s t Napoleon but, a l t h o u g h the p l a n l a t e r i n f l u e n c e d the
v 10
S e r b i a n statesman, G a r a s a n i n , i t had no immediate e f f e c t .
A f t e r the N a p o l e o n i c w a r s , C a p o d i s t r a s s u g g e s t e d a confederation
*

of S e r b i a , M o l d a v i a and W a l l a c h i a but C z a r A l e x a n d e r I was

opposed to t h i s f o r f e a r t h a t i t might provoke war w i t h Turkey.**
It i s s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t , w i t h the e x c e p t i o n of the p r o j e c t o f
Rhigas P h e r a i o s , a l l the schemes of the e a r l y n i n e t e e n t h century,
whether f o r South S l a v u n i t y or f o r the c r e a t i o n of a f e d e r a t i o n ,
were proposed and were to be c a r r i e d out by the G r e a t Powers
themselves.
I n 1840, Colquohoun, a B r i t i s h e x p e r t on the Near E a s t ,
wrote to P a l m e r s t o n r e p o r t i n g t h a t :
"There a r e a t t h i s moment e m i s s a r i e s a t Bucharest
from B u l g a r i a and S e r b i a and t h e r e i s no doubt an u n i o n
e x i s t i n g among t h e s e t h r e e p r o v i n c e s , w h i c h may be h i g h l y
12
dangerous to the peace of t h e s e countries."
The Y u g o - S l a v and f e d e r a t i o n movements were both by their
very nature r e v o l u t i o n a r y . I n the f o l l o w i n g y e a r , 1841, a
B u l g a r i a n r e v o l t was s t e r n l y r e p r e s s e d . B l a n q u i , who was sent
by the F r e n c h government to i n v e s t i g a t e the s i t u a t i o n , returned
w i t h g r e a t r e s e n t m e n t f o r T u r k i s h r u l e and w i d e l y canvassed the
1
i d e a of a B a l k a n f e d e r a t i o n . ^ A s e r i e s of t h i r t e e n articles
upon the B a l k a n s appeared i n the Revue des Deux Mondea between
1842-46 and C y p r i e n R o b e r t , one
of the c o n t r i b u t o r s , p a r t i c u l -
14
a r l y emphasized the n e c e s s i t y f o r a S e r b o - B u l g a r i a n u n i o n .
10. P r i n c e A. C z a r t o r y s k i , Memoirea du P r i n c e Adam C z a r t o r y -
s k i e t c o r r e s p o n d a n c e avec l ' e m p e r e u r A l e x a n d r e I e r . , Paris,
1887, Vol. I I , p. 65.
11. S t a v r i a n o s , op. cit., pp. 42-43.
12. J . C . Campbell, F r e n c h I n f l u e n c e and the r i s e of Roumanian
Nationalism, H a r v a r d U n i v e r s i t y , 1940, p. 70.
13. S t a v r i a n o s , op. c i t . , p. 62.
14. C. R o b e r t , L e s S l a v e s en T u r q u i e . P a r i s 1844, Vol. I I , p . 413.
 (6)

T h i s n e c e s s i t y v a s a l s o r e a l i z e d by I l i j a Gara^anin, a t that
time M i n i s t e r of t h e I n t e r i o r and l a t e r S e r b i a n M i n i s t e r of
v
Foreign A f f a i r s . G a r a s a n i n worked o u t a p l a n , since called
h i s N a c h e r t a n i . j a w h i c h e n v i s a g e d t h e d i s s o l u t i o n of t h e Ottoman
Empire and f o r e s a w a u n i f i c a t i o n o f t h e South S l a v s under
Serbian leadership with the c r e a t i o n of a s t a t e independent o f
15
both A u s t r i a and R u s s i a . L a t e r w r i t e r s h o s t i l e to the i d e a of
v*
a rapprochement have s e e n i n G a r a s a n i n ' s p r o j e c t a s t r a i g h t -
~~" — — — — — — j^
f o r w a r d example o f S e r b i a n imperialism but i n f a c t the
Nachertani.ja represented a very f a r - s i g h t e d and imaginative
p o l i c y j u s t i f i e d by t h e p r e v a i l i n g p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n .
The movement f o r S l a v u n i t y r e a c h e d a peak i n t h e y e a r o f
revolution, 1848. Throughout t h e whole o f Europe, national
s e n t i m e n t s were awakened and, on March 24, 1849. i n a P a n - S l a v
c l u b i n B e l g r a d e , a d e c l a r a t i o n was made c a l l i n g on t h e S l a v s ;
" t o l i b e r a t e t h e m s e l v e s c o m p l e t e l y from t h e Ottoman
E m p i r e and t o c r e a t e a Y u g o s l a v Kingdom under t h e
banner o f P r i n c e A l e x a n d e r K a r a d j o r d j e v i c , c o n s i s t i n g o f
Serbia, Bosnia, B u l g a r i a , C r o a t i a , S l a v o n i a , Syrmia, Dal-
17
m a t i a and S o u t h e r n Hungary."
I n May 1849» t h e g r e a t Congress of S l a v s v a s h e l d i n Prague,
and i n J u n e , Bakunin e x p r e s s e d h i s hope i n " t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t
i n C e n t r a l and E a s t e r n Europe of a f e d e r a t i o n o f f r e e S l a v
18
republics." B u t n o t h i n g came o f t h e s e hopes and a s p i r a t i o n s
and t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f t h e Hapsburg monarchy t o i t s former
power and t h e o u t b r e a k o f t h e Crimean war d i m i n i s h e d t h e
clamour f o r u n i t y or f e d e r a t i o n ,
15. K e r n e r and Howard, op. c i t . . pp. 1 5 - 1 6 .
16. A. Toshev, The B u l g a r i a n - S e r b i a n Dispute. S o f i a 1952,
pp. 8 6 - 8 9 .
17. M.D. Stranjakovic*, " L a C o l l a b o r a t i o n des C r o a t e s e t d e s
S e r b e s en 1 8 4 8 - 4 9 . " L e Monde S l a v e . June 1 9 3 5 , p. 3 9 6 .
18. From B a k u n i n ' s "Appeal t o t h e S l a v s " . See E.H. C a r r ,
M i c h a e l B a k u n i n . London 1 9 3 7 , p. 1 7 0 .
 (7)

However, the movement l o r the u n i f i c a t i o n of I t a l y roused

enthusiasm once more. Between June 13 and 19* 1857, H a z z i n i
p u b l i s h e d h i s f o u r S l a v i c l e t t e r s i n the I t a l i a d e l Poppo.
The l e t t e r s , which achieved a wide renown, urged the formation
of a Y u g o s l a v s t a t e c o n s i s t i n g of C r o a t i a , C a r i n t h i a , S e r b i a ,
19
Montenegro, D a l i n a t i a , B o s n i a and Bulgaria. In Serbia, Prince
Michael O b r e n o v i c , who came to power i n September 1860, had
grown up i n the atmosphere of n a t i o n a l i s m and r e v o l u t i o n . He
r e a l i z e d t h a t the B a l k a n c o u n t r i e s c o u l d not by themselves
a c h i e v e the freedom t h e y d e s i r e d , so he d e c i d e d to form a system
of a l l i a n c e s from w h i c h he c o u l d draw m i l i t a r y and political
support. T h i s a l l i a n c e s t r u c t u r e l a t e r came to be known a s
the B a l k a n League.
I t was about t h i s time t h a t the B u l g a r i a n people as a
whole began to become p o l i t i c a l l y c o n s c i o u s . However, t h e y too
r e a l i z e d t h a t they had no hope of g e t t i n g r i d of T u r k i s h
oppression without o u t s i d e a i d and the B u l g a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s
s p e n t much of t h e i r time i n the v a r i o u s B a l k a n capitals,
c o l l e c t i n g arms, o r g a n i z i n g i n s u r g e n t bands and seeking the
support of f o r e i g n governments, D u r i n g t h e s e y e a r s , the relations
between the S e r b i a n and B u l g a r i a n people were v e r y friendly.
B u l g a r i a n e x i l e s were g i v e n r e f u g e and m i l i t a r y t r a i n i n g i n
S e r b i a ; B u l g a r i a n students attended S e r b s c h o o l s and Bulgarian
books and p e r i o d i c a l s were p u b l i s h e d i n B e l g r a d e . I t was
t h e r e f o r e n a t u r a l t h a t the B u l g a r i a n s s h o u l d look to their
20
f e l l o w S l a v s i n t h e i r s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t the Turks.
But the S e r b s found i t d i f f i c u l t to come to any agreement
w i t h the B u l g a r i a n s because t h e r e was no recognized l e a d e r to
19. H. Bergman, " M a z z i n i e t l e s S l a v e s , " Le Monde S l a v e , II,
May 1918, py. 670-4.
20. M.D. S t r a n j a k o v i c , Oeuvre du rapprochement e t de 1'union
des S e r b e s e t des B u i g a r e a dans l e p a s s e , P a r i s , 1930, pp. 8-10.
 (8)
21
whom t h e y c o u l d t u r n . The o n l y l e a d i n g r e p r e s e n t a t i v e was
22
R a k o v s k i , who h a s been d e s c r i b e d a s a " d i p l o m a t " , although
" a g e n t " might be t h e more a p p r o p r i a t e term. But R a k o v s k i had
23
h i s doubts about t h e S e r b i a n government and h i s v i e w i s echoed
i n a l e t t e r by M i s s Muir Mackenzie, one o f t v o E n g l i s h ladies
who met him i n Greece i n I8631

" R a k o v s k i f i n d s t h e same s h o r t c o m i n g s i n the Serbs

as we do. i e . They a r e i n c l i n e d to be narrow-minded and
f o r t h i s they f r i g h t e n t h e i r neighbours instead of
24
a t t r a c t i n g them."
D u r i n g 1862-3 R a k o v s k i worked f o r an u n d e r s t a n d i n g between
G r e e c e , S e r b i a , Montenegro and B u l g a r i a . But because he doubted
the s i n c e r i t y o f t h e S e r b i a n government, n o t h i n g happened and
P r i n c e M i c h a e l d i d n o t renew h i s c o n t a c t s w i t h t h e r e v o l u t i o n -
aries until t h e s p r i n g o f 1367, when t h e League was a l m o s t
complete.
I n January I 8 6 7 , the " B u l g a r i a n Benevolent S o c i e t y " i n
B u c h a r e s t i n v i t e d a number o f people t o " c o n s i d e r the way i n
which i t w i l l be p o s s i b l e t o draw n e a r e r t o t h e S e r b i a n g o v e r n -
nc

ment and p r e p a r e f o r o u r f u t u r e l i b e r a t i o n . " On J a n u a r y 2 6 ,

t h i s group f o r m u l a t e d Le. programme d e s r a p p o r t s p o l i t i q u e s des
s e r b o - b u l g a r e s ou l e u r e n t e n t e c o r d i a l e . T h i s programme p r o v -
i d e d f o r t h e c r e a t i o n o f a j o i n t kingdom under t h e Crown o f
P r i n c e M i c h a e l . I t would p o s s e s s a common army, a common
c u r r e n c y and a government e q u a l l y d i v i d e d between S e r b i a n and
21. T h i s p o i n t was made d u r i n g t h e Serbo-Greek t a l k s on
June 11, 1861. S t a v r i a n o s , op. c i t . . p. 86.
22. Toshev, op. c i t . . p. 6. A b r i e f a s s e s s m e n t o f t h e l i f e
and a c h i e v e m e n t s o f G e o r g i R a k o v s k i i s g i v e n by C.E. B l a c k ,
The E s t a b l i s h m e n t o f C o n s t i t u t i o n a l Government i n B u l g a r i a ,
P r i n c e t o n , 1 9 4 3 , pp. 3 7 - 3 9 .
23. Ibid., loc. c i t . 24. I b i d . , p. 7.
25. A. Toshev, Balfcansfcite v o l n i (The B a l k a n W a r s ) , S o f i a ,
1929, V o l , I , pp. 75-76.
 (9)

26
Bulgarian m i n i s t e r s . T h i s p l a n was r e l a y e d to B e l g r a d e where
v
i t was warmly r e c e i v e d , G a r a s a n i n o b s e r v i n g t h a t i t was e n t i r e l y
s a t i s f a c t o r y and u r g i n g t h a t i t be c i r c u l a t e d amongst the
27
B u l g a r i a n v o l u n t e e r s a f t e r w h i c h i t would be signed.
But the B u l g a r i a n Committee w i s h e d to c o n c l u d e a formal
t r e a t y w i t h the S e r b i a n government. A new meeting was convened
in B u c h a r e s t on A p r i l 5, 1867 and was attended by 80 delegates
from B u l g a r i a . A f t e r twelve' days a new p r o t o c o l was drawn up
w h i c h would c o n s t i t u t e " t h e b a s i s f o r a f r a t e r n a l rapprochement."
The preamble s t a t e d t h e i r p r e f e r e n c e f o r S e r b i a w i t h whom
t h e i r i n t e r e s t s were i d e n t i c a l and laid s t r e s s upon the n a t i o n a l ,
r e l i g i o u s and g e o g r a p h i c a l f a c t o r s w h i c h had l i n k e d the two
peoples t o g e t h e r . The Protocol differed from the January
programme i n two r e s p e c t s . F o r the f i r s t time, the joint
S e r b o - B u l g a r i a n Kingdom was to be known a s Y u g o s l a v i a . N e v e r t h e -
less, the s.eed of f u t u r e d i s c o r d was contained i n A r t i c l e 2 which
ran:
"The Y u g o s l a v Kingdom s h a l l c o n s i s t of S e r b i a and
B u l g a r i a , t h e B u l g a r i a n l a n d s to i n c l u d e B u l g a r i a , T h r a c e
28
and Macedonia."
The P r o t o c o l , c o n t a i n i n g t h i s phrase specifically attribut-
ing Macedonia to the r e g i o n s c o m p r i s i n g B u l g a r i a , was submitted
was submitted to B e l g r a d e where i t r e c e i v e d the f u l l approval
of G a r a s a n i n . On May 22, 1867, he replied:
"Having examined the c o n t e n t s of t h e s e m i n u t e s I
f i n d that nothing s t a n d s i n the way of t h e s e benevolent
o b j e c t s being f u r t h e r e d by S e r b i a a l s o . T h e r e f o r e , i n full
agreement w i t h the b a s i s of the proposed p o i n t s we will
t a k e s t e p s f o r a c t i o n l e a v i n g the d e t a i l s to n e g o t i a t i o n s
29
f o r a complete u n d e r s t a n d i n g . "
26. S t r a n j a k o v i c ' , op. cit., pp. 10-12.
27. February 2, I 8 6 7 . S t a v r i a n o s , op. cit.. p.93*
28. The full t e x t of the A p r i l P r o t o c o l i s g i v e n i n Appendix A.
y
29. Toshev, B a l k a n s k i t e v o i n i . op. cit., I , p. 81.
 (10)

T h i s l e t t e r was w r i t t e n on the a s s u m p t i o n t h a t a Y u g o s l a v
kingdom j o i n t l y composed of S e r b i a and B u l g a r i a would be set
up as soon a s the l a t t e r e s c a p e d from T u r k i s h d o m i n a t i o n . Y e t
i t has been u s e d to prove bad f a i t h and i n s i n c e r i t y on the part
30
of S e r b i a . Added s u p p o r t f o r t h i s B u l g a r i a n opinion i s given
by the t r e a t y s i g n e d between S e r b i a and Rumania i n J a n u a r y 1868.
I n A r t i c l e 8 of t h i s t r e a t y , the s i g n a t o r i e s d e c l a r e d thati
"Old S e r b i a , Bosna, H e r c e g o v i n a and Bulgaria,
e x c e p t t h a t p a r t of the l a t t e r c o u n t r y a l l o t e d to
Roumania, s h a l l be annexed f o r e v e r to Serbia."'*'
T h i s a p p a r e n t d u p l i c i t y does not enhance the popular view
of P r i n c e M i c h a e l but i t d i s p l a y s a tendency, w h i c h he showed
i n h i s d e a l i n g s w i t h K o s s u t h and G a r a s a n i n , of , d i s t r u s t i n g and
ignoring the B u l g a r i a n s , w h i l s t regarding the S e r b s as the
n a t u r a l l e a d e r s of the South S l a v s and destined by f a t e to
32
u n i t e them i n t o a Serb-dominated Y u g o s l a v s t a t e . This attitude
was a g a i n g r i s t to the m i l l of t h o s e who opposed the n o t i o n of
South S l a v u n i t y but i t i s i n t e r e s t i n g to n o t e t h a t i n S o f i a
i n 1896 a C o n g r e s s of s t u d e n t s from both c o u n t r i e s pronounced
an e f f u s i v e t o a s t to the memory of P r i n c e M i c h a e l , "the martyr
who worked to c r e a t e f o r us a g r e a t and powerful s t a t e and
to r e u n i t e us w i t h you and found t h e r e b y a g r e a t B a l k a n kingdom.
33
Remain g l o r i o u s amongst u s , 0 Immortal P r i n c e . " Prince
M i c h a e l was a s s a s s i n a t e d on June 1 0 , 1868, and h i s work f o r
South S l a v u n i t y and the B a l k a n League p e r i s h e d w i t h him.
Nevertheless, the impetus had been g i v e n to the movement
for Bulgarian independence. I n 1870, the E x a r c h a t e Church was
s e t up and i n 1871 a magazine e n t i t l e d "The Yugoslav S t a r ; a
newspaper f o r the r e c i p r o c a l p o l i c y and r e l a t i o n s between the
30. Toshev, The Bulgarian-Serbian Dispute, op. c i t . , p. 8.
31. G e s h k o f f , op. cit.. p. 24.
3 2 . S t a v r i a n o s , op. c i t . , p. 103.
33* S t r a n j a k o v i c , op. c i t . , pp. 20-21.
 (11)

South S l a v s " appeared i n B e l g r a d e . D u r i n g the same period

the S o c i a l i s t s espoused the c a u s e of S o u t h S l a v unity.
Omladina - a s e c r e t s o c i e t y b e l i e v i n g i n a t h e i s m , republican-
ism and r e v o l u t i o n - was s e t up i n 1867. One of i t s f i r s t members
was Svetozar Markovic, S e r b i a ' s f i r s t Socialist leader, who
left the s o c i e t y i n 1871 and s e t up a newspaper and a political
party. Markovic defined h i s aims as " l i b e r a t i o n and federation",
at f i r s t with the B u l g a r i a n s and ultimately with a l l the Balkan
35
peoples. I n Bulgaria, Rakovski's successor, Kravelov, wanted
a confederation between S e r b i a , Rumania and B u l g a r i a but he
was c a r e f u l to d e f i n e Macedonia a s p a r t of B u l g a r i a ' s territory.
At the time of the Bulgarian u p r i s i n g i n May 1876, there
37
was g r e a t e n t h u s i a s m i n S e r b i a f o r the Bulgarian cause. But
t h e i r e n t h u s i a s m was b r i e f . The Serbian a r m i e s were defeated
and a lengthy war ensued between R u s s i a and Turkey which was
c o n c l u d e d on March 3 , 1878 a t the T r e a t y of San Stefano. It
has been s a i d t h a t "the Treaty of San Stefano at l a s t created
a Bulgarian s t a t e on a fairly sound n a t i o n a l b a s i s a c c o r d i n g to
"IQ

contemporary evidence""^ . But d i d t h i s e v i d e n c e have any effect

on the m o t i v e s of the R u s s i a n government? A l a t e r w r i t e r
observed that]
"The Treaty of San Stefano, an ephemeral c r e a t i o n of
an e x c l u s i v e l y p o l i t i c a l c h a r a c t e r , has remained i n h i s t o r y
m e r e l y as the d i p l o m a t i c c r e a t i o n of R u s s i a n p o l i c y of the
34. Ibid., pp. 16-17. 35. "Notre h e r i t a g e revolution-
naire'.' L a f e d e r a t i o n b a l k a n i q u e . no. 146 (December 1931)» P« 19.
C h r i s t o Botev, one of the most i m p o r t a n t B u l g a r i a n leaders,
r e g a r d e d S e r b i a as l i t t l e b e t t e r t h a n the G r e a t Powers but was
willing to work w i t h M a r k o v i c to c r e a t e a S o u t h S l a v federation.
See a l s o W.D. M c C l e l l a n , Svetozar M a r k o v i c and the O r i g i n s of
Balkan S o c i a l i s m , P r i n c e t o n , .1964.
36. Stavrianos, op. c i t . . p. 117.
37. For P r i n c e M i l a n ' s p r o c l a m a t i o n of war on J u l y 1, 1876,
see S t r a n j a k o v i c , op. c i t . , p. 18. 38. Stavrianos, op. c i t . . p.114.
 (12)

t i m e , r e g a r d l e s s o f a l l h i s t o r i c and e t h n o l o g i c a l c o n s i d e r -
39
ations".''*
San Stefano was a d e l i b e r a t e a c t o f Great Power i n t e r v e n t i o n
i n Balkan a f f a i r s and t h i s was t o prove a major o b s t a c l e t o
the movements towards c l o s e r c o - o p e r a t i o n and f e d e r a t i o n . For
the " b i g B u l g a r i a " o f San Stefano was t o be a huge c o u n t r y
s t r e t c h i n g from the Dobrudja t o S a l o n i k a , embracing l a r g e
numbers of people who were i n no way Bulgarian i n o r i g i n . The
s e t t l e m e n t t h e r e f o r e r a i s e d immediate p r o t e s t s . The T r e a t y o f
B e r l i n , which sought t o r e c t i f y the u n f o r t u n a t e consequences
o n l y succeeded i n e m b i t t e r i n g the i n t e r e s t e d p a r t i e s . S e r b i a
f e l t she had been deceived; B u l g a r i a , b e t r a y e d .
Despite t h e i r immediate b i t t e r n e s s , the two South Slav
n a t i o n s made an e f f o r t t o r e s o l v e t h e i r d i f f e r e n c e s . E a r l y i n
1880 the government o f S e r b i a e n t e r e d i n t o n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h
B u l g a r i a f o r the e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a customs u n i o n . But
A u s t r i a p r o m p t l y i n t e r p o s e d s t r o n g o b j e c t i o n s t o such a u n i o n
and the n e g o t i a t i o n s l e d t o n o t h i n g . A Serbian w r i t e r has s a i d
t h a t "had the customs u n i o n been concluded, the war between
40
S e r b i a and B u l g a r i a would n o t have taken p l a c e . " Indeed, i n
i s s u i n g h i s u l t i m a t u m i n 1885» Prince M i l a n d e c l a r e d t h a t h i s
reasons f o r making war were "the u n j u s t i f i a b l e customs r e g u l -
a t i o n s " which "had p u t a stop t o a l l commercial i n t e r c o u r s e
41
between the two c o u n t r i e s . " I n f a c t , S e r b i a had become a
pawn of A u s t r i a and, i n the A u s t r o - S e r b i a n Convention o f June
28, 1881, had surrendered her freedom o f a c t i o n i n exchange f o r
A u s t r i a n i n f l u e n c e t o secure Serbian expansion i n any future
Balkan s e t t l e m e n t . The war o f 1885, which was d i r e c t l y due t o
39. P. P i p i n e l i s , Such are the B u l g a r s . London 1942, p. 10.
40. T. D i o u r d i e v i c , "Le Mouvement Balkanique" i n I e r e Conf-
erence balkanique (Athenes, 5-12 o c t o b r e 1930) Documents o f f i c -
i e l s . Athens 1931• p. 64.
B e r l i n , 1 9 ^ 2 - 7 . V o l . V, p. 1 2 .
41. Die Grosse P o l i t i k der iiuropaischen K a b i n e t t e , 1871-1914.
 (13)

A u s t r i a n d i s p l e a s u r e a t B u l g a r i a ' s s e i z u r e o f E a s t e r n Roumelia,
l a s t e d a mere f o r t n i g h t and c u l m i n a t e d i n a d e c i s i v e B u l g a r i a n
v i c t o r y a t S l i v n i t s a . The T r e a t y of Bucharest, which e s t a b l i s h -
ed the s t a t u s quo ante belimn, was signed on March 3» 1886,
B u l g a r i a emerged from the war w i t h p r e s t i g e and had her u n i o n
w i t h Eastern Roumelia recognized by the Great Powers. Russia
and A u s t r i a became s u s p i c i o u s o f each o t h e r ' s i n t e n t i o n s i n the
Balkans and Serbia's power and p o s i t i o n i n the p e n i n s u l a were
e c l i p s e d f o r some twenty y e a r s .

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h i s , t h e r e was the d i f f i c u l t problem o f

who should possess those areas of Macedonia s t i l l under O t t o -
man r u l e . I t w i l l a l r e a d y be c l e a r t h a t a wide d i f f e r e n c e o f
o p i n i o n has e x i s t e d between S e r b i a and B u l g a r i a on the q u e s t i o n
of Macedonia. I t i s a s u b j e c t which has occasioned.much s t r i f e
and b i t t e r n e s s and has been the c h i e f o b s t a c l e t o South Slav
u n i t y . A l t h o u g h by v i r t u e of language and o r i g i n , the Mace-
donians belong t o the South Slav r a c e s , they are "a separate
race, a k i n t o b o t h Serbs and B u l g a r i a n s but i d e n t i c a l t o
42
n e i t h e r . They are Macedonians." Thus i t i s wrong t o t r y and.
prove t h a t they *are e i t h e r Serbs o r B u l g a r i a n s . As Pipinelis,
one-time Greek ambassador i n S o f i a , observed:
"no u s e f u l purpose i s served by an i n v e s t i g a t i o n
of the e t h n o l o g i c a l p r o p o r t i o n s o f the Macedonian p o p u l -
a t i o n s - a q u e s t i o n on which e t h n o l o g i s t s w i l l f o r l o n g
c o n t i n u e t o d i f f e r a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i r personal prefer-
ences."
And indeed, personal p r e f e r e n c e s have been a paramount f e a t u r e .
A f t e r the F i r s t World War, B u l g a r i a i s s u e d an i m p r e s s i v e
volume of documents and maps t o prove her h i s t o r i c a l c l a i m s
44
to Macedonia. S t a t i s t i c s are a p a r t i c u l a r l y choice r e f u g e
42. H.O. H a r r i s o n , The Soul o f Y u g o s l a v i a . London, 1941, p.55.
43. P. P i p i n e l i s , C a i t i f f B u l g a r i a . London, 1944,p. 37.
44. B u l g a r i a n M i n i s t r y of F o r e i g n A f f a i r s , La Question
Buigare e t l e s e t a t s b a l k a n i q u e s . S o f i a 1919.
 ( 14)

f o r the e t h n o l o g i s t s . I n comparing t h e s t a t i s t i c s o f a Serb

and a B u l g a r i a n t h e r e emerges a t o t a l l y d i f f e r e n t p i c t u r e o f
the Macedonian p o p u l a t i o n s
T o t a l p o p u l a t i o n o f Macedonia 2,870,620 4 6
2,342,524 J, 4

Bulgarians 57,600
Greeks 201,140 267,862
Serbs 2,048,320 Nil
Aroumains 69,665 79,401
Turks 231,400 548,225
Albanians 165,620 194,195
Jews 64,645 Nil
Others 32,230 105,530
Another w r i t e r has observed t h a t t o "attempt t o a s s i g n exact
percentages t o these v a r i o u s races i s i m p o s s i b l e . No a c c u r a t e
s t a t i s t i c s were a v a i l a b l e so t h a t each race j u g g l e d t h e f i g u r e s
48
t o s u i t i t s own e n d s . " This much can be adduced from t h e
figures.
But B u l g a r i a n w r i t e r s a r e eager t o p o i n t t o l i t e r a r y and
h i s t o r i c a l r e f e r e n c e s t o support t h e i r claims and A n d r e i
Toshev, a B u l g a r i a n d i p l o m a t under King Ferdinand and l a t e r
Prime M i n i s t e r , amassed a number o f examples t o s u b s t a n t i a t e
h i s t h e o r y t h a t t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f Macedonia had l o n g been
49
regarded as B u l g a r i a n s . The exact n a t u r e o f t h e d i f f i c u l t y
can be most c l e a r l y seen i n t h e r e l i g i o u s field.
45. A wide range o f d i f f e r e n t s t a t i s t i c s are g i v e n by
K.Strupp, La S i t u a t i o n J u r i d i q u e des Macedoniens en Y u g o s l a v i e ,
P a r i s , 1929, Appendix Chart.
46. S t a t i s t i c s o f t h e S e r b i a n , S p i r o Gopcevic (1889) ex.
Strupp, i b i d . . l o c . c i t .
47. S t a t i s t i c s o f t h e B u l g a r i a n , Jordan Ivanov (1912) ex.
Strupp, i b i d . , l o c . c i t . ( I v a n o v a l s o wrote ( 5 0 ) ; see b e l o w ) .
48. S t a v r i a n o s , op. c i t . , p. 131*
49. Toshev, The B u l g a r i a n -Serbian D i s p u t e , op. c i t . . pp.
18-31 and 3 7 - 5 1 .
 (15)

The B u l g a r i a n Exarchate Church was e s t a b l i s h e d by I m p e r i a l

Firman on March 12, 1870. A r t i c l e 10 i s e s p e c i a l l y i m p o r t a n t :
"The s p i r i t u a l j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e B u l g a r i a n Exarch-
ate Church w i l l be composed of t h e m e t r o p o l i t a n dioceses
o f Rustcb.uk, S i l i s t r i a , Choumen, T i r n o v o , S o f i a , V r a t s a ,
V i d i n , N i s , P i r o t , K u s t e n d i l , Samokov, Veles, Varna
I f the whole or more t h a n t w o - t h i r d s o f those who practise
the Orthodox r i t e i n the l o c a l i t i e s o t h e r than those enum-
e r a t e d and e n u n c i a t e d above w i s h t o submit themselves t o
the B u l g a r i a n Exarchate Church f o r t h e i r s p i r i t u a l affairs
and i f t h i s i s a s c e r t a i n e d and e s t a b l i s h e d , t h e y w i l l be
50
a u t h o r i z e d t o do t h i s . "
The p o l i t i c a l motives o f t h i s Firman are c l e a r . A t the time i t
was i s s u e d , B u l g a r i a and t h e dioceses l i s t e d were a l l under
T u r k i s h r u l e . I n t h i s area, the o n l y r e l i g i o u s a u t h o r i t y was
e x e r c i s e d by t h e Greek Orthodox Church, which was d i s l i k e d by
the Slav p o p u l a t i o n . I t i s n o t e w o r t h y t h a t a l t h o u g h dioceses
such as Nis and P i r o t were u n d e n i a b l y Serb the i n h a b i t a n t s were
g i v e n no chance t o adopt t h e Serbian Orthodox Church. Naturally,
when the p o p u l a t i o n was o f f e r e d t h e choice of Exarchate o r
Greek Orthodoxy, the people opted f o r the Slav-speaking Church.
Between 1872 and 1874, Skopje, O h r i d , B i t o l j and Debra a l s o
51
j o i n e d the Exarchate Church. I t i s a f a c t t h a t the " b i g
B u l g a r i a " o f San Stefano covered the area o f t h e Exarchate Church
and d u r i n g the n e x t t h i r t y years o f Ottoman r u l e the t e a c h i n g
and c u l t u r e o f the Exarchate churches and schools were concen-
t r a t e d an making t h e Serb p o p u l a t i o n o f Macedonia b e l i e v e t h a t
52
they were B u l g a r i a n n a t i o n a l s . This movement o f " b u l g a r i z a t i o n "
50. J , Ivanov, Lea Bulgarea devant l e Congres de l a P a i x ,
Berne, 1919, p. 158. 5 1 . I b i d . , p. 159.
52. S t a v r i a n o s , op. c i t . . p. 1 3 2 . See a l s o C.G. Logio,
B u l g a r i a , Past and Present. Manchester,1936, f o r s t a t i s t i c s o f
B u l g a r i a n s c h o o l s , t e a c h e r s , churches and p r i e s t s i n t h e p e r i o d
up t o 1918.
 (16)

moved ao s w i f t l y t h a t S e r b i a decided t o i n t e r v e n e t o p r e v e n t
a r e p e t i t i o n o f the s i t u a t i o n i n E a s t e r n Roumelia, and t h e
S o c i e t y o f S t . Sava was e s t a b l i s h e d i n 1886 t o awaken S e r b i a n
conscience i n Macedonia.
This t h r e e - c o r n e r e d f i g h t - f o r Greece vas e q u a l l y concern-
ed - l a s t e d t w e n t y - f i v e years and c o n c e r t e d Balkan a c t i o n was
o u t o f t h e q u e s t i o n . I n e v i t a b l y , S e r b o - B u l g a r i a n r e l a t i o n s worse-
ned. I n August 1889, N i k o l a P a s i c , S e r b i a n Prime M i n i s t e r ,
, v i s i t e d S o f i a t o propose an a l l i a n c e a g a i n s t Turkey and a
d e l i m i t a t i o n o f c l a i m s i n Macedonia. I t was an opportune moment
but Stambolov, the B u l g a r i a n Prime M i n i s t e r , would have no
p a r t i n such a combination and r e v e a l e d Pasic's p l a n t o t h e
Turks and i n r e t u r n r e c e i v e d more Macedonian dioceses f o r t h e
53
Exarchate Church.
Four years l a t e r , t h e I n t e r n a l Macedonian R e v o l u t i o n a r y
O r g a n i z a t i o n was s e t up. IMBO's o r i g i n a l aim was t o l i b e r a t e
Macedonia from the Turks and e s t a b l i s h an independent state
w i t h i n a South Slav f e d e r a t i o n . Very soon those who wished t o
use IMRO t o prepare Macedonia f o r i t s a n n e x a t i o n t o B u l g a r i a
gained the ascendancy and the " F e d e r a l i s t s " were faced n o t
o n l y w i t h the Turks b u t a l s o by the S o f i a - d i r e c t e d Vrhoven
54
K o m i t e t - the Supreme Committee.
53. I b i d . . pp. 133-34. The S e r b i a n R a d i c a l P a r t y Programme,
drawn up by Pasic i n 1881, i n c l u d e d a demand f o r an immediate
e n t e n t e w i t h the Bulgars and Montenegrins and a l s o envisaged
a complete Balkan f e d e r a t i o n . See Count C. S f o r z a , F i f t y Years
o f War and Diplomacy i n the Balkans. New York, 1940, pp. 2 8 - 2 9 .
54. H.N. B r a i l s f o r d , Macedonia. I t s Races and t h e i r F u t u r e ,
London, 1906, pp. 120-24. B r a i l s f o r d s t a t e s t h a t f r o a t h e
b e g i n n i n g , a l l IMRO l e a d e r s were B u l g a r i a n s and many f a v o u r e d
the u n i o n o f Macedonia w i t h B u l g a r i a . B r a i l s f o r d a l s o s t a t e d
t h a t t h e r e was a c l o s e c o n n e c t i o n between P r i n c e Ferdinand o f
, B u l g a r i a and Sarafov - the l e a d e r o f the Supremist Committee.
I b i d . . p. 171.
 (17)

A t the t u r n o f the c e n t u r y , the prospect o f c l o s e r

Serbo-Bulgarian r e l a t i o n s once more appeared p o s s i b l e . D u r i n g
1896-7, Serbian newspapers p u b l i s h e d a r t i c l e s emphasizing the
55
need f o r rapprochement and mutual a i d between the two peoples.
Abroad, s e v e r a l s o c i e t i e s e x h o r t i n g Balkan u n i t y or c o n f e d e r a t e
i o n were formed. I n 1897, King Alexander v i s i t e d S o f i a and
concluded a gentlemen's agreement w i t h P r i n c e Ferdinand t o
57
e l i m i n a t e f r i c t i o n i n Macedonia. A f t e r the death o f Alexander
i n 1903, h i s successor, King P e t e r , anxious f o r h i s c o u n t r y t o
escape A u s t r i a n i n f l u e n c e , i n i t i a t e d r e l a t i o n s between t h e two
c o u n t r i e s , which immediately assumed a c o r d i a l n a t u r e . On A p r i l
12, 1904, two t r e a t i e s were s i g h e d . One was a t r e a t y o f f r i e n d -
s h i p , the o t h e r a p o l i t i c a l a l l i a n c e p r o v i d i n g r e c i p r o c a l
m i l i t a r y a i d a g a i n s t an aggressor and a common p o l i c y i n
58
Macedonia. A t the end o f December 1904, P r i n c e Ferdinand,
w h i l s t passing t h r o u g h Belgrade, had a s h o r t c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h .
59
King Peter a t the r a i l w a y s t a t i o n . I n the f o l l o w i n g y e a r , a
t a r i f f agreement was drawn up between the two c o u n t r i e s and
a commercial t r e a t y on the b a s i s o f the "most f a v o u r e d n a t i o n " ,
was signed w i t h B u l g a r i a i n December 1906 t o t h w a r t the impact
of the " P i g War" which had developed when A u s t r i a r e a l i z e d
t h a t S e r b i a was seeking t o escape her economic c o n t r o l . ^
55* S t r a n j a k o v i c , op. c i t . . p. 22.
56. Kerner and Howard, op. c i t . . p. 17.
57. S t a v r i a n o s , op. c i t . , p. 141.
58. W.S. V u c i n i c h , S e r b i a between East and West, the Events o f
1903-8. S t a n f o r d , 1954, pp. 143-44. For d e t a i l s of the t r e a t i e s ,
see E.C. Helmreich, The Diplomacy of the Balkan Wars 1912-3.
Cambridge, 1938» pp. 463-6. I t i s w o r t h n o t i n g t h a t the e x i s t -
ence o f the p o l i t i c a l a l l i a n c e was unknown t i l l r e v e a l e d by Toshev
i n B a l k a n s k i t e v o i n i , op. c i t . , V o l . I , pp. 153-8.
59. V u c i n i c h , op. c i t . . pp. 144-5.
60. I b i d . , pp. 180-88 and H e l m r e i c h , op. c i t . , pp. 7-10.
 (18)

One o f the s t r o n g e s t advocates o f t h i s pro-Serbian

p o l i c y i n B u l g a r i a was Petkov and as l o n g as he remained i n
power, r e l a t i o n s c o n t i n u e d t o be f r i e n d l y . But i n March 1907»
Petkov was a s s a s s i n a t e d . His successor, Stanchov, encouraged
c l o s e r l i n k s w i t h A u s t r i a . A t t h e same t i m e , f u r t h e r i n c i d e n t s
occured i n Macedonia and these were f o l l o w e d by a d e n u n c i a t i o n
of Serbia's Macedonian p o l i c y i n t h e B u l g a r i a n Press.
J.B. Whitehead, t h e B r i t i s h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e i n Belgrade at this
time, wrote:
"To sum up t h e whole s i t u a t i o n as regards t h e
r e l a t i o n s between S e r b i a and B u l g a r i a , i t i s c l e a r t h a t
they can never be c o r d i a l and s t a b l e u n t i l t h e c o m p e t i t i o n
between t h e two n a t i o n a l i t i e s f o r an e v e n t u a l a c q u i s i t i o n
of t h e Slav c o u n t r i e s s t i l l under T u r k i s h r u l e comes t o
an end. M. Pasic i s i n f a v o u r o f c o - o p e r a t i n g w i t h B u l g -
a r i a f o r common aims and o f d e f e r r i n g t h e d i s c u s s i o n o f
the r i g h t s o f t h e two n a t i o n s t o t h e expected i n h e r i t a n c e ,
u n t i l i t should a c t u a l l y f a l l due, b u t h i s i n t e n t i o n s were
f r u s t r a t e d by t h e uncompromising c l a i m o f t h e B u l g a r i a n s
to t h e whole o f t h e t e r r i t o r y awarded t o them a t t h e
6 1
T r e a t y o f San S t e f a n o . "
L a t e r i n t h e year, on September 16, I z v o l s k y and A e r e n t h a l ,
r e s p e c t i v e l y the Russian and A u s t r i a n f o r e i g n m i n i s t e r s , con-
cluded t h e Buchlau agreement p r o v i d i n g f o r t h e annexation o f
Bosnia and Hercegovina t o the Hapsburg Empire i n exchange f o r
A u s t r i a n support f o r t h e opening o f t h e Dardanelles t o Russian
warships. A l t h o u g h t h i s d i d n o t d i r e c t l y a f f e c t Serbo-Bulgarian
r e l a t i o n s , A e r e n t h a l had decided t o i s o l a t e S e r b i a by making
B u l g a r i a a p a r t y t o h i s p o l i c y . On September 2 3 , P r i n c e F e r d i n -
and v i s i t e d Budapest where A e r e n t h a l urged him t o throw o f f t h e
l a s t v e s t i g e s o f T u r k i s h s u z e r a i n t y and d e c l a r e h i m s e l f K i n g .

61. A p r i l 2, 1908. G.P. Gooch and I I . Temperley, B r i t i s h

Documents on t h e O r i g i n o f t h e War 1898-1914, London, 1926cc,
Vol. V, p. 118.
 ( 19)

on October 5« Ferdinand p r o c l a i m e d the freedom o f h i s c o u n t r y

from Ottoman r u l e and on the f o l l o w i n g day, A e r e n t h a l announced
t h a t A u s t r i a had f o r m a l l y annexed Bosnia and flercegovina.

62
A l t h o u g h r e l a t i o n s between the two c o u n t r i e s were c o o l ,
the I t a l o - T u r k i s h war o f 19111 p r o v i d e d an e x c e l l e n t o p p o r t u n i t y
t o a t t a c k the Ottoman Empire and Russian m i n i s t e r s worked t o
c r e a t e a Second Balkan League. Much o f t h i s Russian initiative
stemmed from resentment over the one-sided outcome o f the
Buchlau agreement and Russia was determined t o p r e v e n t any
e x t e n s i o n of A u s t r i a n hegemony i n the Balkan p e n i n s u l a . The
n a t i o n s themselves were a l s o w i l l i n g t o co-operate when t h e r e
was a p r o s p e c t of t e r r i t o r i a l s p o i l s . I n March 1911* the
pro-Russian Gueshoff became Prime M i n i s t e r i n B u l g a r i a . He
a l s o h e l d the post o f F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r and sought an immediate
u n d e r s t a n d i n g w i t h S e r b i a . ^ A p r e l i m i n a r y t r e a t y was deliver-
64
ed by the Serbian M i n i s t e r i n S o f i a and the f i n a l treaty
i n c l u d i n g i t s s e c r e t annex were signed on March 13, 1912.
The s e c r e t annex r a n i
" S e r b i a recognizes the r i g h t o f B u l g a r i a t o the
t e r r i t o r i e s t o the east o f the Rhodopes and the Struma
r i v e r ; B u l g a r i a r e c o g n i z e s the r i g h t o f S e r b i a t o those
v 65
s i t u a t e d t o the n o r t h o f the S a r - P l a n i n a . "
I n A r t i c l e 4, i t was e x p l i c i t l y s t a t e d t h a t any d i f f e r e n c e s
which arose from t h i s annex "should be s u b m i t t e d t o Russia
f o r f i n a l d e c i s i o n . T h i s T r e a t y was r e a l l y the f i r s t major
62. H e l m r e i c h , op. c i t . . p. 24.
63. I.E. Gueshoff, The Balkan Leafcne. London, 1915, pp. 13-17.
64. I b i d . , pp. 1 9 - 2 3 .
65. Gueshoff g i v e s f u l l d e t a i l s o f the T r e a t y o f F r i e n d s h i p
and A l l i a n c e i n Appendices I and I I , i b i d . . pp. 112-7. The
M i l i t a r y Convention i s g i v e n i n Appendix I I I , pp. 117-22. He a l s o
c o n s i d e r s the boundary q u e s t i o n , pp. 24-33*
66. Geshkoff, op. c i t . . p. 42.
 (20)

accord between S e r b i a and B u l g a r i a and y e t , on t h e eve

of i t s r a t i f i c a t i o n , Pasic f r a n k l y t o l d h i s c o l l e a g u e s t h a t
67
he had no f a i t h i n King Ferdinand. H i s p r e d i c t i o n was amply
justified.
F o l l o w i n g t h e F i r s t Balkan War which was v i c t o r i o u s l y
concluded on A p r i l 16, 1913t disagreement broke o u t among t h e
v i c t o r s . At A u s t r i a n i n s i s t e n c e , part of the land a l l o c a t e d t o
S e r b i a was now i n c l u d e d i n an independent A l b a n i a . S e r b i a
t h e r e f o r e demanded p a r t o f B u l g a r i a ' s a c q u i s i t i o n s b u t t h i s
demand was r e s e n t e d by t h e B u l g a r i a n s who f e l t t h a t t h e y had
borne t h e b r u n t o f t h e T u r k i s h a t t a c k . The S o f i a government
r e f u s e d t o even c o n s i d e r t h e i d e a and d u r i n g t h e s p r i n g o f 1913*
ledonia.
on o u t l i n e d
ERRATUM.
6 8
a. The
Owing t o an e r r o r i n b i n d i n g , pp. 2 1 - 3 0 £g
ration.
are m i s p l a c e d . They are t o be found between (which was
pp. 4 3 - 4 4 .
ere amenable
-
~ t o a r b X t r a f i o n a n d t h e l a t t e r t h r e a t e n e d t o a s s a s s i n a t e King
Ferdinand and Danev i f t h e y should place t h e d i s p u t e b e f o r e t h e
Czar. On June 28, 1 9 l 3 i t h e r e f o r e , K i n g Ferdinand w i t h t h e
connivance o f h i s new Prime M i n i s t e r , D a n e v , ^ ordered General

67. l l e l m r e i c h , 00. c i t . . pp. 58-39* The source o f t h i s infor-

mation was Dr. G a v r i l o v i c , a member o f t h e Serbian f o r e i g n
o f f i c e and l a t e r Pasic's s e c r e t a r y .
68. I b i d . . pp. 353-57 and Gueshoff, op. c i t . , pp. 6 9 - 7 0 .
69. Gueshoff, op. c i t . . p. 92 and S t a v r i a n o s , op. c i t . . p. 172,
70. I b i d . . pp. 8 9 - 9 2 . Gueshoff r e s i g n e d h i s P r e m i e r s h i p on
May 3 0 , 1 9 1 3 . He s t a t e d t h a t he was i n t e n t on keeping t h e Balkan
a l l i a n c e i n t a c t and t h a t i n t h i s , he was i n disagreement with
King Ferdinand and had no d e s i r e t o undertake "the heavy r e s -
p o n s i b i l i t y o f a second war." Before l e a v i n g o f f i c e , he had a
meeting w i t h Pasic a t T s a r i b r o d . Danev was appointedjas h i s
successor i n mid-June.
 (31)
" g e n t l e and r e t i r i n g ; a d o u b t e r , n o t a man of
a c t i o n . Groping, honest, t h e o r e t i c a l r a t h e r than r e a l i s t i c ,
he l i k e s t o b e l i e v e the best of people. His personal
12
charm i s c o n s i d e r a b l e . He i s extremely obliging."
To those who knew him b e t t e r , h i s c h a r a c t e r was f a r from
i n o f f e n s i v e . Kosta Todorov, M i n i s t e r P l e n i p o t e n t i a r y and later
Bulgarian" M i n i s t e r i n Belgrade, l e f t h i s f i r s t audience w i t h
King B o r i s w i t h the i m p r e s s i o n t h a t "he was too p o l i t e t o be
h o n e s t . " * ' Even those most f a v o u r a b l e towards him admit t h a t
"one c o u l d n o t h e l p but say o f B o r i s what P r i n c e M e t t e r n i c h
s a i d o f h i s f a t h e r : 'Even when one dees n o t see Ferdinand, one
14
hears him!'"
From 1919 t o 1923 King B o r i s l a y low, w h i l s t S t a m b o l i s k i ,
the A g r a r i a n l e a d e r , who had been one of the c h i e f r e b e l s i n
the "September R e v o l u t i o n " , wasBulgarian Prime M i n i s t e r . A
French w r i t e r commentedt
"For t h r e e years and a h a l f , d u r i n g w h i c h time the
A g r a r i a n regime l a s t e d , the King counted f o r almost n o t h i n g
a t a l l ; S t a m b o l i s k i d i d n o t l e t pass any o p p o r t u n i t y t o
mark the scant r e g a r d he had f o r him. He was the
1 5
" T z a r t c h e t o " - the l i t t l e King."
I t i s perhaps h a r d l y s u r p r i s i n g t h a t t h i s p e r i o d o f A g r a r i a n
r u l e under S t a m b o l i s k i , when the power o f King B o r i s was most
s e v e r e l y c i r c u m s c r i b e d , was the e r a i n w h i c h Yugoslav-Bulgarian
r e l a t i o n s improved and much o f the wartime a n i m o s i t y and
b i t t e r n e s s decreased.. But i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the A g r a r i a n
government, i t i s s i g n i f i c a n t t o note t h a t one o f B o r i s ' s
f a v o u r i t e axioms .wast " I I ne f a u t pas v o u l o i r a l l e r t r o p v i t g .
12. J. Gunther, I n s i d e Europe, London, 1 9 3 6 , p. 393.
13« Todorov, op. c i t . . p. I 3 3
14. N i k o l a e v , op. c i t . , p. 47.
1
15. A. B r o u d i e r , L Independence RoumaAie. September 27, 1944.
 (32)

il faut savoir a t t e n d r e . T h i s axiom may be regarded as the

key t o a r e a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f B o r i s ' s c h a r a c t e r .
This b r i e f study o f King B o r i s h i g h l i g h t s one important
q u e s t i o n concerning the post-war s e t t l e m e n t o f B u l g a r i a . To
t h i s we now turn.
. A t the time o f the Peace Conference, much was made o f
Clemenceau's famous gibe " I s B u l g a r i a a kingdom or a r e p u b l i c ? "
I n v i e w o f King B o r i s ' s l a t e r p o l i c y and i n view o f the peace
terms which were imposed a t N e u i l l y , t h i s q u e s t i o n deserves
s e r i o u s c o n s i d e r a t i o n . One E n g l i s h w r i t e r has a s s e r t e d thati
"had B u l g a r i a been d e c l a r e d a r e p u b l i c immediately
a f t e r her c o l l a p s e , b e t t e r terms m i g h t have been o f f e r e d
her, f o r p u b l i c o p i n i o n i n B r i t a i n and America would have
surmised t h a t the B u l g a r i a n s had d e f i n i t e l y renounced the
misguided p o l i c y o f t h e i r r u l e r s and had r e s o l v e d t o make
17
a fresh start."
I t was t h e o p i n i o n o f L i e u t e n a n t Kenworthy t h a t t h e A l l i e s were
c h i e f l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r the f a i l u r e o f the r e p u b l i c a n movement
i n B u l g a r i a . Speaking i n the Blouse of Commons i n A p r i l 1 9 2 0 ,
he saidi
"We prevented the s e t t i n g up o f a r e p u b l i c i n
B u l g a r i a . The B u l g a r i a n people wished t o have a r e p u b l i c
but t h i s was c o n t r a r y t o B r i t i s h o r French p o l i c y and
B r i t i s h bayonets were used t o prop up t h a t d i s c r e d i t e d ,
d e t e s t e d dynasty o f Ferdinand o f Coburg and h i s people
were not. p e r m i t t e d t o g e t r i d o f i t . There was a glorious
o p p o r t u n i t y f o r g e t t i n g r i d o f one o f those o f f s h o o t s o f
the Geraan r o y a l house who was misgoverning and oppressing
one of the small peoples o f Europe. But t h a t d i d n o t s u i t
18
the p o l i c y o f t h e A l l i e s . "
16. N i k o l a e v , op. c i t . . . p. 204. " I t ' s n o t necessary t o want
t o go too q u i c k l y but r a t h e r t o know how t o w a i t . "
17. J. Buchan, ( E d ) , B u l g a r i a and Romania. The Nations of
Today S e r i e s . London, 1924, pp. 141-42.
18. Hansard. CJUCV111. ( A p r i l 1 9 i 1 9 2 0 ) , p. 166.
 (33)

L i e u t e n a n t Kenworthy l a i d g r e a t emphasis on the A l l i e d support

f o r B o r i s ' s r u l e but i n f a c t , a f t e r the a r m i s t i c e c o n v e n t i o n
o f September 2 9 , the A l l i e s s i m p l y occupied a number of s t r a t -
e g i c p o i n t s i n B u l g a r i a which was by no means an o c c u p a t i o n i n
19
the s t r i c t sense o f the word.
However, e a r l y i n 1919. a B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n was chosen
t o go t o P a r i s t o present t h e i r n a t i o n ' s case, and Kosta
Todorov was appointed t o spread propaganda on b e h a l f o f B u l g a r i a
20
a t the Peace Conference. Working through the f a s h i o n a b l e
salons and the columns of the i n f l u e n t i a l French press he s e t
out h i s government's new p o l i c y t h a t " B u l g a r i a has completely
broken w i t h the past and had an honest d e s i r e t o co-operate with
21
the r e s t of Europe towards a s t a b l e peace."
The o f f i c i a l B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n a t P a r i s were t r e a t e d
v e r y c o l d l y and i t i s r e p o r t e d t h a t no one wished t o shake hands
22
w i t h them when they a r r i v e d , H a r o l d N i c h o l s o n summed up h i s
viewst
19. G. Desbons, La B u i g a r i e apres l e t r a i t e de N e u i l l y ,
P a r i s , 1930, p. 266.
20. Born i n 1889, Todorov was a t h i r d generation revolutionary,
h i s g r a n d f a t h e r having been a haiduk a g a i n s t the TurkB and h i s
f a t h e r a c t i v e i n p o l i t i c a l i n t r i g u e a g a i n s t Stambulov. As a
r e s u l t o f t h i s , Todorov was born i n e x i l e i n Russia. A t an e a r l y
age he became i n v o l v e d i n the 1905 Russian R e v o l u t i o n and was
gaoled f o r seven y e a r s . R e t u r n i n g t o B u l g a r i a , he was indicted
on a p o l i t i c a l charge. Rather than face t r i a l , he f l e d t o the
West and d u r i n g the F i r s t World War, f o u g h t w i t h the F o r e i g n
Legion. I n 1916, he v o l u n t e e r e d t o d e l i v e r peace proposals t o
the B u l g a r i a n government* On h i s a r r i v a l , he was a r r e s t e d ,
brought t o t r i a l and sentenced t o 3i~ years imprisonment. Whilst
i n p r i s o n , he became a c l o s e f r i e n d and s u p p o r t e r o f S t a m b o l i a k i ,
though n o t a member o f the A g r a r i a n p a r t y . Todorov, op. cit..
pp. 1-102. 2 1 . I b i d . , pp. 113-115.
 (34)

"For the B u l g a r i a n s , I c h e r i s h e d f e e l i n g s o f contempt.

T h e i r t r a d i t i o n s , t h e i r h i s t o r y and t h e i r a c t u a l o b l i g a t i o n s
should have bound them t o the Entente I n s p i r e d by
the most m a t e r i a l motives o f a c q u i s i t i o n , t h e y had j o i n e d
w i t h Germany and by doing so, lengthened t h e war by two
years They had j o i n e d our enemies f o r p u r e l y s e l f i s h
purposes; t h e i r e x p e c t a t i o n s had proved erroneous; and
they were now endeavouring t o c a s t on King Ferdinand t h e
blame f o r what had i n f a c t been a movemnt o f n a t i o n a l
egoism. I d i d n o t f e e l t h a t B u l g a r i a deserved more mercy
than she"would h e r s e l f have been prepared i n similar
23
circumstances t o accord."
A t t h e Peace Conference, t h e B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n d i d indeed
t r y t o argue t h a t since "the B u l g a r i a n n a t i o n d i d n o t approve
o f t h e a l l i a n c e w i t h Germany and t h a t the a l l i a n c e was f o r c e d
upon i t , B u l g a r i a should n o t be h e l d r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e wrongs
committed by her w h i l s t under t h e despotism o f her former
24
German k i n g . " Within Bulgaria i t s e l f , i n fact, public opinion
placed much o f t h e blame f o r t h e war and t h e d i s a s t e r o f Septem-
25
ber 1918 upon t h e i n t r i g u e s o f t h e Macedonian committees.
The j u s t i c e - o r i n j u s t i c e - o f t h e T r e a t y o f N e u i l l y
depends upon whether i t i s seen as an honourable s e t t l e m e n t
w i t h a vanquished enemy, embodying adequate and l e g i t i m a t e
p r e c a u t i o n s f o r t h e f u t u r e o r , a l t e r n a t i v e l y , as a b i t t e r and
c y n i c a l d e c e p t i o n p r a c t i s e d upon t h e B u l g a r i a n people, who
had g e n u i n e l y expected t h e Peace Conference t o r e s p e c t and
consider t h e i r views. From t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s l e a d i n g t o t h e
c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e T r e a t y i t i s q u i t e c l e a r t h a t the peacemakers
2 3 . H. N i c h o l s o n , Peacemaking 1919. London, 1934, pp. 3 4 - 3 5 -
24. T . I . Geshkoff, Balkan Union. A Road t o Peace i n South-
E a s t e r n Europe. New York, 1940, p, 5 6 .
2 5 . Dr. R. A. Reiss, The Com!tadji Question i n Southern
S e r b i a . London, 1924, p. 29
 (35)

regarded B u l g a r i a as a d e f e a t e d and infamous enemy.^

Dr, Temperley observed t h a t t
"the A l l i e d and Associate powers cannot
lose s i g h t "of the f a c t t h a t i n r a n g i n g h e r s e l f beside
the C e n t r a l Powers and remaining t h e r e u n t i l the moment
a t which her d e f e a t seemed assured, B u l g a r i a has broken
the c h i e f l i n k between Russia and her a l l i e s , opened t o
Germany the road t o the East and thus rendered i n e v i t a b l e
the p r o l o n g a t i o n o f the war. She i s then r e s p o n s i b l e f o r
27
the t e r r i b l e e v i l s which r e s u l t e d from this."
What aggravated B u l g a r i a ' s p o s i t i o n a t the Peace Conference
was the " e x c e p t i o n a l savagery" t h a t had marked the a c t s o f
v i o l e n c e p e r p e t r a t e d by the B u l g a r i a n s i n the occupied
c o u n t r i e s - " a savagery t h a t was e s t a b l i s h e d i n the r e p o r t
o f the Committee on the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f the authors o f the
28
war." This Committee had enumerated 32 d i f f e r e n t k i n d s o f
outrage committed by the f o r c e s o f the C e n t r a l Powers and their
a l l i e s i n v i o l a t i o n o f the d i c t a t e s o f common humanity. Three
k i n d s of outrage were committed a n l y by the B u l g a r i a n s i the
d e l i b e r a t e s t a r v a t i o n o f c i v i l i a n s , the c o n f i s c a t i o n o f p r o p e r t y ,
29
and the confinement o f c i v i l i a n s under inhuman c o n d i t i o n s .
0
The r e v e l a t i o n o f these a t r o c i t i e s ^ and the o t h e r d e t a i l s
p r o v i d e d by the Committee l o s t B u l g a r i a much o f the sympathy
she had possessed i n E n g l i a h circles.
B u l g a r i a , however, saw the T r e a t y as a b i t t e r deception
and a l e g i t i m a t e source o f g r i e v a n c e . I n a later presentation
26. Documents on B r i t i s h F o r e i g n P o l i c y . 1919-39. F i r s t Series,
London 1946cc ( h e r e a f t e r r e f e r r e d t o as B.D.) I , nos. 8, 1 1 , 17*
19, 22-24, 30 and 33; a l s o I I , no. 9.
27. H.W.V. Temperley, A H i s t o r y o f the Peace Conference o f
P a r i s . London, 1924, I V , p. 414.
28. P i p i n e l i s , op. c i t . . p. 27 29. Ibid.. loc. c i t .
30. See above Chapter I , p. 25Also f o r s p e c i f i c d e t a i l s , see
Reiss, op. c i t . pp. 22-27 and 41-45. But f o r a p u r e l y p r i v a t e
 (36)

o f t h e B u l g a r i a n case, i t was s t a t e d t h a t " t h e v a r f o r them

was o f no i n t e r e s t . They were ready t o l a y down arms w i t h the
f u l l hope o f r e c e i v i n g j u s t i c e from the A l l i e d democracies.
T h e i r a c t i o n stopped h o s t i l i t i e s and t h e y were d i r e c t l y
31
r e s p o n s i b l e f o r the peace w h i c h f o l l o w e d . " I n the same work,
t h e r e i s perhaps the most s u c c i n c t f o r m u l a t i o n o f the b i t t e r n e s s
and d i s i l l u s i o n m e n t which B u l g a r i a experienced!
"The g r e a t war soon f o l l o w e d , B u l g a r i a made the
maximum e f f o r t s and gave numberless s a c r i f i c e s - n o t t o
conquer f o r e i g n lands o r t o subdue f o r e i g n p o p u l a t i o n s
but o n l y f o r the l i b e r a t i o n o f i t s oppressed b r o t h e r s and
i t s l e g i t i m a t e l a n d s . The h e r o i c f e a t s o f her brave army
were acknowledged even by her enemy. The Fourteen P o i n t s
o f President. W i l s o n were made p u b l i c . They c o n t a i n e d a l l
t h a t B u l g a r i a looked f o r . B u l g a r i a had i m p l i c i t f a i t h i n
them and was the f i r s t t o surrender her arms and t o seek
peace. I n S a l o n i k a , concrete promises were g i v e n t h a t she
should r e t a i n t o g e t h e r w i t h o t h e r b e n e f i t s r e c e i v e d by
v i r t u e o f her arms, an o u t l e t t o the Aegean Sea. In
r e t u r n f o r t h i s , two s a c r i f i c e s were demanded o f h e r ,
namely t h e a b d i c a t i o n o f King Ferdinaad i n f a v o u r o f
Crown B o r i s and t h e F i r s t S o f i a d i v i s i o n t o be h e l d as
( c o n t i n u e d from the p r e v i o u s page)
o p i n i o n , m i n i m i z i n g the s i g n i f i c a n c e o f a t r o c i t i e s i n the Balkans,
see L. Buxton, The Black Sheep o f t h e Balkans. London, 1920,
p. 127.
31, B u l g a r i a n N a t i o n a l Group, B u l g a r i a and the Balkan Problems.
S o f i a , 1934, p. 3 8 . ( T h i s book was an o f f i c i a l p u b l i c a t i o n
w r i t t e n f o r the Balkan Conference and p r i n t e d w i t h the assistance
o f the Carnegie Endowment f o r I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace). The effect
o f B u l g a r i a ' s c o l l a p s e upon t h e German war e f f o r t i s borne o u t
by D. L l o y d George, War Memoirs. London, 1936, II, pp. 19Hi
1920, 1944, 1951 and 2 0 0 2 . See a l s o F i e l d Marshal P. von Hinden-
burg, Out o f my L i f e . London, 1920, pp. 428-29.
 (37)

hostages under t h e aegis o f B r i t a i n and France. B u l g a r i a

r e a d i l y assented t o a l l t h e s a c r i f i c e s r e q u i r e d o f her
32
-but t h e promises remained u n f u l f i l l e d . " '
Many p o i n t s i n t h i s a s s e r t i o n are open to> c r i t i c i s m , particularly
the i n g e n i o u s view t h a t B u l g a r i a l a i d down her arms i n response
t o P r e s i d e n t Wilson's F o u r t e e n P o i n t s . S i m i l a r l y , i n t h e
a r m i s t i e e terms o f September 1918* t h e r e i s no mention o f and
"concrete promises" on t h e p a r t o f B r i t a i n and France.'*' The
B u l g a r i a n s surrendered f i r s t l y because t h e i r army was totally
defeated by t h e A l l i e d a t t a c k up t h e Vardar v a l l e y , then because
of t h e complete d e m o r a l i z a t i o n o f t h e i r t r o o p s and t h i r d l y
because o f t h e imminence o f c i v i l war w i t h i n B u l g a r i a i t s e l f .
But t h i s view o f B u l g a r i a ' s s a c r i f i c e and her d e s i r e t o seek
peace was t h e argument pursued by successive Bulgarian govern-
ments from 1923-1941. w h i c h t a l k e d o f t h e i r c o u n t r y ' s " l e g i t i m a t e
g r i e v a n c e s " and t h e r e v i s i o n o f her t e r r i t o r i a l s t a t u s . This
argument was based upon a f a l s e and p e r v e r s e view o f t h e
h i s t o r i c a l p o s i t i o n o f B u l g a r i a between 1915 and 1918.
I n f a c t , the Treaty of N e u i l l y ' was, i n i t s e l f , a j u s t
document. I t made no g r e a t a l t e r a t i o n t o t h e t e r r i t o r i a l status
of B u l g a r i a drawn up i n t h e 1913 T r e a t y o f Bucharest b u t , f o r
purposes w h i c h were w h o l l y s t r a t e g i c , Y u g o s l a v i a was awarded
2,430 sq. k i l o m e t r e s o f t e r r i t o r y along t h e f r o n t i e r , c o n s i s t i n g
of the; towns o f T s a r i b r o d and B o s i l g r a d and t h e S t r u m i c a
7
salient.* The T r e a t y a l s o forbade m i l i t a r y c o n s c r i p t i o n and
ordered t h a t t h e B u l g a r i a n army be reduced t o 2 0 , 0 0 0 s o l d i e r s ,
3 2 . B u l g a r i a n N a t i o n a l Group, op. c i t . . p. 2 1 .
33. L l o y d George, op. c i t . , I I , pp. 1946-47.
3 4 . B.D., Series I , I , no. 5 9 . F i n a l peace c o n d i t i o n s were
decided upon on September 17, 1919. The T r e a t y was actually
signed on November 2 7 . 1919.
35 . For d e t a i l s l e a d i n g t o t h e s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e Yugoslav-
B u l g a r i a n f r o n t i e r see I . J . L e d e r e r , Y u g o s l a v i a a t t h e P a r i s Peace
Conference. Yale, I 9 6 3 , pp. 1 2 8 - 3 0 , 1 3 7 - 3 8 , 158, 180 and 223-24.
 (38)

3 i 0 0 0 border guards and no more t h a n 10,000 policemen f o r

i n t e r n a l s e c u r i t y . I n a d d i t i o n , i t was stipulated that Bulgaria
should make r e p a r a t i o n s amounting t o 5,000 m i l l i o n g o l d francs,
a sum l a t e r reduced t o 2,250 m i l l i o n s ^ a f t e r p r o l o n g e d e f f o r t s
by Todorov, who succeeded i n shoving the peacemakers t h a t such
•to

a sum vas beyond B u l g a r i a ' s l i m i t e d r e s o u r c e s . Writing on

the T r e a t y o f N e u i l l y , Or. Temperley s t a t e d t h a t " w h i l e the
t e r r i t o r i a l clauses undoubtedly e n t a i l e d some l o s s on B u l g a r i a ,
the r e p a r a t i o n clauses were the most f a i r and p r a c t i c a b l e i n
39
any treaty.
But " t h e Peace T r e a t y concluded i n N e u i l l y w i t h the
p r o c l a i m e d purpose o f c r e a t i n g l a s t i n g r e l a t i o n s f o r peace,
f r i e n d s h i p and g o o d w i l l amongst the Balkan s t a t e s d i d n o t bring
the r e a l i z a t i o n of t h a t which the whole B u l g a r i a n people f o r
ages p a s t had c o n s i d e r e d as i t s n a t i o n a l r i g h t and i t s
40
legitimate aspiration." I n s h o r t , i t d i d not g i v e Macedonia
to Bulgaria.
As has been seen, the f i r s t l i n e o f the B u l g a r i a n argument
was t h a t the n a t i o n , as a whole, d i d n o t want war and vas
w i l l i n g t o s i g n an a r m i s t i c e a t the e a r l i e s t opportunity.
T h e i r second argument was the f a m i l i a r one t h a t Macedonia vas
B u l g a r i a n t e r r i t o r y and t h a t the m i l i t a r y a c t i v i t i e s o f the
Balkan Wars and the F i r s t World War were t h e r e f o r e m e r e l y an
a t t e m p t t o r e c o v e r what was Bulgaria's r i g h t f u l territory.
"The B u l g a r i a n people p a r t i c i p a t e d i n the wars o n l y t o a t t a i n
41
t h e i r n a t i o n a l u n i f i c a t i o n n o t f o r any i m p e r i a l i s t i c aims."
C.J. L o g i o , a sympathizer of the B u l g a r i a n p o s i t i o n , observed
that:
36. £200 m i l l i o n s ( a t 1919 values).
37. £90 millions ( " " " ).
38. Todorov, op. c i t . , p. 122
39. Temperley, op. c i t . , IV, p. 412.
40. Bulgarian National Group, op. c i t . . p. 34.
41. I b i d . , p. 38
 (39)

"Much has been w r i t t e n about the s e v e r i t y o f t h e

terms d i c t a t e d t o Germany and A u s t r i a - H u n g a r y but these
t r e a t i e s , v i n d i c t i v e and harsh as t h e y appear t o some,
are i n the o p i n i o n o f t h e B u l g a r i a n s , generous vhen
compared t o the t r e a t y f o r c e d on t h e i r c o u n t r y . For i n
the case of the Germanic Empires t h e p r i n c i p l e o f
n a t i o n a l i t y was more or l e s s adhered t o , w h i l e i n the
case o f B u l g a r i a , i t s i m p l y went by the board. And this
c o n s t i t u t e s the c a r d i n a l d e f e c t o f the B u l g a r i a n t r e a t y ,
for the economic c o n d i t i o n s , however e x a c t i n g and ruinous
t h e y may be, would have been accepted w i t h r e s i g n a t i o n
and w i t h o u t i l l - w i l l by the B u l g a r i a n s , w h i l e the t e r r i t o r i a l
42
excesions w i l l ever r a n k l e i n the h e a r t s o f her people."
The e l e v e n t h o f P r e s i d e n t Wilson's Fourteen P o i n t s suggested
t h a t " t h e r e l a t i o n s o f the s e v e r a l Balkan s t a t e s t o one another"
should be "determined by f r i e n d l y counsel along historically
43
e s t a b l i s h e d l i n e s of a l l e g i a n c e and n a t i o n a l i t y . " Despite
the f a c t t h a t P r e s i d e n t W i l s o n s p e c i f i c a l l y demanded the
e v a c u a t i o n o f S e r b i a as one o f the c o n d i t i o n s o f a peace
s e t t l e m e n t , B u l g a r i a p u t g r e a t hope i n the l o o p h o l e t h a t the
t h a t the Fourteen P o i n t s p r o v i d e d f o r a s s e r t i n g t h a t Macedonia
belonged t o B u l g a r i a along j u s t such " h i s t o r i c a l l y e s t a b l i s h e d
l i n e s o f a l l e g i a n c e and n a t i o n a l i t y . " Indeed, says N i k o l a e v ,
"she looked f o r w a r d t o a much b r i g h t e r f u t u r e and one o f the
p i l l a r s o f t h i s hope was t h a t B u l g a r i a had never d e c l a r e d war
on the U n i t e d S t a t e s , w i t h whom d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s had
44
c o n t i n u e d as normal f o r the d u r a t i o n o f the war." I t is
i m p o r t a n t t o remember t h a t a l t h o u g h the d e c l a r a t i o n o f the
Fourteen P o i n t s op.
42. Buchan, was c ni ot t. . regarded
p. 154. as being a t v a r i a n c e w i t h t h e
v i t a43.
l i H.S.
n t e r e sCoinmager,
t s o f the L Ai lv li in eg s ,Documents
i t c o n s t io tf u American
t e d no p a rH ti s of
t o r ythe
,
pp. 65-67. 44. N i k o l a e v , op. c i t . . p. I 3 6
 (40)

45
J
official p o l i c y - of the A l l i a n c e .
N e v e r t h e l e s s , a t a meeting a t S o f i a U n i v e r s i t y i n
December 1918, a number o f Macedonian B u l g a r i a n s e l e c t e d a
new " N a t i o n a l Committee" which p e t i t i o n e d the Entente Powers
f o r Macedonia's union w i t h B u l g a r i a :
" A l l have proclaimed the w i l l i n g n e s s o f the Macedonian
p o p u l a t i o n to u n i t e i t s e l f w i t h the m o t h e r - c o u n t r y ,
B u l g a r i a , an a s p i r a t i o n which has n o t been r e f u t e d d u r i n g
the decades o f s t r i f e when blood f l o w e d f r e e l y - and,
p o i n t i n g o u t t h a t the Great Powers have again and again
i n s e v e r a l i n t e r n a t i o n a l m a t t e r s , solemnly recognized
the r i g h t o f Macedonia t o u n i t e i t s e l f w i t h the o t h e r
B u l g a r i a n c o u n t r i e s ; the assembly-general has therefore
v o t e d the f o l l o w i n g r e s o l u t i o n :
'The delegates o f the Macedonian Benevolent
S o c i e t i e s have drawn from the Buigar p o p u l a t i o n o f
Macedonia the f o r m a l d e s i r e t o u n i t e themselves w i t h
t h e i r b r o t h e r s i n B u l g a r i a and g i v e the executive
c o u n c i l the i m p e r a t i v e mandate t o o r i e n t a t e i t B
a c t i v i t y a c c o r d i n g l y on the b a s i s o f the f o l l o w i n g two
points:
1) The I n d i v i s i b i l i t y o f Macedonia.
46
2 ) The Union o f Macedonia t o B u l g a r i a ' "
The B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n a t the P a r i s Peace Conference
a c t u a l l y p u t f o r w a r d proposals f o r the annexation o f l a n d s o u t h
o f the R i v e r Morava, the Dobrudja, Macedonia and b o t h East and
47
West Thrace. I n a d d i t i o n , they produced two l a r g e and
impressive books of documents and maps w h i c h p u r p o r t e d t o show
the r i g h t o f B u l g a r i a ' s c l a i m t o e x t r a t e r r i t o r y and a l s o sought
46. J . Ivanov, Les Bulgarea devant l e Congres de l a Paix.
Berne, 1919, Appendice aux temoinnages e t aux documents, no.
XXVI1, pp. 290-291.
45. L l o y d George, op. c i t . . I I , p. 1494.
47. P i p t n e l i s , op. c i t . , p. 50.
 48
t o r e f u t e t h e accusations brought a g a i n s t h e r .
"The Macedonians," they, m a i n t a i n e d , " would have
been p e r f e c t l y happy i f B u l g a r i a had r e t a i n e d Macedonia
a f t e r t h e war, I h a autonomy i d e a l would have been abandoned
f o r t h e Macedonians, who have always s t r u c k t h e i r chests
and sworn by autonomy, would have gone bach on t h e i r
goal a t t h e f i r s t f a v o u r a b l e p r o s p e c t o f a B u l g a r i a n
49
occupation."
I t i s known t h a t t h e head o f t h e B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n urged
p r i v a t e l y i n a l e t t e r o f September 2, 1919 t h a t i n place o f
" t h e m u t i l a t i o n o f B u l g a r i a " , a p l e b i s c i t e should be h e l d
"embracing a l l t h e p o p u l a t i o n s d e l i v e r e d from t h e T u r k i s h yoke
since 1912". I f t h i s were n o t f e a s i b l e , he proposed an
independent Macedonian s t a t e :
"Let a l l the n a t i o n s , b i g or s m a l l , f r e e l y use t h e
p o r t s o f t h e new s t a t e thus c o n s t i t u t e d - S a l o n i k a ,
K a v a l l a and Dedeagatch - and l e t t h i s new s t a t e serve as
a pledge f o r t h e f u t u r e Balkan C o n f e d e r a t i o n i t will
e l i m i n a t e a l l t h e p r e t e x t s o f r i v a l r i e s and s t r i f e
between t h e Balkan s t a t e s and w i l l f a c i l i t a t e t h e e s t a b -
50
l i s h i n g of the f u t u r e confederation."
I n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n , i t i s known t h a t t h e B u l g a r i a n delegates
had been o f f i c i a l l y a u t h o r i z e d t o propose t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t
o f a Yugoslav f e d e r a t i o n i n w h i c h Macedonia would be i n c l u d e d
as an autonomous state.^
48. B u l g a r i a n M i n i s t r y o f F o r e i g n A f f a i r s , La ( j u e s t i o n Buigare
e t l e s e t a t s b a l k a n i q u e s , S o f i a , 1919; and from t h e same source,
La V e r i t e sur -leB a c c u s a t i o n s c o n t r e l a B u l g a r i a . S o f i a 1919*
49. S. Christowe, Heroes and Assassins. London, 1935, p. 126.
50. "Peace i n t h e Balkans;A B u l g a r i a n S o l u t i o n , " , N a t i o n C1X.
(November 29, 1919), pp. 699-702.
5 1 . H.G. A l s b e r g , "Union i n t h e Balkans", N a t i o n C1X. (October
4, 1919), pp. 463-64. See a l s o , Buchan, op. c i t . , p. 158, and
Buxton, 0 3 . c i t . , p. 124.
 (42)

These proposals r e g a r d i n g an independent Macedonian s t a t e

show t h a t t h e r e had been no change o f h e a r t i n the B u l g a r i a n
l e a d e r s . For o n l y when B u l g a r i a was i n a weak p o s i t i o n d i d her
l e a d e r s t a l k o f such independence. At o t h e r t i m e s , when t h e y
thought themselves s u p e r i o r i n m i l i t a r y power and d i p l o m a t i c
support t o t h e i r neighbours, t h e y preached a B u l g a r i a n Macedonia
During b o t h w o r l d wars, when B u l g a r i a had the o p p o r t u n i t y t o
p r o c l a i m the autonomy and independence o f Macedonia she d i d
53
n o t do so.
The a t t i t u d e and conduct o£ the B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n a t
the P a r i s Conference s u b s t a n t i a t e s Dr. Temperley's view t h a t
54
B u l g a r i a had no i d e a o f the r e a l i t y and enormity o f her d e f e a t .
F i r s t l y , t h e y had attempted t o c a s t o f f the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r
the war upon t h e i r former k i n g . Secondly, t h e y p r o c l a i m e d the
myth t h a t B u l g a r i a had l a i d down her arms i n the i n t e r e s t s o f
peace and, t h i r d l y , t h e y attempted t o r e t a i n c o n t r o l o f the
conquests they had made s i n c e 1915 - p a r t i c u l a r l y i n Macedonia -
by a s u b t l e and disingenuous appeal t o a bond o f n a t i o n a l i t y
which was u n l i k e l y t o a t t r a c t the sympathy o f the peacemakers
a t t h a t t i m e . By the terms o f N e u i l l y , o n l y 6,798 sq. k i l o m e t r e s
o f the pre-1912 Macedonia was recognized as B u l g a r i a n . The new
Yugoslav f r o n t i e r s encompassed 25,774 eq. k i l o m e t r e s o f i t s l a n d
55
and Greece a c q u i r e d some 34,154 sq. k i l o m e t r e s . Thus Greece
was the p r i n c i p a l b e n e f i c i a r y o f the r e - d i s t r i b u t e d Macedonian
t e r r i t o r y . But i t was towards her South Slav neighbour that
B u l g a r i a m a n i f e s t e d her g r e a t e s t b i t t e r n e s s and h o s t i l i t y , and
through the i n t e r - w a r p e r i o d B u l g a r i a r e f u s e d t o recognize that
Macedonia was a n y t h i n g but B u l g a r i a n t e r r i t o r y , u n j u s t l y and
i l l e g a l l y annexed by Y u g o s l a v i a .
52. Reiss, op. c i t . , p. 118.
53. I b i d . , pp. 27-28.
54. Temperley, op. c i t . , l o c . c i t .
55. Christowe, op. c i t . , p. 129.
 Y u g o s l a v i a , o r t h e Kingdom o f Serbs, Croats and Slovenes,
was e s t a b l i s h e d on December 1, 1918. The new kingdom presented
a b e w i l d e r i n g v a r i e t y o f r e l i g i o n s , laws and systems o f
e d u c a t i o n and a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and t h e i n t e r n a l problems o f
r a t i o n a l i z i n g , modernizing and c e n t r a l i z i n g t h e new kingdom
t o o k many years t o s o l v e . The s t r e n g t h o f t h e Kingdom l a y i n
i t s being Yugo-Slavia, t h e South Slav s t a t e f o r which t h e Slavs
had been hoping f o r so l o n g . Yet i t was here t h a t i t was a t i t s
weakest, f o r those opposed t o t h e c e n t r a l i z i n g tendencies o f
Belgrade and t h e r i g o r o u s laws which were r e q u i r e d t o h o l d t h e
new s t a t e t o g e t h e r , c o u l d accuse i t s r u l e r s o f "Serbian Imper-
56
ialism." One o f t h e r e g i o n s i n t h e new Yugo-Slavia was
Macedonia and w i t h i n t h i s r e g i o n t h e r e were undoubtedly some
who were o f B u l g a r i a n o r i g i n ( p a r t i c u l a r l y those l i v i n g i n t h e
f r o n t i e r s t r i p s i n and around B o s i l g r a d and T s a r i b r o d - some
92,000 i n number) ' and, i n t h e T r e a t y o f S t . Germain,
Y u g o s l a v i a acknowledged t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a B u l g a r i a n m i n o r i t y
w i t h i n t h e borders o f t h e new s t a t e s A r t i c l e 4 r a n i
"The Kingdom o f SHS acknowledges as Serb, Croat
and Slovene s u b j e c t s , by r i g h t and w i t h o u t any f o r m a l i t y ,
the persons from A u s t r i a n , Hungarian and B u l g a r i a n n a t i o n -
a l i t i e s who are born i n t h e s a i d t e r r i t o r y from p a r e n t s
whose r e s i d e n c e had been i n t h e r e s p e c t i v e territories,
a l t h o u g h a t t h e date o f t h i s t r e a t y coming i n t o f o r c e ,
59
t h e i r residence i B n o t t h a t o f t h e i r birthplace."
Undoubtedly, t h e n , t h e r e was a B u l g a r i a n m i n o r i t y i n Macedonia
b u t , once a g a i n , t h e B u l g a r i a n w r i t e r s f a i l t o d i s t i n g u i s h
between t h e amorphous Macedonian p o p u l a t i o n and those Slavs
o f a s p e c i f i c a l l y B u l g a r i a n n a t i o n a l i t y . Toshev and o t h e r s
accuse t h e new Kingdom o f a wholesale " d e - n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f
56. A. Toshev, The B u l g a r i a n - S e r b i a n D i s p u t e . S o f i a , 1932, p.
57. Todorov, op. c i t . . p. 122.
58. The T r e a t y o f S t . Germain was signed on September 10, 1919
59. Toshev, op. c i t . , pp. 72-73.
 (21)

Savov t o a t t a c k S e r b i a w i t h o u t any f o r m a l d e c l a r a t i o n o f
war.
S t a v r i a n o s has s a i d t h a t the army's advance was a
" p o l i t i c a l g e s t u r e " r a t h e r than a s e r i o u s m i l i t a r y a t t a c k , ^ *
but i t seems t h a t King Ferdinand hoped t o achieve so s w i f t a
f a i t accompli t h a t the Western Powers would recognize h i s
72
a c t i o n and n o t do a n y t h i n g about i t . Nor do the sympathizers
of B u l g a r i a see i t as merely a " p o l i t i c a l g e s t u r e " : " F o o l i s h l y
presumptive, he (Ferdinand) counted on a s w i f t and complete
v i c t o r y . " ^ The B u l g a r i a n a t t a c k - d e s c r i b e d by Gueshoff as
74
"an a c t o f c r i m i n a l madness" - was r e p u l s e d by Serbian, Greek
75
and T u r k i s h f o r c e s and an a r m i s t i c e was signed on J u l y 3 1 .
The T r e a t y o f Bucharest, which d e p r i v e d B u l g a r i a of many o f
the gains she had made i n the F i r s t Balkan War, was signed on
August 10, This d e f e a t has had immense r e p e r c u s s i o n s . Had
B u l g a r i a agreed t o n e g o t i a t e i n a f r i e n d l y s p i r i t i n 1913»
many o f the i l l s which plagued the Balkans between 1918-41
could have been a v o i d e d . ^ S i r Edward Grey, the B r i t i s h Foreign
S e c r e t a r y , gave an accurate d i a g n o s i s o f t h e s i t u a t i o n when he
said:
" I t l e f t B u l g a r i a sore, i n j u r e d and d e s p o i l e d o f
what she b e l i e v e d belonged t o h e r . Any f u t u r e Balkan peace
7 1 . H e l m r e i c h r e p o r t e d t h a t Savov d e c l a r e d " t h a t ' h e d i d n o t
g i v e an o r d e r ( t o a t t a c k ) but o n l y passed on the o r d e r , a f t e r
the King assured him t h a t a t the f i r s t exchange o f shots between
B u l g a r i a and S e r b i a , an Auatro-Hungarian corps would cross the
Danube. Op. c i t . , p. 367. 72. P i p i n e l i s , op. c i t . , p. 36.
73. N.P. N i k o l a e v , La d e s t i n e e t r a g i q u e d'un r o i ( B o r i s I I I ) ,
Uppsala, 1952, p. 33* Gueshoff, op. c i t . , pp. 92-3, stated that
the a t t a c k was made w i t h o u t the knowledge or consent o f the
B u l g a r i a n Cabinet. He s t a t e d t h a t the a t t a c k was a royal decision
enacted "not w i t h o u t the knowledge o f the Prime M i n i s t e r , Dr.
Danev." 74. P i p i n e l i s , op. c i t . . l o c . c i t .
75* For d e t a i l s o f 2nd. Balkan War, U e l m r e i c h , op. c i t . c h . X V I I I .
 (22)

vas i m p o s s i b l e as l o n g as t h e \ T r e a t y o f Bucharest remain-

ed. B u l g a r i a h e n c e f o r t h became a p i v o t and a pawn i n t h e
77
hands o f t h e Great Powers i n t h e Balkans."
A f t e r t h e T r e a t y o f Bucharest, Serbia's r e l a t i o n s w i t h
B u l g a r i a remained e m b i t t e r e d . The B u l g a r i a n s w a i t e d f o r veng-
eance and t h e o p p o r t u n i t y eame q u i c k e r than they expected. I t
i s c l e a r t h a t t h e r e was a c l o s e p o l i t i c a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g between
A u s t r i a and B u l g a r i a between 1912-5. On J u l y 23, 1914, t h e day
on which Austria-Hungary i s s u e d h e r u l t i m a t u m t o S e r b i a foll-
owing t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n o f Franz Ferdinand, Count von B e r c h t o l d ,
the A u s t r i a n F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r , i n s t r u c t e d h i s m i n i s t e r i n S o f i a
that I
"the Macedonian Committees i n B u l g a r i a should a t once
begin i n t e n s i v e a c t i v i t y - which t h e B u l g a r i a n Government
might n a t u r a l l y and c a t e g o r i c a l l y condemn and disavow -
w i t h t h e main purpose o f c o n c e n t r i c a l l y d e s t r o y i n g t h e
means o f communication ( b r i d g e s , r a i l w a y s and t e l e g r a p h )
thus c u t t i n g o f f S e r b i a from S a l o n i k a i n t h e south and
from B u l g a r i a on t h e e a s t . As soon as our m o b i l i z a t i o n
i s d e c l a r e d you are a u t h o r i z e d t o f i n d t h e ways and
means f o r t h e promotion o f such a c t i v i t y , proceeding
78
c a r e f u l l y and s e c r e t l y and u s i n g money."
Thus, when war was imminent, IMRO m o b i l i z e d t o e n t e r Serbian
t e r r i t o r y and undertook sabotage and g u e r r i l l a w a r f a r e even
though B u l g a r i a was n o t a t t h a t time a t war w i t h S e r b i a .
I n t h e s p r i n g o f 1914, Alezandrov and Protogerov , two
of t h e c h i e f Supremist l e a d e r s , re-shaped IMRO i n Macedonia
and soon t h e i r men were roaming t h e c o u n t r y s i d e , p r e a c h i n g
77. V i s c o u n t Grey o f F a l l o d o n , Twenty-Five Years 1892-1916.
London, 1925, V o l . I , p. 263.
11
78. Document 10550, Osterreich-Ungarns A u s s e n p o l i t i k von der
Bosnischen K r i s e 1908 b i s zum K r i e g s a u s b r u c h 1914, Vienna,
1930, V o l . 8, pp. 609-611.
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79
h a t r e d o f t h e Serbs and p r o m i s i n g e a r l y l i b e r a t i o n . Early
i n 1914, t h e Serbian government extended c o n s c r i p t i o n t o
Macedonia and i t became one o f IMRO's p a r t i c u l a r t a s k s t o
i n c i t e men a g a i n s t s e r v i c e i n the Serbian Army and h e l p them
t o escape t o B u l g a r i a t h r o u g h underground c o n t a c t s . Young men
r e a r e d under t h e l a x T u r k i s h d i s c i p l i n e resented t h e Serbian
a u t h o r i t y ; they and t h e i r f a m i l i e s were warned o f h o r r i d
f a t e s when t h e B u l g a r i a n s " l i b e r a t e d Macedonia" i f t h e y j o i n e d
80
the Serbs, As a r e s u l t , s e v e r a l thousands f l e d t o B u l g a r i a ,
A l b a n i a o r t o t h e mountains.
Dr. B e i s s , a p r o f e s s o r a t Lausanne and war correspondent
on t h e S a l o n i k a f r o n t , made i n q u i r i e s i n t o t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f
IMRO upon t h e outbreak o f war i n 1914. On August 2 1 , seven
81
"comitadjis" were caught t r y i n g t o blow up t h e main l i n e t o
S a l o n i k a . A l l seven were i n B u l g a r i a n u n i f o r m and c a r r i e d
B u l g a r i a n weapons. They had come from S o f i a and crossed t h e
border on August 3-4. I n t h e possession o f t h e l e a d e r was a
82
lthe
i s t i odfe fsabotage
e a t o f S eand
r b i ad.e"s t r uDuring
c t i o n t htehye should e f f e c tand
l a t e summer " bautumn,
efore
t h e r e were o t h e r minor a c t s o f t e r r o r i s m and sabotage. au1
83
Captured c o m i t a d j i s s t a t e d t h e Austro-Hungarian L e g a t i o n i n
S o f i a gave them s u b s i d i e s . Many c h i e f s used t o go p e r s o n a l l y
t o t h e L e g a t i o n and were assured by Laska, the m i l i t a r y
„ 84
a t t a c h e , t h a t t h e Serbs would be beaten by t h e A u s t r i a n s .
The f u n c t i o n o f t h e c o m i t a d j i s was t h e r e f o r e t o d i v e r t Serbian
t r o o p s from t h e N o r t h e r n f r o n t i e r . On Good F r i d a y 1915* s e v e r a l
hundred B u l g a r i a n c o m i t a d j i s a t t a c k e d detachments o f Serb
t r o o p s a t Valandovo and t h e b r i d g e over t h e Vardar near
Strumica s t a t i o n . A t t h e most c o n s e r v a t i v e e s t i m a t e , t h e encoun-
t e r c o s t t h e l i v e s o f 100 Serbian soldiers.

79. J . Swire, B u l g a r i a n Conspiracy, London, 1939» pp. 129-30.

80. I b i d . . l o c . c i t .
8 1 . " C o m i t a d j i s " l i t e r a l l y means "members o f a committee".
82. Dr. B e i s s , The Comitad.ji Question i n Southern S e r b i a .
London, 1924, pp. 9-11. 83. I b i d . , p. 12.
ikii«i PP» 13-14. 85. I b i d . . p. 19.
 (24)

On May 24, 1915, s e v e r a l Supremist l e a d e r s met i n S o f i a

and f o r m a l l y decided t o work f o r B u l g a r i a ' s e n t r y i n t o t h e
86
war on Germany's s i d e . I n September, B u l g a r i a signed a
t r e a t y and m i l i t a r y convention w i t h the C e n t r a l Powers and on
October 14, King Ferdinand d e c l a r e d war on S e r b i a . H i s p o l i c y
d i d n o t have t h e f u l l approval o f t h e B u l g a r i a n people. On
September 17, t h e r e was a c r i t i c a l meeting between King
Ferdinand and the l e a d e r s o f f i v e p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s . Stambol-
i s k i , the A g r a r i a n l e a d e r , i s r e p o r t e d t o have t o l d the K i n g t
"The people have no confidence i n your a b i l i t y t o
r u l e . Once b e f o r e , i n 1913, you brought t h i s c o u n t r y t o
c a t a s t r o p h e . Now you're p l a n n i n g t o s e t y o u r s e l f once more
87
a g a i n s t the wishes and i n t e r e s t s o f t h e B u l g a r i a n people."
L a t e r , i n t h e Sobranje, he outspokenly expressed h i s hope i n
a Serb v i c t o r y :
"You're a S e r b l " s a i d a B u l g a r i a n deputy.
"You're r i g h t ! " S t a m b o l i s k i i s r e p o r t e d t o have r e p l i e d .
"I'm no B u l g a r i a n . I'm no Serb. I am a Slav o f t h e South -
1,88
a Yugoslav!
But S t a m b o l i s k i was v e r y much a lone v o i c e and i t has been
suggested t h a t t h e importance o f h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h the King
has been exaggerated and became a r e g u l a r s u b j e c t produced by
89
"repentant Bulgarians".
When B u l g a r i a and Germany had s u c c e s s f u l l y d e f e a t e d t h e
Serbian armies, Macedonia was annexed t o B u l g a r i a . IMRO, whose
members now made no mention o f autonomy, were made r e s p o n s i b l e
86. Swire, og. c i t . , p. 133.
87. K. Todorov, Balkan F i r e b r a n d . The Autobiography o f a
Rebel. S o l d i e r and Statesman, Chicago, 1943, p. 92. See a l s o
N i k o l a e v , op. c i t . . p. 124.
88. Todorov, i b i d . . p. 194.
89. G.I. Kapchev, Le debacle n a t i o n a l e bulgare devant l a
Haute Cour. P a r i s , 1923, p. 78. Kapchev g i v e s a v e r b a t i m r e c o r d
o f t h e scene between S t a m b o l i s k i and King Ferdinand.
 (25)

for the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f the occupied t e r r i t o r y . Shortly

before the war, Alexandrov's Supremist Committee was given
30 m i l l i o n g o l d marks by Germany on the u n d e r s t a n d i n g that
t h e y would form a Macedonian V o l u n t e e r D i v i s i o n from those
90
who had f l e d i n t o B u l g a r i a . On September 16, f i v e days
before B u l g a r i a n m o b i l i z a t i o n , the Macedonian V o l u n t e e r
D i v i s i o n c o n s i s t i n g of 33?764 o f f i c e r s and men were mustered
91
in Sofia.
The Macedonian O r g a n i z a t i o n d i s t i n g u i s h e d i t s p e r i o d o f
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n by v i o l e n c e and t e r r o r i s m . General Jekov,
the CommandeT-in-Chief o f B u l g a r i a ' s f o r c e s , i s r e p o r t e d t o
have ordered "the e x t e r m i n a t i o n o f a l l Serbian i n t e l l e c t u a l s -
d e p u t i e s , p r i e s t s , d o c t o r s , o f f i c i a l s , t e a c h e r s " and commanded
his subordinates to "destroy t h i s order a f t e r reading and
92
giving effect to it."
I n a l l wars, the s t o r i e s of a t r o c i t i e s are l i a b l e t o
e x a g g e r a t i o n but c e r t a i n f a c t s do stand o u t . There was
widespread massacre, rape and r e g u l a r e x e c u t i o n o f the wounded.
One t h i r d o f a l l Serbian p r i s o n e r s o f war i n B u l g a r i a d i e d
and the 1917 r e v o l t a t XurBumlje l e d t o the b u r n i n g of
v i l l a g e s and 2,000 e x e c u t i o n s . The Archbishop of Skopje was
murdered w i t h the connivance o f a B u l g a r i a n bishop who is
r e p u t e d t o have s a i d : "For f i f t y y e a r s , we w i l l c u t t h r o a t s
93
and burn; then we w i l l pray."
The IMRO l e a d e r , Alexandrov, p e r s o n a l l y r e c e i v e d the I r o n
v 94
Cross from the K a i s e r a t Nis and Protogerov became a member
95
of the Malinov Cabinet i n June 1918. Between i n s p e c t i o n s o f
the c o m i t a d j i s , Alexandrov would h e l p i n the work a t H.Q. or
96
accompany Crown P r i n c e B o r i s on h i s t o u r s of Macedonia. In
view of t h i s , and b e a r i n g i n mind the b r u t a l i t y o f the occup-
90. Reiss, op. c i t . . p. 20. 93» I b i d . . loc. oit.
9 1 . Swire, op. c i t . . p. 135 94. I b i d . , p. 137.
92. I b i d . , pp. 138-39. 95. I b i d . , p. 139.
96. Reiss, op. c i t . . p. 67
 (26 >

a t i o n f o r c e s , i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o do more than g i v e a s t a t e d f a c t
from a source f a v o u r a b l e t o P r i n c e Borisi
"Questions r e l a t i v e t o the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f the
occupied t e r r i t o r i e s or t o the army s u p p l i e s and even
t o the i n t e r n a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f the c o u n t r y o f t e n
c o u l d n o t g e t a s a t i s f a c t o r y s o l u t i o n w i t h o u t the personal
97
i n t e r v e n t i o n o f the P r i n c e . "
These p a r t i c u l a r d e t a i l s show the degree of involvement o f IMRO
i n B u l g a r i a n a f f a i r s i n Macedonia from 1913-18 and the connect-
i o n , however tenuous, between the Macedonian O r g a n i z a t i o n and
Crown P r i n c e B o r i s . This i n t u r n throws a g r e a t deal o f l i g h t
upon events i n the i n t e r - w a r p e r i o d .
I t i s s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t i n any i n t e r - w a r s t u d i e s o f Yugoslav-
B u l g a r i a n r e l a t i o n s , those h i s t o r i a n s and biographers w i t h
bulgarophile tendencies, s t u d i o u s l y i g n o r e the events o f
1914-18. I t i s no e x a g g e r a t i o n t o say t h a t w h i l s t B u l g a r i a n
l o y a l t y , decency, n o b i l i t y and m i s f o r t u n e i s trumpeted t o the
98
s k i e s , h i s t o r y " s t o p s " a t 1913! H.W.V. Temperley has said
t h a t because B u l g a r i a was n o t occupied l i k e Germany and other
enemy c o u n t r i e s and d i d n o t know the t a s t e of o c c u p a t i o n , such
as she meted out on o t h e r s , i t l e d her t o some misapprehension
99
about the r e a l i t y and e n o r m i t y o f her d e f e a t . I t i s from t h i s
s i g n i f i c a n t p o i n t t h a t we may examine the Peace Settlement and
Y u g o s l a v - B u l g a r i a n ' r e l a t i o n s between 1918-41.
97. N i k o l a e v , op. c i t . . p. 128.
98. This i s apparent i n s e v e r a l works r e f e r r e d t o i n t h i s
chapter, n o t a b l y Toshev, Ivanov, Strupp and N i k o l a e v . I t i s a l s o
apparent i n The B u l g a r i a n N a t i o n a l Group, B u l g a r i a and the Balkan
Problems, S o f i a , 1934, and G.Desbons, Bui gar i e apre*s l e traite
de N e u i l l y , P a r i s , 1930. A defence of the B u l g a r i a n p o s i t i o n t
i s g i v e n by the B u l g a r i a n M i n i s t r y o f F o r e i g n A f f a i r s , La v e r i t e
sur l e s accusations contre l a Bulgarie, S o f i a , 1919.
99. H.W.V. Temperley, A H i s t o r y of the Peace Conference o f
P a r i s . London, 1924, V o l . 4, pp. 411-2.
 Chapter 2.

B u l g a r i a and the Peace S e t t l e m e n t

 (28)

"The r e i g n o f B o r i s I I I began i n the p o o r e s t way,

in t r a g i c conditions; a defeated n a t i o n , without f r i e n d s
or s u p p o r t , whose m i s f o r t u n e aroused no p i t y , weakened
and r u i n e d by t h r e e d i s a s t r o u s wars on which i t had
expended much e f f o r t ; a people a t r o c i o u s l y deceived,
c o m p l e t e l y d i s c o u r a g e d , d i v i d e d by p o l i t i c a l a n i m o s i t y ,
a profound d i s o r g a n i z a t i o n i n a l l i t s domestic s e r v i c e s ,
a t o t a l overthrow o f n a t i o n a l l i f e . To draw B u l g a r i a from
the depths t o which she had sunk, t o r e c l i m b t h e s l o p e ,
to r e - e s t a b l i s h o r d e r , t o a l l e v i a t e t h e people's spirit,
to re-animate t h e economic l i f e , were u r g e n t t a s k s . " *
T h i s i s an adequate statement o f t h e s i t u a t i o n i n which
B u l g a r i a found h e r s e l f a f t e r s i g n i n g an a r m i s t i c e w i t h t h e
A l l i e s a t S a l o n i k a on September 29, 1918. Two days before,"
B u l g a r i a n t r o o p s i n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y mood had p r o c l a i m e d a
Republic a t Radomir and, a t t h e moment when t h e a r m i s t i c e was
a c t u a l l y being signed, these mutinous t r o o p s were marching on
S o f i a . King Ferdinand ordered General P r o t o g e r o v , one o f t h e
Supremist l e a d e r s , t o h o l d t h e c a p i t a l a g a i n s t t h e r e b e l s .
With t h e h e l p o f M i l i t a r y College cadets and some German t r o o p s ,
Protogerov succeeded i n d e s t r o y i n g t h r e e t r a i n l o a d s o f
2 3
m u t i n e e r s . By t h i s a c t i o n B u l g a r i a was spared c i v i l war and,
4
on October 4, King Ferdinand a b d i c a t e d and - went t o V i e n n a .

1. N..P. N i k o l a e v , La d e s t i n e e t r a g i que d'un r o i , Uppaala,

1952, p. 39.
2. J . Swire, B u l g a r i a n Conspiracy. London, 1939» p. 140.
3. N i k o l a e v , op. c i t . , p. 135.
4. M. Padev, Escape from t h e Balkans, London, 1943. p. 77;
 (29)

He was succeeded by b i s son. Crown P r i n c e B o r i s . B o r i s ,

t o whom r e f e r e n c e has a l r e a d y been made i n t h e p r e v i o u s
c h a p t e r , i s an i m p o r t a n t , i f n o t t h e most i m p o r t a n t , f i g u r e
i n Yugoslav-Bulgarian r e l a t i o n s during the inter-war years.
H i s r e i g n from 1918-1943 covers t h e e n t i r e p e r i o d under
c o n s i d e r a t i o n and h i s presence and p o l i t i c a l power g i v e a
c o n s i s t e n c y and c o n t i n u i t y t o B u l g a r i a ' s f o r e i g n p o l i c y . I t
i s t h e r e f o r e u s e f u l t o l o o k b r i e f l y a t t h e c h a r a c t e r and
background o f t h i s man who, a t a time o f r e v o l u t i o n and
complete d e f e a t , became King o f B u l g a r i a .

B o r i s was born on January 30, 1894, t h e e l d e s t son i n a

f a m i l y o f f o u r . H i s mother d i e d i n 1899 and he was brought up
by a stepmother, P r i n c e s s Eleonora, who became t h e second
Queen o f B u l g a r i a . Those who knew B o r i s c l a i m t h a t King
Ferdinand induced i n him an almost " d e m o r a l i z i n g f e a r which
5
tormented him? and i t seems t h a t h i s c h i l d h o o d was f a r from
happy. I n 1912, B o r i s came o f age and i n t h e f o l l o w i n g year
he e n t e r e d t h e school o f war. B o r i s p a r t i c i p a t e d b r i e f l y i n
the Second Balkan War and w i t n e s s e d t h e d e f e a t , t h e r e t r e a t
and t h e h u m i l a t i o n o f h i s c o u n t r y , aggravated by an outbreak
of c h o l e r a . This a f f e c t e d him deeply. A t t h e time o f t h e T r e a t y
of Bucharest, t h e r e was d i s c u s s i o n among t h e h i g h e r people
whether King Ferdinand might a b d i c a t e i n f a v o u r o f h i s son.
( c o n t i n u e d from t h e p r e v i o u s page)
Padev s t a t e s t h a t i n the 1915 Buigaro-German T r e a t y o f A l l i a n c e ,
Ferdinand p r u d e n t l y i n s e r t e d a clause e n s u r i n g t h a t " i n case
the war i s l o s t " he would r e c e i v e f o r t h e r e s t o f h i s l i f e an
adequate pension from t h e German s t a t e . Ferdinand d i e d a t Coburg
on September 10, 1948. For a study o f h i s r e i g n , see H.R. Madol,
Ferdinand o f B u l g a r i a , The Dream o f Byzantium, London, 1933.
5. N i k o l a e v , op. c i t . , pp. 13-24. This s e c t i o n o f t h e l i f e o f
King B o r i s i s w r i t t e n by Constant S c h a u f e l b e r g e r , who t a u g h t him
f o r f i v e years.
6. K. Todorov, Balkan F i r e b r a n d , The Autobiography o f a Rebel,
S o l d i e r and Statesman, Chicago, 1943» p« 133.
 (30)

But i t was f e a r e d t h a t i f Ferdinand abdicated i t would mean t h e

end o f t h e r o y a l t y a l t o g e t h e r . For when B o r i s was asked about
t h i s , he commented: "I'm n o t a l l t h a t keen on r u l i n g ; i f t h e
King goes, I s h a l l go w i t h him."^
However, by 1915, B o r i s had changed h i s o p i n i o n . He
regarded the a l l i a n c e w i t h Germany and t h e a t t a c k on S e r b i a
as f u r t h e r imprudence on h i s f a t h e r ' s p a r t and he p r o t e s t e d
a g a i n s t the d e c i s i o n . H i s p r o t e s t evoked s t e r n p a t e r n a l w r a t h
and B o r i s was a c t u a l l y p u t under a r r e s t f o r s e v e r a l days. How-
ever, f o r t h e r e s t o f t h e war B o r i s served i n t h e B u l g a r i a n
army and saw s e r v i c e i n s e v e r a l t h e a t r e s o f a c t i o n i n t h e Balkans.
I t would seem t h e r e f o r e t h a t B o r i s ' p r o t e s t was r a t h e r t i m i d ,
but t h i s o p p o s i t i o n t o h i s f a t h e r ' s p o l i c y was noted by t h e
c a b i n e t s i n London and P a r i s who a s c r i b e d i t t o h i s c r e d i t
when he succeeded h i s f a t h e r i n 1918. As has a l r e a d y been
s t a t e d i n t h e previous chapter, B o r i s was c l o s e l y i n v o l v e d i n
the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h e occupied t e r r i t o r y , i n t h e problems
g
o f army s u p p l i e s and i n t h e i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f h i s own c o u n t r y .
I t was even rumoured t h a t the d i s m i s s a l o f Kadoslavov i n
June 1918 was due t o h i s personal i n t e r v e n t i o n .
As a k i n g , B o r i s made a v e r y f a v o u r a b l e impression on
those he met. He had a g i f t f o r languages - p a r t i c u l a r l y
I t a l i a n and French - and was able t o converse l u c i d l y and
i n t e l l i g e n t l y w i t h f o r e i g n e r s i n s u b j e c t s i n which they had a
personal i n t e r e s t . This ease o f manner and t h e technique he
had i n d e a l i n g w i t h h i s v i s i t o r s i s e s s e n t i a l t o any u n d e r s t a n d -
ing of his character.* For when B u l g a r i a was a f f e c t e d i n t e r n a l l y
or e x t e r n a l l y by any f r e s h development, o p i n i o n abroad exonerated
the King from a l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , seeing him as:
7. N i k o l a e v , op. c i t . , pp. 31-35.
8. I b i d . , p. 37. 9. I b i d . , p. 128
10. I b i d . , p. 215. Radoslavov was B u l g a r i a n Prime M i n i s t e r
from J u l y 5, 1913 t i l l June 20, 1918.
11. I b i d . , pp. 26-32
 (44)

0
the B u l g a r i a n m i n o r i t y " * * ( a minority estimated a t 800,000
and i n c l u d i n g a l l Macedonian S l a v s whether B u l g a r i a n o r not)***
62
and a p o l i c y o f t o t a l " s e r b i a n i z a t i o n " throughout Macedonia.
Within t h e s e b l a n k e t terms, t h e Y u g o s l a v s were a c c u s e d o f
d e l i b e r a t e l y d e p r i v i n g these Bulgarians of t h e i r educational
and r e l i g i o u s i n s t i t u t i o n s and o f c o n s t a n t p o l i t i c a l and
economic p e r s e c u t i o n . B u l g a r i a n t e a c h e r s and p r i e s t s were
a r r e s t e d , d e p o r t e d o r e x p e l l e d and c h i l d r e n a t t e n d e d Serb schools
i n s t e a d . No B u l g a r i a n books o r p e r i o d i c a l s were a l l o w e d and a l l
Bulgarian s c i e n t i f i c , academic and u n i v e r s i t y p u b l i c a t i o n s
s e n t t o t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S k o p j e were r e t u r n e d . Those w i t h
t h e i r names ending i n " o f f " were o b l i g e d t o change them t o t h e
S e r b i a n " i c " and B u l g a r i a was n o t a l l o w e d to provide f o r the
upkeep o f h e r war c e m e t r i e s i n Macedonia. I n fact these
c o m p l a i n t s were u n j u s t i f i e d i n t h e s e n s e that the region of
Macedonia i n c l u d e d i n t h e Y u g o s l a v Kingdom was under B u l g a r i a n
c o n t r o l o n l y from 1915-18 and t h e changes made a f t e r t h e war
were s i m p l y d e s i g n e d t o r e s t o r e t h e s t a t u s quo w h i c h had e x i s t e d
before t h e B u l g a r i a n c o n q u e s t and o c c u p a t i o n . .
All t h e s e developments were r e g a r d e d by B u l g a r i a a s
"legitimate grievances". Accusations of t e r r o r were made and
the S o f i a government announced t h a t t h e g r e a t e r number o f
r e f u g e e s who had f l e d from n e i g h b o u r i n g c o u n t r i e s were now
" o v e r c r o w d i n g t h e l i m i t e d m o t h e r l a n d and c r e a t i n g a s p i r i t o f
64
d i s a i i s f a c t i o n among t h e whole B u l g a r i a n p e o p l e . "
Among t h e m a l c o n t e n t s were t o be found t h e 1,662 w a r - c r i m i n a l s
whose e x t r a d i t i o n Y u g o s l a v i a had demanded b e f o r e the Conference
60. I b i d . , pp. 78-80 and 93-94.
61. B u l g a r i a n N a t i o n a l Group, op. c i t . , p. 24.
62. I b i d . , pp. 3 5 - 6 .
63. Ibid., l o c . c i t . and Toshev, op. c i t . , l o c . c i t . F o r a
c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e o r i g i n s and q u a n t i t y o f r e f u g e e s s e e
Appendix B. 64. C h r i s t o w e , op. c i t . . p. 145 and
B u l g a r i a n N a t i o n a l Group, op. c i t . , p. 36.
 (45)

of Ambassadors. The Y u g o s l a v demand v a s based upon A r t i c l e

118 of the T r e a t y of N e u i l l y :
"The B u l g a r i a n government r e c o g n i z e s the r i g h t of
the A l l i e d and A s s o c i a t e powers to b r i n g b e f o r e military
t r i b u n a l s p e r s o n s a c c u s e d of h a v i n g committed a c t s of
v i o l a t i o n of the l a v s and customs of war. Such p e r s o n s shall,
if found g u i l t y , be s e n t e n c e d to punishments l a i d down
by law The B u l g a r i a n government s h a l l hand o v e r
to the A l l i e d and A s s o c i a t e powers or to s u c h of them a s
shall so r e q u e s t , a l l p e r s o n s a c c u s e d of h a v i n g committed
an a c t i n v i o l a t i o n of the l a w s and customs of war, who
are s p e c i f i e d e i t h e r by name, or by rank, o f f i c e or
employment w h i c h t h e y h e l d under the B u l g a r i a n a u t h o r -
1 , 6 5
ities.
Among the 1,662 whose e x t r a d i t i o n was demanded, were Alexandrov
and F r o t o g e r o v , both of whom were h e l d r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a s e r i e s
of massacres and e x e c u t i o n s i n the Old S e r b i a and Morava
d i s t r i c t s under B u l g a r i a n o c c u p a t i o n . ^ B o t h A l e x a n d r o v and
P r o t o g e r o v were a r r e s t e d i n November 1919 and were imprisoned
for a s h o r t w h i l e . However, none of the 1,662 was e v e r brought-
to trial and both A l e x a n d r o v and P r o t o g e r o v were h e l p e d to
67
escape.
I n March 1920, Alexandrov r e v i v e d the I n t e r n a l Macedonian
B e v o l u t i o n a r y O r g a n i z a t i o n (IMRO) a s "an answer to the P a r i s
68
crime" and P r o t o g e r o v s p r e a d propaganda i n S o f i a , f i n d i n g
s u p p o r t among the many d i s p o s s e s s e d o f f i c i a l s who had worked
69
i n Macedonia d u r i n g the o c c u p a t i o n . Another dangerous s o u r c e
of s e d i t i o n were the thousands of young and a m b i t i o u s army
o f f i c e r s , now d e p r i v e d of t h e i r p r o f e s s i o n and s t a t u s , who
65. R e i s s , op. c i t . . pp. 40-41.
66. I b i d . , pp. 41-45
67. S w i r e , op. c i t . . pp. 145-46.
68. C h r i s t o v e , op. c i t . . p. 129.
69. S w i r e , op. c i t . . p. 144.
 (46)

deeply r e s e n t e d t h e peace t r e a t y and opposed t h e s l i g h t e s t

s i g n of a c o n c i l i a t o r y a t t i t u d e towards Y u g o s l a v i a , ^ The
r e v i v a l o f IMBO a t t r a c t e d many o f t h o s e vho were l i s t e d a s
7
w a r - c r i m i n a l s by Y u g o s l a v i a , * and t h e r a n k s o f t h e p o s t - w a r
c o m i t a d j i s were s w e l l e d by those who were g u i l t y o f o f f e n c e s
72
i n Y u g o s l a v i a and f l e d t o B u l g a r i a r a t h e r than f a c e trial.
The r e v i v e d and renewed Macedonian O r g a n i z a t i o n made i t s
aims q u i t e c l e a r t "IMBO would f i g h t f o r t h e n a t i o n a l r i g h t s
of B u l g a r i a n s w h i c h t h e i r army had f a i l e d t o - l i b e r a t e on t h e
7 3
battlefield."
The r e a c t i o n o f B u l g a r i a t o t h e peace t r e a t y o f N e u i l l y
and t h e r e v i v a l o f one of t h e most p o t e n t sources of discord
between t h e two n a t i o n s , c o u l d o n l y cause d i s q u i e t i n B e l g r a d e .
The manner o f t h e B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n a t P e r i s , t h e renewed
f l o o d of propaganda i n f a v o u r o f Macedonian a n n e x a t i o n o r
independence and t h e v i s i b l e r e l u c t a n c e o f t h e B u l g a r i a n
government t o hand over t h o s e who were known w a r - c r i m i n a l s
engendered grave d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n i n Yugoslav l e a d e r s , who
saw t h e s e developments a s a t h r e a t t o t h e f u t u r e w e l l - b e i n g
of Y u g o s l a v i a . A r c h b i s h o p S t e f a n o f S o f i a i s s u e d a w a r n i n g !
" L e t i t n o t be f o r g o t t e n t h a t w i t h o u t B u l g a r i a , Balkan peace
74
i s absolutely impossible I" And H.G. A l s b e r g , a t t e n d i n g a
meeting o f A g r a r i a n l e a d e r s i n B u l g a r i a r e p o r t e d i
"Unanimously I was a s s u r e d t h a t i f T h r a c e and
70. Todorov, op. c i t . , p. 136 and C h r i s t o w e , op. c i t . . p. 155.
71. R e i s s , op. c i t , l o c . c i t .
72. Ibid.. pp. 49-66. Dr. R e i s s g i v e s a long and comprehensive
t a b l e of s t a t i s t i c s r e l a t i n g t o those who d e p a r t e d from t h e
Kratovo d i s t r i c t between 1918-1922. Of t h e 157 vho went t o
B u l g a r i a , he r e c o r d e d t h a t 83 went a s d e s e r t e r s , 23 were wanted
f o r murder, 3 f o r brigandage, 17 f o r h a r b o u r i n g c r i m i n a l s and
the r e s t were e i t h e r minor o f f e n d e r s o r l e f t from p e r s o n a l chiice,
73o C h r i s t o w e , op. c i t . , p. 155.
74. B u l g a r i a n N a t i o n a l Group, op. c i t . . p. 11.
 (47)

the Aegean c o a s t were t a k e n away from B u l g a r i a and

t h e r e v e r e no f e d e r a t i o n , t h e n a n o t h e r B a l k a n War vas
7 5
inevitable."
The s u c c e s s o r s t a t e s v e r e a c u t e l y a v a r e of the danger of
r e v i s i o n i s m l e a d i n g to v a r and i t i s significant t h a t between
1920-22, the f o u n d a t i o n t r e a t i e s of the L i t t l e E n t e n t e v e r e
laid.
A l a t e r v r i t e r has o b s e r v e d thati
"when B e l g r a d e and S o f i a a r e o n l y l i n k e d together
by s u s p i c i o n , no d i p l o m a t i c e f f o r t f o r the pacification
of the B a l k a n s can s u c c e e d , f o r the South S l a v s form the
m a j o r i t y of the p o p u l a t i o n and the t e r r i t o r i e s t h e y occupy
are, s t r a t e g i c a l l y , the most i m p o r t a n t . The axis,
B e l g r a d e - S o f i a , i s a genuine a x i s a l o n g w h i c h the
7 7
d e s t i n y of the B a l k a n s revolves."
S t a m b o l i s k i , the A g r a r i a n l e a d e r and Prime M i n i s t e r from
October 1919t v a s p r o b a b l y one of the few B u l g a r i a n l e a d e r s to
see the need f o r an immediate and l a s t i n g u n d e r s t a n d i n g vith
Y u g o s l a v i a . D e s p i t e $he m i s f o r t u n e s of the B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n
a t P a r i s , he c o n t i n u e d to urge the n e c e s s i t y tpr co-operation'
78
and u n i t y . Speaking on November 27, a f t e r s i g n i n g the T r e a t y '
of N e u i l l y , he saidi
" I have s i g n e d the t r e a t y but I b e l i e v e t h a t sooner
or l a t e r i t v i l l be r e v i s e d . My p o l i c y aims a t peace and
the brotherhood of a l l p e o p l e s . We i n t e n d to l i v e up to
our o b l i g a t i o n s , but ve s h a l l n o t c e a s e a p p e a l i n g to the
79
c o n s c i e n c e of the w o r l d f o r j u s t i c e to d e f e a t e d Bulgaria."
75. A l s b e r g , op. cit.. p. 464.
76. See below, c h a p t e r 3, p. 63. A l s o , N.J. P a d e l f o r d , Peace
i n the B a l k a n s . The Movement towards I n t e r n a t i o n a l O r g a n i z a t i o n i n
the B a l k a n s , New "York, 1935, pp. 180-5. 77. Padev, op. c i t . p. 69.
7?. L . S . S t a v r i a n o s , B a l k a n F e d e r a t i o n . The Moveznnent towards
B a l k a n U n i t y i n Modern Times. Northampton, Mass., 1944, p. 210.
79. Todorov, op. cit.. p. 123.
 (48)

On the n e x t day, w i t h the h e l p of Todorov, he d r a f t e d

l e t t e r s t o the Prime M i n i s t e r s of the t h r e e i m p o r t a n t Balkan
powers: the Kingdom of S e r b s , C r o a t s and S l o v e n e s , G r e e c e and
Rumania, p r o p o s i n g t h a t the p a s t be f o r g o t t e n and t h a t a l l
B a l k a n governments s h o u l d c o l l a b o r a t e f o r the common s e c u r i t y
and the economic w e l f a r e o f the B a l k a n s .
80
"Not one of them answered."
80. I b i d . , loCjCit.
 (49)

C h a p t e r 3.

The I n f l u e n c e o f Italy
 (50)

But the B u l g a r i a n Prime M i n i s t e r was not a man to g i v e

up so e a s i l y . Born i n the s m a l l v i l l a g e of S l a v o v i t s a on
March 25, 1879, A l e x a n d e r S t a m b o l i s k i was a determined and
vigorous peasant l e a d e r . H i s bold o p p o s i t i o n to K i n g Ferdinand
- both f o r h i s a b s o l u t i s t r u l e as w e l l as h i s c a t a s t r o p h i c
f o r e i g n p o l i c y - brought him the l e a d e r s h i p of the Agrarian
p a r t y and a p e r i o d of imprisonment from 1915-18. W h i l s t i n
p r i s o n , he drew up h i s post-war p o l i t i c a l programme, the
" P r i n c i p l e s of the B u l g a r i a n A g r a r i a n N a t i o n a l Union", A r t i c l e
7 ran:
"The A g r a r i a n Union f a v o u r s d u r a b l e and peaceful
r e l a t i o n s between B u l g a r i a and her n e i g h b o u r s I t seeks
to s t r e n g t h e n t h e s e good r e l a t i o n s by u n i t i n g B u l g a r i a w i t h
the o t h e r B a l k a n s t a t e s on a f e d e r a t i v e b a s i s . " *
The p r i n c i p l e was l a t e r modified to read:
"The p a r t y s e e k s to m a i n t a i n friendly relations
w i t h a l l o t h e r n a t i o n s and to work f o r a c l o s e r a p p r o c h e -
ment w i t h a l l our small neighbouring s t a t e s on a f e d e r a l
2
basis."
A l t h o u g h S t a m b o l i s k i never denied the B u l g a r i a n n a t i o n a l i t y of
the Macedonians and although he n e v e r h i d h i s a n t i p a t h y towards
the e x t r e m i s t S e r b i a n e l e m e n t s i n Y u g o s l a v i a , he argued publicly
t h a t o n l y through f r i e n d l y r e l a t i o n s w i t h h e r S l a v n e i g h b o u r ,

1. L . S . S t a v r i a n o s , B a l k a n F e d e r a t i o n . A H i s t o r y of the
Movement towards B a l k a n U n i t y i n Modern Times, Northampton,
Mass., 1944, p. 209. 2. T . I . Geshkoff, Balkan Union.
A Boad to Peace i n S o u t h - E a s t e r n Europe, New York, 1940, p. 55.
From P a r a g r a p h 28,of the N a t i o n a l P e a s a n t P a r t y Programme.
 1 (51)

could the Macedonian q u e s t i o n be s e t t l e d . I n innumerable

speeches, S t a m b o l i s k i urged rapprochement w i t h S e r b i a and t h e
u n i f i c a t i o n o f a l l S l a v s i n the p e n i n s u l a i n t o one g r e a t feder-
a t e d s t a t e . T h i s would be the f i r s t step to a Balkan Federation.
And t h i s Balkan F e d e r a t i o n would i n t u r n be t h e f i r s t step to
uniting a l l Agrarian nations into a vast supra-national Green
I n t e r n a t i o n a l . ^ I n t h i s m a t t e r , S t a m b o l i s k i had g r e a t confidence
in the C r o a t s . He b e l i e v e d t h a t i f t h e A g r a r i a n - m i n d e d Croatian
Peasant P a r t y , l e d by Stephen Radio*, came t o power, then there
was an immediate p r o s p e c t of c l o s e r e l a t i o n s between the two
4
countries. Writing to Obov, one o f h i s m i n i s t e r s , he s t a t e d
t h a t he hoped t o s e e "an i n t e g r a l , d e m o c r a t i c and p a c i f i c
5
Yugoslavia, extending from Mount ' f r i g l a v t o t h e B l a c k S e a " .
S t a m b o l i s k i d i d n o t i m m e d i a t e l y become Prime M i n i s t e r .
Following h i s proclamation of a r e p u b l i c a t Radomir, orders
were i s s u e d f o r h i s a r r e s t b u t , s h o r t l y a f t e r w a r d s , a general
amnesty was granted, and S t a m b o l i s k i , who i n t h e meantime had
been i n h i d i n g , e v e n t u a l l y became a m i n i s t e r i n t h e r e c o n s t r u c t -
ed Cabinet.** T h i s c o a l i t i o n government, l e d by Todorov - a
c l o s e f r i e n d o f t h e pre-war P r e m i e r G u e s h o f f - l a s t e d from
November 1918 u n t i l t h e e l e c t i o n s o f August 17i 1919. The
e l e c t i o n s produced no c l e a r - c u t m a j o r i t y ^ and t h e Prime M i n i s t e r ,
who n o t o n l y d i s a p p r o v e d of t h e terms o f t h e Peace T r e a t y , but
3. S t a v r i a n o s , op. c i t . . l o c . c i t .
4. N. Buxton, "The B a l k a n s Today", N i n e t e e n t h C e n t u r y , XC,
(August 1 9 2 1 ) , pp. 333-5. 5. J . S w i r e , Bulgarian Conspiracy,
London, 1939, p. 142. Mount T r i g l a v i s i n S l o v e n i a . 6. May 1919.
7. J . Buchan ( E d ) , B u l g a r i a and Roumania; The N a t i o n s o f
e
Today S e r i e s . London, 1924, g i v e s t h figures:
Agrarians 86 (198,444 v o t e s ) Nationalists 19 (54,556)
Communists 47 (118,671 " ) Oanevists 8 (36,$66)
S o c i a l Democrats 38 (82,826 " ) Radicals 8 (33,343)
Democrats 28 ( 65,267 " ) Radoslavovists 3 (42,^4)
Others - (8,462 v o t e s ) .
 (52)

found t h a t h i s c o n s t i t u e n c y was no l o n g e r part of B u l g a r i a ,

r e s i g n e d , S t a m b o l i s k i v a s chosen a s h i s s u c c e s s o r and formed
his first c a b i n e t on October 6.
In h i s e a r l y months o f o f f i c e , S t a m b o l i s k i f a c e d t h e o v e r -
whelming e f f e c t s o f B u l g a r i a ' s d e f e a t ; t h e l o s s o f h e r r i c h e s t
agricultural a r e a i n the Dobrudja, t h e heavy burden o f r e p a r a t -
Q
i o n s and an u n p r e c e d e n t e d r i s e i n the c o s t of l i v i n g . This
all l e d t o g r e a t d i s c o n t e n t . A two-month r a i l strike began
at t h e end o f December 1919 and l a s t e d u n t i l the s t r i k e r s '
funds were e x h a u s t e d . I n the meantime, S t a m b o l i s k i armed t h e
peasants and endeavoured t o r u n t h e r a i l w a y s w i t h the a i d o f
t r o o p s . When he had s u c c e e d e d i n b r e a k i n g t h e s t r i k e , he
ordered f r e s h e l e c t i o n s t o be h e l d on March 28, 1920, hoping
t h a t t h i s would s e c u r e a m a j o r i t y f o r the A g r a r i a n party i n
the S o b r a n j e . D e s p i t e i n t i m i d a t i o n , h i s party obtained only
Q

38% o f the v o t e s . Stamboliski refused to accept the e l e c t o r a l

d e c i s i o n as binding and p r o c e e d e d t o i n v a l i d a t e enough Oppos-
i t i o n mandates t o s e c u r e a m a j o r i t y o f two i n t h e S o b r a n j e .
T h i s a c t i o n , w h i c h was by no means uncommon i n t h e B a l k a n s ,
aroused such indignation, that the I n t e r - A l l i e d Control
Commission i n S o f i a t h r e a t e n e d Yugoslav m i l i t a r y i n t e r v e n t i o n .
S t a m b o l i s k i ' 8 opponents, d r e a d i n g any f u r t h e r r e d u c t i o n i n
t h e i r country's s i z e and independence, gave way.
A f t e r t h e 1920 e l e c t i o n s , K o s t a Todorov was a p p o i n t e d
Under-Secretary of Foreign A f f a i r s . Stamboliski himself held
the post o f F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r but Todorov was a b l e t o r u n
8. Buchan, pp. c i t . . p. 152. Taking 100 a s an i n d e x - f i g u r e
for 1914, t h e index had r i s e n t o 1754 by 1919 and r e a c h e d 2577
by J a n u a r y 1920.
9. I b i d . . p. 153. R e s u l t s g i v e n as:
Agrarians 346,949 v o t e s R a d o s l a v o v i s t s 57,096 votes
Communists 181, 525 v o t e s S o c i a l Democrats 55,017 "
Democrats 97,581 " Danevists 52,722 "
Nationalists 60,992 " R a d i c a l s 41,770 "
 (53)

B u l g a r i a ' s f o r e i g n o f f i c e w i t h o u t much i n t e r f e r e n c e . The

conduct of the e l e c t i o n s had a l r e a d y caused friction with
the A l l i e s and Todorov a l s o e n c o u n t e r e d great difficulties!
" I n my new p o s i t i o n , I understood f o r the first
time the i m p l i c a t i o n s of B u l g a r i a ' s d e f e a t . S e v e r a l
governments had re-opened t h e i r l e g a t i o n s i n S o f i a ,
others s t i l l had temporary m i s s i o n s t h e r e . Almost
e v e r y day, A l l i e d diplomats came to me with impossible
demands, u s u a l l y p r e s e n t e d a s u l t i m a t u m s . They i n t e r f e r e d
s c a n d a l o u s l y w i t h i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s and intervened on
b e h a l f of B u l g a r i a n s u b j e c t s engaged w i t h them i n
contraband t r a d e and s p e c u l a t i o n . The army of occupation
behaved w i t h the utmost decorum but the d i p l o m a t i c
representatives acted l i k e proconsuls When t h e y
a p p l i e d p r e s s u r e , I reminded them t h a t a l t h o u g h B u l g a r i a
had s i g n e d s e v e r e peace t e r m B , i t had not g r a n t e d the
Allies extra-territorial rights."
I n t h i s unfortunate p r e d i c a m e n t , S t a m b o l i s k i ' s government
sought to e s t a b l i s h b e t t e r r e l a t i o n s w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a and with
the r e s t of E u r o p e . Other powers, e x p e c t i n g t h a t t h e i r exper-
i e n c e s would t u r n them a g a i n s t Y u g o s l a v i a , hoped to profit
by the s i t u a t i o n . I n June 1920, Baron A l i o t t i , the Italian
envoy, c a l l e d on Todorov f o r a c o n f i d e n t i a l t a l k . He began
by e x p l a i n i n g t h a t I t a l y f e l t d i s s a t i s f i e d w i t h the Kingdom
of S e r b s , C r o a t s and S l o v e n e s and w i t h a l l the special
f a v o u r s t h a t B r i t a i n , F r a n c e and the U n i t e d S t a t e s were g r a n t -
i n g to the S e r b s . He spoke a t l e n g t h on I t a l y ' s r i g h t to
D a i m a t i a and s t a t e d t h a t B u l g a r i a n and Italian interests now
c o i n c i d e d . The I t a l i a n government, he s a i d , recognized
B u l g a r i a ' s c l a i m to Macedonia. Todorov e x p r e s s e d h i s s u r p r i s e
a t t h i s remark and p o i n t e d out t h a t a t the Peace Conference,
I t a l y had agreed to B u l g a r i a l o s i n g not o n l y Macedonia but also

10. K. Todorov, B a l k a n F i r e b r a n d . The A u t o b i o g r a p h y of a

R e b e l , S o l d i e r and Stateman, Chicago, 1943, p. 135.
 (54)

Thrace and the D o b r u d j a . Todorov r e p o r t e d A l i o t t i ' s r e p l y :

" I t a l y vaa i n no p o s i t i o n to r e s i s t the w i l l of
Clemenceau. But now we must look ahead. An understanding
between I t a l y and B u l g a r i a would s e r v e the i n t e r e s t s of
both".
Todorov asked, "What do you suggest?"
The Baron r o s e . " I n the name of my government", he
intoned, " I propose a s e c r e t m i l i t a r y a l l i a n c e f o r t h e
purpose of r e t u r n i n g to I t a l y the A d r i a t i c provinces
w h i c h a r e h i s t o r i c a l l y h e r s and f o r the r e t u r n of
Macedonia to B u l g a r i a . " * *
Todorov s e n t A l i o t t i to see S t a m b o l i s k i . He knew t h a t Baron
Aliotti's p r o p o s a l was repugnant to e v e r y t h i n g i n w h i c h
S t a m b o l i s k i b e l i e v e d but d i p l o m a t i c c o u r t e s y n e c e s s i t a t e d a
m e e t i n g . Todorov o b s e r v e d that:
"the P e a s a n t l e a d e r had a c l e a r l y defined foreign
policy, the k e y s t o n e of w h i c h was the c l o s e s t p o s s i b l e
understanding w i t h the Kingdom of S e r b s , C r o a t s and Slov-
enes, w i t h a v i e w to u l t i m a t e B a l k a n solidarity. His
aim was a Yugoslav-Bulgarian union w i t h i n a f r e e Balkan
federation."*^
It i s noteworthy t h a t Baron A l i o t t i ' s proposal came
two y e a r s before M u s s o l i n i assumed power. Twice more, the
prospect of an I t a l o - B u l g a r i a n a l l i a n c e a g a i n s t Y u g o s l a v i a
was r a i s e d , once by Count A l d r o v a n d i , Aliotti's successor,
and a g a i n a t the 1922 Genoa C o n f e r e n c e . On e a c h occasion,
S t a m b o l i s k i r e j e c t e d i t . * ' A few y e a r s l a t e r , Todorov met
Signor N i t t i , the I t a l i a n Prime M i n i s t e r a t t h i s time, who
had l e f t h i s country a f t e r M u s s o l i n i ' s March on Rome, and.
asked him whether Baron A l i o t t i ' s p r o p o s a l had represented
the w i s h e s of h i s government. S i g n o r N i t t i t o l d him that

11. I b i d . . pp. 137-38. 12. Ibid., loc. c i t .

13. K. Todorov, "The Macedonian O r g a n i z a t i o n , Yesterday
and Today."Foreign A f f a i r s . V I , ( A p r i l 1 9 2 8 ) , pp. 478-82.
 (55)

"for y e a r s , a permanent c l i q u e i n s i d e the I t a l i a n F o r e i g n

O f f i c e had been p u r s u i n g i t s o b j e c t i v e s w i t h l i t t l e regard
14
to government p o l i c y . "
I n October 1920, f o l l o w i n g h i s work a t the F o r e i g n O f f i c e ,
Todorov was appointed as B u l g a r i a n M i n i s t e r i n B e l g r a d e . The
appointment was i n keeping with Stamboliski's desire for a
closer Yugoslav-Bulgarian understanding and Todorov's instruct-
i o n s were " t o work p e r s i s t e n t l y f o r good r e l a t i o n s between t h e
15
two countries." H i s m i s s i o n r e q u i r e d g r e a t t a c t and diplomacy
for although V e s n i c " and Trumbic, Y u g o s l a v i a ' s Prime and Foreign
M i n i s t e r s , r e c e i v e d him cordially, the P r e s s was extremely
hostile and the s t o r i e s of wartime a t r o c i t i e s once more
filled t h e i r columns. S h o r t l y a f t e r h i s a r r i v a l , Y u g o s l a v i a
o f f i c i a l l y r a t i f i e d the T r e a t y of N e u i l l y and Todorov was in
the S k u p s t i n a to o b s e r v e the r a t i f i c a t i o n . One of the Yugoslav
d e p u t i e s , Toma P o p o v i c , whose c o n s t i t u e n c y had been occupied
by B u l g a r i a d u r i n g the war, turned to the d i p l o m a t i c gallery
and shoutedx
"The presence of a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the people
who were m u r d e r i n g S e r b i a n c i t i z e n s a s h o r t time ago
i s an i n s u l t to t h i s House. I t h i n k he s h o u l d be shot
down i n the street."***
A l t h o u g h V e s n i c promptly disavowed the s p e a k e r and apologized
for the i n s u l t to B u l g a r i a , i t was t h i s a t t i t u d e which was,
w i t h some j u s t i f i c a t i o n , p r e v a l e n t i n Y u g o s l a v i a and with
which S t a m b o l i s k i ' s new-policy had to contend. As Todorov said
later, "working w i t h our B a l k a n n e i g h b o u r s f o r a l a s t i n g
17
peace or even a temporary one, was an u p h i l l s t r u g g l e . "
I n December 1920, S t a m b o l i s k i v i s i t e d Rome, P a r i s and
14. K. Todorov, B a l k a n F i r e b r a n d , op. c i t . . p. 138. N i t t i
r e s i g n e d the I t a l i a n P r e m i e r s h i p f o r the t h i r d time on June
6, 1920. 15., I b i d . , p. 140.
16. I b i d . , loc. c i t . 17. Ibid., p. 143.
 (56)

London " t o break the i c e hemming i n B u l g a r i a " . H i s v i s i t put

an end to B u l g a r i a ' s i s o l a t i o n and i t was n o t i c e a b l e t h a t the
p o l i c y of the A g r a r i a n government was thereafter in line with
the Western d e m o c r a c i e s . I n P a r i s , S t a m b o l i s k i had conversations
w i t h F r e n c h l e a d e r s and proposed t h a t B u l g a r i a e n t e r the League
18
of N a t i o n s i n the autumn of 1921. I n t h i s s p i r i t , he travelled
to Prague and summoned the B u l g a r i a n envoys i n Belgrade,
B e r l i n , V i e n n a and Budapest.He t o l d them t h a t two of them, the
e n v o y B i n B e r l i n and Budapest, had expressed anti-Allied and
p r o - r e v i s i o n i s t views d u r i n g h i s v i s i t to the West and dismissed
19
the p a i r on the s p o t . W h i l s t he was i n Prague, Masaryk
gave a d i n n e r i n h i s honour a t the Hradcany C a s t l e . I n the
c o u r s e of the meal, Masaryk a d v i s e d him to r e a c h an understand-
ing w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a and promised t h a t h i s c o u n t r y would use i t s
20
i n f l u e n c e i n Belgrade to h e l p B u l g a r i a ' s c a s e . His advice
was endorsed by Benes.Upon h i s r e t u r n to S o f i a , Stamboliski
declared!
"We'll break down B e l g r a d e ' s h o s t i l i t y by d e m o n s t r a t -
ing our good f a i t h . The c o u r s e of e v e n t s w i l l show the
Yugoslavs t h a t my p o l i c y i s not o n l y u s e f u l to them
21
but a v i t a l n e c e s s i t y . "
In the meantime, t h e r e had been a major p o l i t i c a l upheaval
i n Y u g o s l a v i a . The e l e c t i o n s f o r a C o n s t i t u e n t Assembly v e r e
h e l d on November 28, 1920 and r e s u l t e d i n a v i d e v a r i e t y of
s p l i n t e r p a r t i e s , r e p r e s e n t i n g the many d i s p a r a t e e l e m e n t s i n
22
the Kingdom. The R a d i c a l s and the Democrats, v i t h the help
of the Moslems and eight deputies from the s m a l l e r p a r t i e s ,
18. B u l g a r i a j o i n e d the League i n September 1921.
19. Todorov, op. c i t . . p. 142. 20. I b i d . , l o c . c i t .
Democrats 92 Slovene People's P a r t y 27
21. 1 b i d . , p. 145.
R a d i c a l s 91 Moslems 32
22. ilie r e s u l t s were: . C r o a t i a n P e a s a n t s 50
Communists 58 O t h e r s 69
 (57)

succeeded i n o b t a i n i n g a m a j o r i t y i n the S k u p s t i n a . Faced w i t h

the p r o s p e c t o f t h i s new Assembly and t h e i n e v i t a b l e problems
of a c o a l i t i o n government, V e s n i c r e s i g n e d . H i s p l a c e was t a k e n
by t h e p a t r i a r c h of S e r b i a n p o l i t i c s , N i c h o l a s P a s i c , now i n
h i s s e v e n t y - s i x t h y e a r , w i t h o u t doubt t h e n a t i o n ' s g r e a t e s t
and most a b l e s t a t e s m a n and d i p l o m a t . With c o n s i d e r a b l e o s c i l l -
a t i o n s i n p o p u l a r i t y , s u r v i v a l s a f t e r numerous p a r l i a m e n t a r y
d e f e a t s and a s e r i e s of C a b i n e t c r i s e s , P a s i c was t o remain
Prime M i n i s t e r o f Y u g o s l a v i a u n t i l J u l y 1924.

P a s i c was a keen, p r a c t i c a l man of few words who had had

c l o s e r e l a t i o n s w i t h B u l g a r i a i n the p a s t . I n 1883, he had
f l e d S e r b i a and worked i n t h e B u l g a r i a n M i n i s t r y o f P u b l i c
Works d u r i n g h i s e x i l e . He had a d v o c a t e d a c l o s e f r i e n d s h i p
between S e r b i a and B u l g a r i a and had v i g o r o u s l y opposed t h e
1885 war. L a t e r , he s i g n e d t h e 1912 S e r b o - B u l g a r i a n t r e a t y ,
v *
c r e a t i n g t h e Second B a l k a n League. When P a s i c r e t u r n e d from
P a r i s t o be Prime M i n i s t e r a g a i n , he met Todorov and t h e y
discussed future Yugoslav-Bulgarian relations. Pasic saidi
" a l l my enemies a t t a c k me f o r i t . I haven't
changed much i n t h a t r e s p e c t ; but i t i s s t i l l too soon
23
f o r c l o s e r r e l a t i o n s . We must be p a t i e n t . "
A l t h o u g h P a s i c appeared t o be r e a s o n a b l e and w e l l - d i s p o s e d
towards S t a m b o l i s k i ' s p o l i c y , Todorov d e t e c t e d an undertone o f
stubbornness. Was t h i s a t t i t u d e r e f l e c t e d by t h e younger
generation? I n an a u d i e n c e with Prince Alexander s h o r t l y
before King P e t e r ' s death, Todorov s o l i c i t e d t h e R e g e n t ' s views
on Y u g o s l a v - B u l g a r i a n c o l l a b o r a t i o n . He r e c o r d s t h a t A l e x a n d e r
a s k e d him:
"What does P a s i c t h i n k ? "
I n r e p l y t o my d e s c r i p t i o n , he s a i d , " P a s i c h a s done
a great deal f o r the country but he i s an o l d man now."
I detected a note o f i r r i t a t i o n . When we p a r t e d , Alexander

23.s a iTodorov,
d , "You may
op. count
c i t . , upon my h e l p i n your m i s s i o n . And I'm
p. 144.
 (58)
24
not s a y i n g t h i s out o f mere d i p l o m a t i c p o l i t e n e s s . "
T h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n between t h e P r i n c e Regent and Todorov was
the b e g i n n i n g of a c l o s e f r i e n d s h i p w h i c h l a s t e d l o n g after
Todorov's e x i l e from B u l g a r i a and c o n t i n u e d r i g h t up t o t h e
time o f K i n g A l e x a n d e r ' s death i n 1934.
Unfortunately, t h i s p o l i c y of r e c o n c i l i a t i o n and r a p p r o c h e -
ment propounded by S t a m b o l i s k i and Todorov, d i d n o t r e p r e s e n t
the v i e w s of t h e whole B u l g a r i a n p o p u l a t i o n . Indeed, there
was a l r e a d y a s i z e a b l e o p p o s i t i o n d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t them. The
e f f o r t s of the Agrarian l e a d e r s to c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h Yugoslavia
were l a b e l l e d as " t r e a s o n a b l e " by a l l O p p o s i t i o n parties,;and
right-wing c r i t i c s accused t h e government of s a c r i f i c i n g t h e
national i n t e r e s t and even c l a i m e d t h a t t h e y would destroy
the p o l i t i c a l independence o f t h e B u l g a r i a n - n a t i o n i n t h e i r
25
d e s i r e f o r t h e u l t i m a t e u n i o n o f t h e two c o u n t r i e s . I n this,
the r i g h t - w i n g , c r i t i c s found t h a t they had t h e s u p p o r t o f
K i n g B o r i s who had genuine f e a r s f o r t h e f u t u r e of his. d y n a s t y
and a c t i v e l y opposed a n y t h i n g w h i c h might d e t r a c t from h i s
own o r h i s c o u n t r y ' s sovreignty.^
All t h i s o p p o s i t i o n was encouraged by t h e I t a l i a n Foreign
O f f i c e . From t h e day t h a t S t a m b o l i s k i t u r n e d down Baron
A l i o t t i ' s o f f e r of a s e c r e t m i l i t a r y a l l i a n c e a g a i n s t Y u g o s l a v i a ,
the I t a l i a n s s e t o u t t o d e s t r o y him. T h e i r P r e s s c o n s t a n t l y
accused him o f a c c e p t i n g b r i b e s from t h e S e r b s a n d p r a i s e d the
Macedonian R e v o l u t i o n a r y O r g a n i z a t i o n a s being the r e a l
27
Bulgarian p a t r i o t s . The I t a l i a n s made a g r e a t c o n t r i b u t i o n
to t h e s u c c e s s o f IMRO. They r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e O r g a n i z a t i o n
would provoke a n i m o s i t y between Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a and
t h a t t h i s would undermine t h e k e y s t o n e of S t a m b o l i s k i ' s
f o r e i g n p o l i c y . A t t h e same time, t h e O r g a n i z a t i o n c o u l d be
used t o cause i n t e r n a l u n r e s t and c o - o p e r a t e w i t h t h e ex-Army
o f f i c e r s and t h o s e r i g h t - w i n g e l e m e n t s w h i c h were a n x i o u s t o
24. I b i d . , pp. 144-45. 26. S w i r e , op. c i t . , p. 23.
25. I b i d . . p. 150 27, Todorov, op. c i t . . p.151.
 (59)
d e s t r o y the P e a s a n t L e a d e r . To t h i s end, a branch of the
Banco d ' l t a l i a v a s opened i n S o f i a . The Bank p a i d o a t l a r g e
sums to O p p o s i t i o n lawyers for " l e g a l s e r v i c e s " . Large amounts
of t h i s money p a i d to O p p o s i t i o n f i g u r e s v e n t d i r e c t l y to IMBO,
e n a b l i n g them to f i n a n c e w i d e - s c a l e t e r r o r i s t o p e r a t i o n s and
buy b e t t e r weapons. The r e c o r d s of the Banco d ' l t a l i a show
t h a t w i t h i n a few months of i t s a r r i v a l , i t had a l r e a d y spent
28
8,000,000 l e v a on " l e g a l services".
When IMR0 was r e v i v e d by A l e x a n d r o v i n March 1920, he
s e c u r e d the immediate s u p p o r t of t h o s e young army o f f i c e r s
d e p r i v e d of s t a t u s and p r o s p e c t s , and a l s o of t h o s e who vere
wanted by Y u g o s l a v i a f o r v a r c r i m e s o r d e s e r t i o n . But these
v e r e by no means h i s o n l y s u p p o r t e r s . A l l who were dissatis-
f i e d w i t h S t a m b o l i s k i ' s A g r a r i a n regime, a l l who were d i s t u r b e d
by the rapprochement w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a and a l l who vere unable
to r e g a r d the T r e a t y o f N e u i l l y as b i n d i n g on their country,,
gave a c t i v e or t a c i t s u p p o r t to the O r g a n i z a t i o n . When the v a r
ended, the army u n i t s a t K u s t e n d i l , Nevrokop and P e t r i c h made
over t h e i r arms to the r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s and t h e s e came i n t o the
29
Organization's possession. With f i n a n c i a l a i d from Opposition
l e a d e r s ^ and a l s o from I t a l i a n s o u r c e s , the movement g a i n e d
power and p r e s t i g e .
IMBO o p e r a t i o n s i n South S e r b i a ( M a c e d o n i a ) began i n May
•i

1920. Most of the armed c o m i t a d j i s came from c e n t r e s a t P e t r i c h ,

Gorna Djoumaia and K u s t e n d i l , but some of the groups v e n t to
A l b a n i a and a t t a c k e d s o u t h - w e s t e r n Y u g o s l a v i a from t h e i r base
a t P o d g r a d e t s . ^ From July-November 1920, A l e x a n d r o v roamed
through E a s t e r n Macedonia, i n one p l a c e s p e a k i n g of u n i o n with
B u l g a r i a , i n another promising l o c a l autonomy. Throughout t h e
28. I b i d . . ioc. c i t .
29. S w i r e , op. cit.. p. 144. 30. I b i d . , p. 145.
31. At t h i s time, Greek and Y u g o s l a v t r o o p s were occupying
A l b a n i a and the atmosphere between A l b a n i a n leaders i n Tirana
and the Y u g o s l a v government was understandably cool*
 (60)

area, he o r g a n i z e d a c o u r i e r system and a p p o i n t e d B p e c i a l

voivodes t o denounce people who dared t o be f r i e n d l y o r
co-operate w i t h the Yugoslav a u t h o r i t i e s . Alexandrov found
t h a t t h e r e was so much misgovernmenl, b r u t a l i t y and c o r r u p t i o n
by Yugoslav o f f i c i a l s i n these d i f f i c u l t post-war y e a r s , t h a t
t h e r e were many d i s c o n t e n t e d men w i l l i n g t o work f o r him.
The people o f South S e r b i a were so a f r a i d t h a t the B u l g a r i a n s
m i g h t r e t u r n and so g r e a t l y f e a r e d r e p r i s a l s by Alexandrov's
men t h a t they often,obeyed them f o r s a f e t y ' s sake. They
s u p p l i e d f o o d f o r h i s bands, p a i d taxes t o h i s O r g a n i z a t i o n and
made no c o m p l a i n t t o the a u t h o r i t i e s f o r f e a r o f t h e d e a t h
32
and d e s t r u c t i o n w i t h w h i c h the bands had t h r e a t e n e d them.
A t t h i s t i m e , the Yugoslav p o l i c e were v e r y weak i n the area
and these t h r e a t s were o f t e n c a r r i e d o u t , houses b e i n g b u r n t
33
and men murdered w i t h i n c r e a s e d f r e q u e n c y . The Yugoslav
government p u t a p r i c e o f 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 d i n a r s on Alexandrov's
3 4
head.
Almost a l l the c o m i t a d j i s c a p t u r e d i n the p e r i o d 1919-22
35
wore B u l g a r i a n Army c l o t h i n g . T h i s changed i n 1922 when they
s t a r t e d t o appear i n d i f f e r e n t c l o t h i n g , i n c l u d i n g Yugoslav
u n i f o r m s i l l e g a l l y manufactured by the f a c t o r y o f army c l o t h
a t Gabrovo i n B u l g a r i a . A g r e a t p a r t o f t h e i r m u n i t i o n s and
bombs came from Ivanov Bros., an arms d e a l e r whose s t o r e s
were s i t u a t e d i n L o u i s a S t r e e t i n S o f i a , near the Sveta N e d e l j a
37
c a t h e d r a l . I t i s i m p o r t a n t t o understand t h a t the t e r r o r i s t s ,
32. Swire, op. c i t . , p. 147.
33. Dr. ft.A. Reiss, The Comitad.ji Question i n Southern S e r b i a
London, 1924, pp. 1 2 9 - 5 6 , l i s t s no fewer t h a n 293 terrorist
i n c i d e n t s i n the p e r i o d 1 9 1 9 - 2 3 . Dr. Reiss s t r e s s e s t h a t $he
l i s t i s by no means complete. 34. Swire, op. c i t . , loc. c i t
35. Reiss, op. c i t . , pp.70-83. 36. Ibid.. loc. cit.
37. I b i d , pp. 84-5. When B u l g a r i a ' s war m a t e r i a l was s o l d f o r
s c r a p , enough arms t o equip 8 d i v i s i o n s was bought op by bogus
d e a l e r s who s o l d the r i f l e s and ammunition on £he open market,
w h i l s t the heavy m u n i t i o n s were s t o r e d i n mountain s h e l t e r s .
 (61)

t h e i r arms and a l l t h e i r c l o t h i n g a l l came from B u l g a r i a

f o r one o f B u l g a r i a ' s o f t - r e p e a t e d a s s e r t i o n s i n the p e r i o d
1921-34 was t h a t the t r o u b l e s i n South S e r b i a were caused by
the l o c a l p o p u l a t i o n .
I n October 1920, an Immigrants Congress was h e l d i n
S o f i a . I t e l e c t e d a r e g u l a r Committee under K a r a n d j o u l o v .
The meeting urged a u n i o n between a l l those h o s t i l e t o
Yugo-Slav u n i f i c a t i o n . The Committee a l s o i n t e n s i f i e d i t s
propaganda abroad and f l o o d e d the d a i l y p r e s s , e s p e c i a l l y
c e r t a i n r e v i e w s , w i t h a r t i c l e s designed t o prove the " B u l g a r i a n
c h a r a c t e r o f Macedonia."^ A t the Congress, t h e r e had been much
t a l k o f Macedonian autonomy and an A s s o c i a t i o n f o r Macedonian
Independence was s e t up i n Home. A l l t h i s sounded v e r y d e t e r -
mined and c l e a r - c u t , but K a r a n d j o u l o v a d m i t t e d t o the B r i t i s h
M i l i t a r y Attache' t h a t he would sooner c u t h i s a r t e r i e s t h a n
39
p e t i t i o n f o r Macedonian autonomy.
I n November 1921, F r o t o g e r o v and Athanassov, b o t h l e a d i n g
IMfiO l e a d e r s , signed a p r o t o c o l i n A l b a n i a , p l e d g i n g themselves
to c r e a t e a Federal Macedonia on Swiss l i n e s w i t h cantons
r u l e d by the dominant race i n each l o c a l area. When t h i s had
been done, Macedonia would be f r e e t o decide her own d e s t i n y .
Protogerov had always f a v o u r e d a f e d e r a l s o l u t i o n and when
an Immigrants' Congress had been c a l l e d t o d i s c u s s the p r o t o c o l ,
40
t h e i r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s v o t e d 160-40 i n f a v o u r of the p l a n .
F o l l o w i n g the p r o t o c o l , Protogerov and Athanassov n e g o t i a t e d
w i t h l e a d i n g A l b a n i a n f i g u r e s . The r e s u l t o f t h e i r n e g o t i a t i o n s
was a c o n v e n t i o n which d e c l a r e d t h a t i f t h e i r j o i n t efforts
succeeded, the Kosovo d i s t r i c t should be annexed t o A l b a n i a ,
41
w h i l s t Macedonia became autonomous. However, e a r l y i n 1922,
Alexandrov r e p u d i a t e d the A l b a n i a n p r o t o c o l and Protogerov,
who had no d e s i r e t o q u a r r e l w i t h Alexandrov, r e p u d i a t e d i t t o o .
58. K e i s s , op. c i t . , p. 34. 40. I b i d , pp. 149-50. .
39. Swire, op. c i t . , p. 147. 41. I b i d . , loc. c i t .
42. I u i d . , l o c . c i t .
 (62)

F o l l o w i n g t h e i r t a l k s i n A l b a n i a , Athanassov and
Protogerov went t o Rome. There t h e y met a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f
the I t a l i a n F o r e i g n O f f i c e who, i n t h e course o f d i s c u s s i o n ,
urged them t o arrange f o r t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n o f King Alexander,
saying t h a t t h i s might l e a d t o t h e " d i s r u p t i o n " o f Y u g o s l a v i a ,
which i n t u r n would p r o v i d e the Macedonians w i t h t h e i r oppor-
t u n i t y . Athanassov i s r e p o r t e d t o have r e j e c t e d t h e i d e a o u t
o f hand f o r t h e adverse p u b l i c i t y i t would cause. He suggested
t h a t i f t h e r e were t o be an a s s a s s i n a t i o n , t h e I t a l i a n s should
43
do i t themselves.
Thus, i n an i n d i r e c t and s u b t l e manner, t h e I t a l i a n Foreign
O f f i c e f o s t e r e d t h e growth and a m b i t i o n s o f the most p o t e n t
source o f d i s c o r d between Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a . Todorov
Baid t h a t :
"they d i d e v e r y t h i n g they c o u l d t o undermine
S t a m b o l i s k i ' s p o l i c y o f rapprochement, f o r every time
1 d e l i v e r e d assurances o f good f a i t h , t h e q u e s t i o n came
back: 'Then why do you p e r m i t these Macedonian outrages
44
on our t e r r i t o r y ? ' "
At a time when S t a m b o l i s k i was t r y i n g t o c r e a t e a b e t t e r
understanding w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a , the A g r a r i a n government was
n a t u r a l l y u n w i l l i n g t o accept r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r IMRO's
behaviour. Dr. Reiss has d e s c r i b e d t h e i r r e a c t i o n :
"Once t h e c o m i t a d j i s had resumed t h e i r activities
a f t e r the war, the Yugoslav government made r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s
t o S o f i a . The B u l g a r i a n government r e p l i e d e v a s i v e l y ;
a t one moment, they c a s t blame on t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f
South S e r b i a i t s e l f , a t another t h e y d e c l a r e d t h a t , owing
t o t h e s m a l l number o f t r o o p s l e f t t o them by the T r e a t y
o f N e u i l l y , they were unable t o prevent bands o f c o m i t a d j i s
c r o s s i n g t h e f r o n t i e r . When Belgrade became more i n s i s t e n t ,
S o f i a r e t a l i a t e d by exhuming t h e famous " m i n o r i t i e s " clause
43.i n I bf ia dv .o .u r l o
o cf. t
chie
t c. o m i t a d j i s . T h i s argument was, op.
44. Todorov, however,
cit., p.l
 (63)

r e p u l s e d by a f o r m a l d e c i s i o n o f the League o f N a t i o n s ,
r e l e g a t i n g the c o m i t a d j i question together w i t h t h a t of
m i n o r i t i e s , t o d i r e c t n e g o t i a t i o n s between the c o u n t r i e s
45
concerned."
The Yugoslav r e a c t i o n t o IMKO r a i d s and t h e a t t e n d a n t
murder, arson and b l a c k m a i l was t o conclude t r e a t i e s w i t h
46 47
Czechoslovakia and Rumania, c r e a t i n g the L i t t l e Entente
which was w i d e l y p u b l i c i z e d as a bulwark o f s e c u r i t y i n C e n t r a l
and Eastern Europe. The s t r e n g t h o f the L i t t l e Entente l a y
i n i t s p r o v i s i o n f o r common a c t i o n a t t h e League o f Nations
and i n i t s aim t o achieve peace, s e c u r i t y and p r o s p e r i t y a t
a time when the w o r l d was f a c i n g economic and p o l i t i c a l unrest.
The Entente's g r e a t f a u l t was t h a t i t was i n w a r d - l o o k i n g and
d i d n o t foresee t h e e f f e c t s o f a F a s c i s t I t a l y , an a v a r i c i o u s
Russia o r a Nazi Germany - and no p r o v i s i o n s were made f o r
such e v e n t u a l i t i e s .
But i n 1921-2, the c r e a t i o n o f the L i t t l e Entente made
48
an enormous impact upon C e n t r a l and E a s t e r n Europe. Stambol-
i s k i was alarmed by the adverse e f f e c t s t h a t IMRO's s u b v e r s i v e
o p e r a t i o n s were having on h i s attempts t o improve Yugoslav-
B u l g a r i a n r e l a t i o n s . E a r l y i n 1921, a newspaper had been s e t
up i n S o f i a t o e x p l a i n government p o l i c i e s t o the people.
Todorov had been t h e c h i e f e d i t o r i a l w r i t e r and t r a v e l l e d
r e g u l a r l y back and f o r t h between S o f i a and Belgrade. But t h e
newspaper's c i s c u l a t i o n was small and made l i t t l e o r ne impact
upon those S t a m b o l i s k i was most anxious t o c o n v e r t t o h i s
49
policy. Following the conclusion o f the t r e a t i e s e s t a b l i s h i n g
the 45.
L i t tReiss,
l e E n t eop.
n t e ,c i tS .t ,a m bpp.
o l i s 34-5.
k i decided t o take v i g o r o u s practical
46. August 14, 1920. See N.J. P a d e l f o r d , Peace i n the B a l k a n s .
New York, 1935, pp. 180-1 f o r d e t a i l s o f t h e t r e a t y .
47. June 7, 1921. See P a d e l f o r d , pp. 182-3, f o r d e t a i l s o f
the t r e a t y . 48. Todorov, op. c i t . . p. 141.
49. I b i d . , p. 149.
 (64)

a c t i o n t o suppress t h e Macedonian O r g a n i z a t i o n . I n J u l y 1921,

Alexander D i m i t r o v , one o f h i s c l o s e s t .and l o y a l i s t colleagues,
vas appointed B u l g a r i a n M i n i s t e r o f War. Before t a k i n g up h i s
p o s t , D i m i t r o v v i s i t e d Belgrade t o see Pasic and l e a r n from
him d i r e c t l y what he considered t o be t h e main o b s t a c l e s t o a
Yugoslav-Bulgarian understanding. Pasic's response was somewhat
r e t i c e n t and he t o l d D i m i t r o v t h a t i t vas d i f f i c u l t t o t a l k
about an understanding when "every day our borders are v i o l a t e d
50
and our s o l d i e r s k i l l e d . " D i m i t r o v promised t h a t he would go
back t o S o f i a and p u t an end t o IMfiO o u t r a g e s . Upon h i s r e t u r n ,
he i n i t i a t e d a s e r i e s o f d r a s t i c measures. One o f h i s t r u s t e d
f r i e n d s , Koslovsky, was appointed prefect of police i n the
P e t r i c h d i s t r i c t w h i c h was t h e nerve c e n t r e o f IMBO o p e r a t i o n s .
Then the command o f g a r r i s o n s was r e v i s e d t o make sure t h a t
m i l i t a r y commanders were l o y a l t o t h e government's o r d e r s .
A t the same t i m e , t h e o v e r a l l command f o r f r o n t i e r posts was
a l t e r e d , t h i s t o prevent f u r t h e r l a x behaviour on t h e p a r t o f
the border guards who tended t o r e g a r d t h e c o m i t a d j i r a i d s as
a p a t r i o t i c g e s t u r e . D i m i t r o v a l s o ordered t h e whole w e s t e r n
border area t o be c l e a r e d o f c o m i t a d j i s and sent t r o o p s t o
round up known t e r r o r i s t s and move them t o e a s t e r n B u l g a r i a .
F i n a l l y , he ordered t h e a r r e s t o f Alexandrov and Protogerov,
but t h e orders came t o o l a t e ; t h e two IMBO l e a d e r s had a l r e a d y
f l e d t h e i r c o u n t r y f o r Vienna.
D i m i t r o v ' s a c t i o n produced a v i o l e n t , c o u n t e r - r e a c t i o n .
I t was w i d e l y rumoured t h a t D i m i t r o v had " s o l d B u l g a r i a t o
Pasic''* and a s e r i e s o f t e r r o r i s t a t t a c k s were made, c u l m i n a t i n g
i n t h e death o f Koslovsky, who was shot i n October 1921. A t t h e
same t i m e , IMRO l e a d e r s p r i v a t e l y t h r e a t e n e d t h e M i n i s t e r o f
the I n t e r i o r , Tomov, w i t h a s i m i l a r f a t e i f he d i d n o t g i v e
them h i s a l l e g i a n c e . He succumbed t o t h e i r t h r e a t s and t r i e d
52
t o discourage D i m i t
50. I b i d . , p. 1 5 1 .r o v from h i s r e p r e s s i v e measures. Dimitrov

51. Swire, op. c i t . . p. 149.

52. Todorov, op. c i t . . pp. 1 5 5 - 5 6 .
 (65)

i g n o r e d h i s advice and c o n t i n u e d w i t h h i s p o l i c i e s , despite

the knowledge t h a t IMHO had passed a death sentence on him.
IMRO d i d n o t l o n g d e l a y ; on November 2 1 , 1 9 2 1 , D i m i t r o v was
assassinated.
W i t h i n e i g h t e e n months o f i t s r e v i v a l , the Macedonian
O r g a n i z a t i o n had proved i t s e l f as d e s t r u c t i v e as i t s pre-war
c o u n t e r p a r t . With the b e n e f i t o f I t a l i a n f i n a n c i a l a i d and t h e
willing support o f the p o l i t i c a l O p p o s i t i o n i n S o f i a , i t had
e f f e c t i v e l y undermined S t a m b o l i s k i ' s p o l i c y and c a r r i e d t h e
war i n t o Yugoslav t e r r i t o r y . The O r g a n i z a t i o n had k i l l e d those
who were o f f i c i a l l y employed t o d e s t r o y i t and caused statesmen
i n Belgrade t o doubt the a u t h o r i t y and assurances o f t h e
A g r a r i a n government. This was agreeable t o the I t a l i a n Foreign
51
O f f i c e , the Consulta and o t h e r n a t i o n a l i s t c i r c l e s i n Rome,
but i t was by no means t h e i r o n l y weapon. There was a f u r t h e r ,
u s e f u l wedge t o d r i v e between the two South Slav n a t i o n s ; t h e
question of Bulgarian reparations.
The aim o f S t a m b o l i s k i ' a government was t o f u l f i l , as f a r
as p o s s i b l e , the o b l i g a t i o n s l a i d upon t h e i r c o u n t r y by t h e
T r e a t y o f N e u i l l y . The c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e T r e a t y were complied
w i t h as regards e v a c u a t i o n o f t e r r i t o r y , r e s t o r a t i o n o f prop-
e r t y and the s a l e o f arms; by September 1 9 2 1 , B u l g a r i a had
p a i d over £ 3 £ m i l l i o n s f o r the upkeep o f the I n t e r - A l l i e d
t r o o p s and commissions e s t a b l i s h e d on B u l g a r i a n territory.
54
The t o t a l Reparation debt t o be p a i d was £90 m i l l i o n s but
the annual budget o f t h e s t a t e amounted t o o n l y £ 1 5 0 m i l l i o n s
and i n the budget e s t i m a t e s o f March 1 9 2 1 , t h e r e was a d e f i c i t
o f £11 m i l l i o n s . I n t h i s s i t u a t i o n , t h e B u l g a r i a n government
was unable t o pay the £ 7 m i l l i o n s which were due i n 1921 and
55
was g r a n t e d a moratorium u n t i l March 1 9 2 2 .
53. I b i d . , p. 143.
54. Buchan, op. c i t . . p. 164. This debt was u l t i m a t e l y
reduced t o £ 2 2 m i l l i o n s , repayable over a p e r i o d o f s i x t y years.
55. Todorov, op. c i t . , p. 1 5 2 .
 (66)

However, O p p o s i t i o n d e p u t i e s , hoping t o d i s c r e d i t
S t a m b o l i s k i and overthrow t h e A g r a r i a n government, produced
a r e p o r t c l a i m i n g t o show t h a t B u l g a r i a c o u l d a f f o r d t o pay
her debt. The r e p o r t was q u i t e f a l s e and t h e d e p u t i e s themselves
knew t h a t t h e c o u n t r y c o u l d n o t pay, b u t they took t h e r e p o r t
t o Prince L i v i o Borghese, t h e I t a l i a n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e
Reparation Committee i n S o f i a . Borghese, who was no f r i e n d o f
S t a m b o l i s k i and had p u b l i c l y condemned D i m i t r o v ' s attempts
t o suppress IMRO, sent t h e r e p o r t t o h i s s u p e r i o r s i n Rome
56
who took t h e m a t t e r up i n P a r i s . On August 2 1 , 1 9 2 1 , t h e
Reparation Commission i n P a r i s revoked the moratorium and
demanded t h e immediate payment o f t h a t year's i n s t a l m e n t .
S t a m b o l i s k i i n v e s t i g a t e d t h e m a t t e r and when he d i s c o v e r e d
t h a t Borghese was i n v o l v e d , he made a p r o t e s t t o P a r i s a g a i n s t
members o f t h e Commission i n t e r f e r i n g i n B u l g a r i a ' s i n t e r n a l
57
affairs. Todorov h i m s e l f was sent t o P a r i s t o e x p l a i n t h e
n a t u r e and e x t e n t o f I t a l i a n i n f l u e n c e i n B u l g a r i a . A f t e r
t a l k s w i t h M. Dupuis, t h e French r e p r e s e n t a t i v e on t h e
Reparation Commission, and M. B e r t h e l o t , who was i n touch w i t h
i n f l u e n t i a l s e c t o r s o f t h e French Press, Todorov had a p r i v a t e
d i s c u s s i o n w i t h M. M i l l e r a n d , t h e French P r e s i d e n t . M i l l e r a n d
CO
was known t o be a g r e a t f r i e n d o f t h e Serbs and Todorov knew
from past experience t h a t t h e French government favoured
59
Yugoslav-Bulgarian c o l l a b o r a t i o n . I n t h e course o f h i s
d i s c u s s i o n , Todorov informed M i l l e r a n d o f t h e way I t a l y was
u s i n g t h e Reparation i s s u e t o prevent an u n d e r s t a n d i n g between
Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a . M i l l e r a n d r e p l i e d t h a t t h e Commission
was a f r a i d t o make any concession on r e p a r a t i o n s f o r B u l g a r i a
s i n c e t h i s would e s t a b l i s h a precedent f o r Germany. Todorov
p o i n t e d o u t t h a t A u s t r i a had had h e r debts c a n c e l l e d b u t t h e
French P r e s i d e n t f e l t t h a t B u l g a r i a was more prosperous than
A u s t5r6i. a .I b iTodorov 1 5 3 . i t c l e a r t h a t 58.
d . , p. made i f tIhbei dr .e ,p a rp.
a t i154.
o n s were
57. I b i d . . l o c . c i t . 5 9 . I b i d . , p. 143
 (67)

demanded a t t h i s j u n c t u r e , then B u l g a r i a ' s f o r e i g n p o l i c y

towards Yugoslavia, w h i c h depended on t h i s d e l i c a t e economic
0
p o s i t i o n , would c o l l a p s e . ^ Following h i s v i s i t , Bulgarian
r e p a r a t i o n s were postponed u n t i l June 1922 and I t a l i a n intrig-
ues t e m p o r a r i l y f o i l e d .
I n March 1 9 2 2 , t h e B u l g a r i a n government had another
budgetary d e f i c i t - t h i s t i m e , o f S.y% m i l l i o n s - and asked
the R e p a r a t i o n Commission t o g r a n t a f u r t h e r moratorium on
her debt. The I n t e r - A l l i e d Commission i n S o f i a informed t h e
B u l g a r i a n government t h a t a moratorium c o u l d o n l y be g r a n t e d
on t h e c o n d i t i o n t h a t B u l g a r i a surrendered c o n t r o l o f her
customs, her s t a t e mines and h e r e n t i r e f i s c a l system. These
c o n d i t i o n s , demanded by a body c o n s i s t i n g p r i m a r i l y o f I t a l -
i a n s , seemed tantamount t o a surrender of national sovreignty
and when a t o p - l e v e l B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n - i n c l u d i n g Stam-
b o l i s k i and Todorov - went t o t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Economic
Conference i n Genoa i n A p r i l 1 9 2 2 , t h e y r a i s e d s t r o n g o b j e c t i o n s
t o t h e demands w h i c h had been made upon t h e i r country.*** The
Conference was l a r g e l y a f a i l u r e because each c o u n t r y was
out s i m p l y t o seek a s o l u t i o n t o i t s own problem and B u l g a r i a
was no e x c e p t i o n .
A t t h e Genoa Conference, I t a l y made one f u r t h e r b i d t o
secure economic advantages from B u l g a r i a ' s f i n a n c i a l m i s f o r t u n e *
I t a l y , who was the major source o f B u l g a r i a ' s imports,was
a l s o due t o r e c e i v e 40$ o f t h e t o t a l r e p a r a t i o n debt p a i d by
3
Bulgaria.** S h o r t l y before t h e Genoa Conference, B r i t a i n had

60. I b i d . . p. 154. 6 1 . Buchan, op. c i t . , p. 160.

62. I b i d . . p. 181. Three p r i n c i p a l o r i g i n s o f B u l g a r i a ' s
imports ( g i v e n i n thousands o f l e v a ) were as f o l l o w s t
1919 1920
Italy 345.893 624,697
Turkey 146,995 408,466
U n i t e d Kingdom 104,849 311,207
63> A l l o c a t i o n o f B u l g a r i a n r e p a r a t i o n s were: I t a l y , 40#;
B r i t a i n 20jej France, 20^; t h e o t h e r Balkan s t a t e s , 20^.
 (68)

e n t r u s t e d her 20Jb share o f B u l g a r i a n r e p a r a t i o n s t o I t a l y ,

thus g i v i n g her a 60Jfc c l a i m . Leading f i g u r e s i n the I t a l i a n F
F o r e i g n O f f i c e r e a l i z e d t h a t t h i s c o u l d h e l p them t o o b t a i n
economic d o m i n a t i o n over B u l g a r i a , such as t h e y l a t e r o b t a i n e d
over A l b a n i a . During the Conference, Todorov was approached
by Count T o s t i d i Valminuta, an I t a l i a n d e l e g a t e , who t o l d
him t h a t the f a t e of B u l g a r i a ' s r e p a r a t i o n s now depended on
I t a l y . I t a l y was f a v o u r a b l y disposed towards B u l g a r i a - indeed,
a l l I t a l i a n s l o v e d the c o u n t r y - and t h e y would be w i l l i n g t o
"v.
accept a concession o f t h e v a s t but u n e x p l o i t e d R i l a f o r e s t
64
i n l i e u o f her r e p a r a t i o n s payments.
Nothing came of t h i s proposal but i t serves t o demonstrate
the n a t u r e and o b j e c t i v e s o f I t a l i a n p o l i c y i n the p e r i o d ,
1919~23. I t a l y wished t o achieve t e r r i t o r i a l expansion i n
the Balkans - p a r t i c u l a r l y along the A d r i a t i c coast - but t h i s
d e s i r e was blocked by the new and independent Kingdom o f
Yugoslavia. I f I t a l y were t o succeed i n her a m b i t i o n s , i t
c o u l d o n l y be a t the expense o f the Kingdom o f Serbs, Croats
and Slovenes. The I t a l i a n F o r e i g n O f f i c e t h e r e f o r e embarked on
a p o l i c y designed t o weaken Yugoslavia from w i t h i n and from
w i t h o u t . B u l g a r i a was a n a t u r a l a l l y f o r I t a l y ; she was poor,
weak and e m b i t t e r e d by the Peace. T r e a t y ; a l l her r i c h e s t lands
had been annexed by her neighbours and she was burdened w i t h
heavy r e p a r a t i o n s which she c o u l d not pay. Yet she r e f u s e d t o
co-operate w i t h I t a l y and the o f f e r o f a m i l i t a r y a l l i a n c e was
r e j e c t e d . The Peasant l e a d e r , S t a m b o l i s k i , had s e t h i m s e l f the
t a s k of b r i n g i n g Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a t o g e t h e r i n a s i n g l e
South Slav s t a t e which would present an even g r e a t e r o b s t a c l e
t o I t a l i a n expansion. Through r e p a r a t i o n s , t h r o u g h the subver-
s i v e a c t i v i t i e s of IMRO and w i t h the c o - o p e r a t i o n o f those
B u l g a r i a n s most w i l l i n g t o co-operate w i t h her, I t a l y sought
t o d e s t r o y S t a m b o l i s k i and h i s p o l i c i e s . F o r , i f S t a m b o l i s k i
were overthrown, then the whole p o l i c y o f rapp rochement would
6 4 . Todorov, op. c i t . . pp. 1 6 0 - 2 .
 (69)

c o l l a p s e and B u l g a r i a and even more s u s c e p t i b l e t o

Italian influence.
 (70)

Chapter 4.

T r o u b l e d Waters.
 (71)

When Todorov,returned from t h e Genoa Conference, he

r e c e i v e d a cool r e c e p t i o n i n Belgrade. For s e v e r a l weeks, t h e r e
had been clashes between t h e c o m i t a d j i s and t h e Yugoslav f o r c e s
i n South S e r b i a , and t h e u n r e s t seemed t o be growing. The use
o f t e r r o r i s m and t h r e a t s had a l r e a d y brought IMBO g r e a t d i v i -
dends, f o r now "the Macedonian peasant was no longer sure
t h a t t h e enemy o f today might n o t become t h e master o f tommorrow!!
Such a s t a t e o f mind gave i n t i m i d a t i o n a c l e a r f i e l d . Yugoslav
barracks were a t t a c k e d by s n i p e r s , m a i l s e r v i c e s were d i s r u p t e d
and t h e s u b - p r e f e c t o f Berovo and h i s w i f e were shot. Elsewhere
t h e r e were minor s k i r m i s h e s . Todorov's r e t u r n from Genoa
c o i n c i d e d w i t h t h e death o f a gendamerie c a p t a i n and twelve
s o l d i e r s . They had been k i l l e d by one o f t h e most n o t o r i o u s
c o m i t a d j i bands, l e d by Jovan B r i o , and on t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h l B ,
2
m a r t i a l law was proclaimed i n South S e r b i a . Todorov r e a l i z e d
t h a t t h e t r e n d o f events was l i k e l y t o c r e a t e a s e r i o u s clash
between t h e two c o u n t r i e s and so he sent a l o n g ciphered
t e l e g r a m t o S t a m b o l i a k i , t e l l i n g him o f t h e mood i n Belgrade
and t h e need f o r immediate a c t i o n t o h a l t IMBO's o p e r a t i o n s . ^
S t a m b o l i s k i , who b i t t e r l y r e g r e t t e d t h e death o f D i m i t r o v ,
agreed t h a t f i r m measures were necessary and gave h i s M i n i s t e r
i n Belgrade a c a r t e blanche f o r any proposals he might make t o
the Yugoslav government. Heartened by h i s Prime M i n i s t e r ' s
1. Dr. fl.A. Beiss, The Comitad.ji Question i n Southern S e r b i a .
London, 1924, pp» 86-88.
2. J . Swire, B u l g a r i a n Conspiracy, London, 1 9 3 9 . p. 151.
3. K, Todorov, Balkan Firebrand,The Autobiography o f a Rebel.
S o l d i e r and Statesman. Chicago, 1943* p. 166.
 (72)

s u p p o r t . Todorov wrote t o Dr. N i n c i c , t h e Yugoslav F o r e i g n

M i n i s t e r , suggesting a j o i n t defence f o r c e o f B u l g a r i a n and
4
Yugoslav o f f i c i a l s t o man t h e f r o n t i e r . He proposed t h a t t h e
two s i d e s should be l i n k e d by telephone and should c o n t a c t
each o t h e r i f any c o m i t a d j i band attempted t o cross t h e
f r o n t i e r . I f a group o f c o m i t a d j i s crossed t h e border and the
B u l g a r i a n post f a i l e d t o n o t i f y t h e Yugoslav p a t r o l , t h e l o c a l
1
5
B u l g a r i a n commander would be h e l d r e s p o n s i b l e . The p l a n was
by no means f o o l p r o o f b u t i t was a d i s t i n c t improvement upon
the e x i s t i n g arrangements which were l a x and i n e f f i c i e n t . On
the f o l l o w i n g day, Todorov sent N i n e i 6 a f u r t h e r n o t e , p r o p o s i n g
a conference between t h e two f r o n t i e r commands. But he r e c e i v e d
6
no r e p l y t o e i t h e r n o t e .
On June 8, 1922, a r o y a l wedding took place i n Belgrade,
King Alexander m a r r y i n g t h e Rumanian P r i n c e s s Marie. Many o f
Europe's l e a d i n g r o y a l personages were p r e s e n t , i n c l u d i n g t h e
monarchs o f a l l t h e Balkan c o u n t r i e s , w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f
B u l g a r i a . King B o r i s had n o t l e f t h i s c o u n t r y s i n c e h i s accession
i n 1918 and he a p p o i n t e d Todorov as h i s p e r s o n a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e
a t t h e wedding. So c o n s p i c i o u s an absence c o u l d n o t b u t
emphasize B u l g a r i a ' s i s o l a t i o n . King Alexander was p l a i n l y
exasperated. Todorov r e c o r d s t h a t when he handed over King
B o r i s ' s l e t t e r , which c o n t a i n e d " a p p r o p r i a t e f e l i c i t a t i o n s " ,
Alexander gave v e n t t o h i s f e e l i n g s :
" T e l l King B o r i s , " he responded a n g r i l y , I won't
t o l e r a t e a c t s o f b a n d i t r y a g a i n s t my f r o n t i e r any l o n g e r . "
"I s h a l l convey your Majesty's words t o my s o v r e i g n , "
Todorov r e p l i e d , " b u t I have t h e honour t o advise you t h a t
I have a l r e a d y t r a n s m i t t e d a note t o your F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r
4# I b i d . . l o c . c i t . The p r o p o s a l s were made on May 19, 1922.
5 . L.S. S t a v r i a n o s , Balkan F e d e r a t i o n . A H i s t o r y o f t h e Move-
ment towards Balkan U n i t y i n Modern Times, Northampton, Mass.,
1944, p. 2 1 1 .
6. Todorov., op. c i t . . l o c , c i t .
 (73)

suggesting a plan t o c o r r e c t t h e s i t u a t i o n . "

The King d i d n o t appear t o hear me. H i s eyes f l a s h e d
w i t h i n d i g n a t i o n . "My p a t i e n c e i s exhausted/' he s a i d . ^
Todorov d i d n o t immediately p e r c e i v e the s i g n i f i c a n c e o f
the King's o u t b u r s t u n t i l s e v e r a l days l a t e r when he was informed
by S o f i a t h a t t h e B u l g a r i a n M i n i s t e r i n Bucharest had been
handed a j o i n t u l t i m a t u m by I o n Duea - the Rumanian F o r e i g n
M i n i s t e r . The u l t i m a t u m was issued i n t h e name o f Rumania,
Y u g o s l a v i a and Greece and demanded t h a t i f B u l g a r i a d i d n o t
destroy a l l organizations d i r e c t e d against the s e c u r i t y o f her
neighbours and a l s o g i v e a s a t i s f a c t o r y r e p l y t o t h i s e f f e c t ,
then t h e t h r e e s t a t e s would take upon themselves t h e t a s k o f
g
r e s t o r i n g o r d e r i n t h e Balkans. This was a c l e a r i n d i c a t i o n
t h a t B u l g a r i a ' s t h r e e neighbours were c o n s i d e r i n g a j o i n t
u n d e r t a k i n g which might w e l l i n c l u d e an i n v a s i o n o f B u l g a r i a
and p o s s i b l y the o c c u p a t i o n o f p a r t o f h e r t e r r i t o r y .
Both S t a m b o l i s k i and King B o r i s were alarmed by t h e
u l t i m a t u m . S t a m b o l i a k i t o l d the King t h a t v i f t h e r e were an
i n v a s i o n , he would r e s i g n h i s Premiership and l e a d t h e peasant
q
r e s i s t a n c e . This however proved unnecessary, f o r Todorov
suggested t h a t , since B u l g a r i a was now a member o f t h e League
o f N a t i o n s , she should adopt A r t i c l e 2 o f t h e League Covenant
and appeal a g a i n s t t h e u l t i m a t u m . The grounds f o r t h e i r appeal
vrere t h a t t h e j o i n t u l t i m a t u m i n d i c a t e d t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a
secret t r e a t y d i r e c t e d against Bulgaria, a t r e a t y h o s t i l e t o
the v e r y s p i r i t and l e t t e r o f t h e Covenant.**' An appeal was
made t o t h e League Council who announced t h a t they would
examine t h e case i n London i n J u l y . This gave B u l g a r i a one
month's b r e a t h i n g space since the m a t t e r was nov sub .judice.
Todorov r e t u r n e d t o S o f i a a t t h e end o f June and handed i n
h i s r e s i g n a t i o n as M i n i s t e r i n Belgrade, b e l i e v i n g t h a t whatever
was t h e d e c i s i o n o f t h e League C o u n c i l , h i s m i s s i o n t o Y u g o s l a v i a
7 . I b i d . . p. 167. 9. Swire, op. c i t . , l o c . c i t .
8. I b i d . . p. 168. 10. Todorov, op. c i t . . l o c . c i t .
 (74)

had failed.**
On h i s r e t u r n , he found h i s Prime M i n i s t e r a w o r r i e d man.
B u l g a r i a ' s d i p l o m a t i c i s o l a t i o n and t h e prospect o f i n v a s i o n
had shown him the poor s t a t e o f h i s c o u n t r y ' s f o r e i g n p o l i c y .
But i n t e r n a l l y m a t t e r s were even l e s s s a t i s f a c t o r y . A f t e r t h e
a s s a s s i n a t i o n o f B i m i t r o v , Tomov, t h e former M i n i s t e r o f t h e
I n t e r i o r who had been persuaded t o work w i t h IMRO, became
M i n i s t e r o f War. W h i l s t g i v i n g t h e i m p r e s s i o n o f being h o s t i l e
t o t h e O r g a n i z a t i o n , he c o n t i n u e d t o work s e c r e t l y w i t h them.
S t a m b o l i s k i was aware o f h i s behaviour but was unable t o break
w i t h him f o r f e a r o f s p l i t t i n g and weakening the A g r a r i a n p a r t y .
Outside t h e Sobranje, S t a m b o l i a k i was faced w i t h a v i g o r o u s
and h o s t i l e Press campaign w h i c h d w e l t w i t h r e l i s h upon h i s
personal v i c e s . These a t t a c k s were n o t e n t i r e l y unfounded.
Perhaps t h e o n l y c o m f o r t i n g news i n t h i s d i f f i c u l t p e r i o d was
-the message from the R e p a r a t i o n Commission which had recommended
13
a f u r t h e r moratorium on B u l g a r i a ' s debts u n t i l March 1 9 2 3 .
Having r e s i g n e d h i s post i n Belgrade, Todorov was appointed
c h i e f o f t h e B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n t o the J u l y meeting o f t h e
League Council i n London, a t which B u l g a r i a n o b j e c t i o n s t o t h e
u l t i m a t u m would be heard. Todorov t o l d the League Council
about IMRO a c t i v i t i e s i n B u l g a r i a and how t h e y had k i l l e d
D i m i t r o v . He r e a d i l y a d m i t t e d t h a t t h e c o m i t a d j i s had made
r a i d s i n t o Y u g o s l a v i a and s a i d t h a t Pasic was q u i t e r i g h t t o
demand t h a t the r a i d s be stopped. He p o i n t e d o u t t h a t he had
a l r e a d y made proposals on t h i s m a t t e r t o Or. N i n c i c b u t had
had no r e p l y . I n c o n c l u s i o n , he contested t h e r i g h t o f Greece
or Rumania t o i n t e r f e r e w i t h the m a t t e r since i t concerned o n l y
Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a . The C o u n c i l had no o p t i o n b u t t o
accept the j u s t i c e o f t h e B u l g a r i a n appeal. T i t u l e s c u , t h e
Rumanian r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , made a c o n c i l i a t o r y speech and t h e
C o u n c i l suggested t h a t a d i r e c t s e t t l e m e n t along t h e l i n e s
1 1 . I b i d , p. 1 6 9 . 12. I b i d , loc. c i t .
13. I b i d . . loc. c i t .
 (75)

suggetsed by Todorov i n May, should be n e g o t i a t e d between

the two governments concerned. On August 18, 1 9 2 2 , a p r e l i m i n a r y
14
p r o t o c o l was signed t o t h i s effect.
Before h i s r e t u r n t o S o f i a , Todorov r e c e i v e d a t e l e g r a m
from S t a m b o l i s k i a s k i n g him t o go t o Prague t o see Dr. Bones',
the Czech F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r , and seek h i s h e l p i n g e t t i n g a
r e c o n c i l i a t i o n w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a . Bones' promised B u l g a r i a h i s
15
help and Todorov r e t u r n e d home having s u c c e s s f u l l y accomplished
h i s m i s s i o n but no l o n g e r h o l d i n g any p a r t i c u l a r d i p l o m a t i c p o s t .
I n August 1922, S t a m b o l i s k i i n v i t e d him t o l e a d the B u l g a r i a n
d e l e g a t i o n t o the League o f N a t i o n s and he accepted. A l l h i s
work t o achieve a modus v i v e n d i between the two South Slav
n a t i o n s seemed t o have come t o an impasse, but a t Geneva he found
t h a t t h e r e had been a good d e a l of b a c k s t a i r s diplomacy. Bones'
had spoken t o Dr. N i n c i c about him and N i n c i c came t o see
Todorov and made a personal r e q u e s t t h a t he would r e t u r n t o h i s
p o s t i n Belgrade!
v s
"When S t a m b o l i s k i comes t o Geneva," N i n c i c t o l d him,
"I'll ask him t o keep you i n Belgrade. I t ' s n o t o n l y my
personal w i s h but t h a t o f His Majesty King A l e x a n d e r . " ^
I n response t o t h i s r o y a l i n v i t a t i o n , Todorov withdrew h i s
r e s i g n a t i o n and r e t u r n e d t o h i s post i n Belgrade. He found t h a t
d u r i n g h i s absence t h e r e had been a thaw i n the Yugoslav
' a t t i t u d e . Some p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s had begun t o c o n s i d e r the
p o s s i b i l i t y o f a rapprochement w i t h B u l g a r i a * ^ and the i d e a
of a f e d e r a t i o n was once more i n the a i r - even i f o n l y t o curb
Serbian hegemony w i t h i n the new Yugoslav Kingdom. Father Korosec,
14. I b i d . , p. 170.
1 5 . I b i d . , p. 171. 1 6 . I b i d . , p. 173.
17. L. Kezman, C o n s t i t u t i o n o f the N e u t r a l Republic of C r o a t i a ,
P i t t s b u r g , 1923, r e p o r t s t h a t a t t h i s time both the A g r a r i a n and
Communist p a r t i e s favoured a c l o s e r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h B u l g a r i a .
(Kezman was Secretary-General o f the Yugoslav A g r a r i a n P a r t y
from 1 9 1 9 - 2 7 ) .
 (76)

a Roman C a t h o l i c p r i e s t and l e a d e r o f the Slovene People's

P a r t y , wrote i n h i a p a r t y ' s o f f i c i a l organ, Novi Eaa:

"The most s a l i e n t q u e s t i o n now f a c i n g our s t a t e i s

t h a t of our r e l a t i o n s w i t h B u l g a r i a , because the Bulgarians
belong t o the n a t i o n a l u n i t y of the South Slav s t a t e s .
Without B u l g a r i a , we s h a l l pursue o n l y a g r e a t c h a u v i n i s t i c
p o l i c y which w i l l sooner or l a t e r l e a d us t o i s o l a t i o n
and c a t a s t r o p h e . That p o l i c y , espoused by the supporters
of g r e a t Serbian dreams, i s the r e a l o b s t a c l e t o the
c r e a t i o n of a s t r o n g and u n i t e d J u g o s l a v i a . A l l Jugoslav
people, independent of the Belgrade p o l i t i c i a n s , are
t h o r o u g h l y convinced t h a t the s e c u r i t y o f our future
e x i s t e n c e as a S t a t e demands Union w i t h B u l g a r i a , a l l the
more since the B u l g a r i a n n a t i o n today i s f u l l y prepared
and q u a l i f i e d f o r i t . We know t h a t t h i s q u e s t i o n , left
for s o l u t i o n t o the Belgrade race alone, w i l l never
b r i n g about our c o n s o l i d a t i o n w i t h the brave B u l g a r i a n
people. On t h a t account, the whole Slovene and Croatian
p e o p l e s h o u l d i n s c r i b e t h i s demand upon i t s programme and
s h o u l d never r e s t u n t i l i t has been r e a l i z e d . The future
J u g o s l a v i a o f Serbs, B u l g a r i a n s , Croats and Slovenes w i l l
be the s t r o n g e s t s t a t e i n Southern Europe. I t w i l l prove
a g r e a t guarantee f o r the c u l t u r a l development o f Southern
JugoSlavdom and one o f the s t r o n g c i t a d e l s f o r w o r l d peaee."
A l t h o u g h Korosec's views were c o l o u r e d by the i n t e r n a l political
tensions i n Yugoslavia, he was not altogether u n j u s t i f i e d i n
blaming the Belgrade p o l i t i c i a n s f o r n o t s e i z i n g the o p p o r t u n i t y
which S t a m b o l i s k i presented. I n the summer o f 1922, Stamboliski
suggested the e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a customs u n i o n between B u l g a r i a
and the Kingdom o f Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. But the Serbian
p o l i t i c i a n s i n p a r t i c u l a r were so a f r a i d t h a t such a u n i o n m i h h t
d e p r i v e them o f t h e i r supremacy i n a Yugoslav f e d e r a t i o n t h a t

18. Quoted by C. Stephanove, " D r i f t i n g towards a Jugoslav

F e d e r a t i o n " , Current I i i s t o r y . XV, ( 1 9 2 2 ) , p. 937.
 (77)

they spurned the i d e a .

Stamboliski*s p o l i c y of f r i e n d s h i p w i t h Yugoslavia,
t o g e t h e r w i t h h i s c o n s t a n t i n a b i l i t y t o produce any positive
rapprochement made him a t a r g e t f o r w i d e - r a n g i n g a t t a c k s by
h i s opponents. At the same time t h a t S t a m b o l i s k i was a t t e n d i n g
the League of Nations i n September 1922, t h e r e was an IMBO
r e v o l t a t Trnovo. S t a m b o l i s k i had known t h a t the O p p o s i t i o n
were p l a n n i n g a meeting a t Trnovo f o r September 17 and also
t h a t the l o c a l A g r a r i a n p a r t y had ordered a counter-demonstration
a t the same time and p l a c e . Before going abroad, he had banned
b o t h meetings but Baiko Daskalov, one o f h i s M i n i s t e r s , decided
20
t h a t i t would cause l e s s t r o u b l e t o l e t them take p l a c e .
There were v i o l e n t scenes a t Trnovo and Athanas Bourov, one
o f the c h i e f O p p o s i t i o n f i g u r e s d e c l a r e d "We must a n n i h i l a t e
21
the A g r a r i a n c r i m i n a l s " . Tomov, the M i n i s t e r of War, who
was p l a y i n g a double r o l e i n t h i s event, proceeded t o a r r e s t
1
O p p o s i t i o n l e a d e r s and, d i s o b e y i n g S t a m b o l i s k i s t e l e g r a p h e d
orders t o r e l e a s e them, t h r e a t e n e d a referendum t o decide
22
their fate. Such a c t i o n , a l t h o u g h e a s i l y a t t r i b u t a b l e t o an
over-zealous o f f i c i a l d o m , was c a l c u l a t e d t o arouse f u r t h e r
o p p o s i t i o n a g a i n s t the A g r a r i a n l e a d e r s . I n October, as a
demonstration o f l o y a l t y t o the Government, the p r o - S t a m b o l i s k i
Orange Guards came en masse t o S o f i a . They were an u n d i s c i p l i n e d
body composed m a i n l y o f peasants and soon g o t o u t o f hand,
p i l l a g i n g , r o b b i n g , and b u r n i n g down the R a d i c a l Club. They
sniped a t the houses o f O p p o s i t i o n l e a d e r s , danced i n the
19. T . I . Geshkoff, Balkan Union. A Road t o Peace i n South-
e a s t e r n Europe. New York, 1940, p. 61.
20. Swire, op. c i t . . p . 154. 21. I b i d . . p. 153.
22. l o d o r o v , op. c i t . . p . 172. See a l s o J . Buchan ( E d ) ,
B u l g a r i a and Romania. The Nations of Today S e r i e s , London,
1924, p . 162. The O p p o s i t i o n f i g u r e s a r r e s t e d i n c l u d e d Danev,
M a l i n o v and l o d o r o v ( t h e Prime M i n i s t e r from 1918-19 - n o t t h e
M i n i s t e r i n Belgrade).
 (78)
23
s t r e e t s and were i n v o l v e d i n numerous p u b l i c b r a w l s .
The demonstration d i d n o t h e l p the r e p u t a t i o n o f the A g r a r i a n
P a r t y . By November, IMRO had openly embarked upon g u e r r i l l a
w a r f a r e a g a i n s t the government i t s e l f and S t a m b o l i s k i was
24
o b l i g e d t o leave the Lausanne Conference t o q u e l l the u n r e s t .
Despite t h e i r r e p u t a t i o n , he decided t o organize the Orange
s 25
Guard a peasant m i l i t i a which c o u l d defend the regime.
Such a f o r c e was d e s p e r a t e l y needed. On December 6 ,
Alexandrov's s u p p o r t e r s took c o n t r o l of the town of K u s t e n d i l
by f o r c e and t h e r e were rumours i n S o f i a t h a t a r e v o l t a g a i n s t
the Government was imminent. L o y a l government t r o o p s were sent
to K u s t e n d i l and Tomov ordered the i n s u r g e n t s t o leave the
town. Alexandrov's s u p p o r t e r s demanded t h a t pro-IMRO officials
should be appointed i n the P e t r i c h D i s t r i c t or they would march
on the c a p i t a l . Tomov gave way t o t h e i r demands and the i n s u r g e n t s
2
surrendered c o n t r o l of the town. ** H i s a c t i o n , w h i c h was taken
1
i n S t a m b o l i s k i s absence and r e l u c t a n t l y endorsed by the
Government t o m a i n t a i n i t s small m a j o r i t y i n the Sobranje,
gave IMBO a c o n t r o l l i n g i n f l u e n c e i n south-west B u l g a r i a which
i t r e t a i n e d u n t i l 1934. W i t h i n a few months, the O r g a n i z a t i o n
was l e v y i n g i t s own taxes and e n r o l l i n g a l l men of a m i l i t a r y
age. Soon i t possessed i t s own m i l i t i a , w h i c h c o n s i s t e d o f
8,000 men. Todorov suggested t h a t S t a m b o l i s k i should overhaul
his Cabinet, p r o c l a i m m a r t i a l law, m o b i l i z e and arm the
27
peasants and a r r e s t a l l u n r e l i a b l e o f f i c e r s , but S t a m b o l i s k i ,
c o n f i d e n t t h a t a rapprochement w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a would soon be
made which would put an end t o a l l these d i s t u r b a n c e s , d i d n o t
take any immediate a c t i o n .
S t a m b o l i s k i b e l i e v e d t h a t events i n I t a l y , where M u s s o l i n i
2 3 . Swire, op. cit«, p. 154.
24. Todorov, op. c i t . , p. 179* The Lausanne Conference l a s t e d
from December 1922-February 1 9 2 3 .
25. Swire, op. c i t . , l o c . c i t . 26. I b i d . , pp. 152-53.
27. Todorov, op. c i t . . l o c . c i t .
 (79)

had r e c e n t l y come t o power, would b r i n g t h e two South Slav

n a t i o n s even more s w i f t l y t o g e t h e r . Before h i s march on Rome,
M u s s o l i n i d e c l a r e d : "Fascism should becomethe w a t c h f u l guardian
28
of our f o r e i g n p o l i c y , " and, i n Y u g o s l a v i a , memories o f
D'Annunzio's 1919 a t t a c k on Fiuiae r e t u r n e d . C e r t a i n l y , t h e
appearance o f M u s s o l i n i made l i t t l e d i f f e r e n c e t o I t a l i a n
f o r e i g n p o l i c y . Soon a f t e r t a k i n g up o f f i c e , he s t a t e d h i s
i n t e n t i o n o f seeking a r e p a r a t i o n s ' s e t t l e m e n t and, e a r l y i n
1 9 2 3 i through P r i n c e L i v i o Borghese, he demanded t h a t B u l g a r i a
pay h e r r e p a r a t i o n debt. I f the B u l g a r i a n government d i d n o t
pay, he would i n t r o d u c e s a n c t i o n s a g a i n s t the c o u n t r y and
he c i t e d the r e c e n t French occupation o f the Ruhr as an
example o f what c o u l d happen t o a c o u n t r y which d e f a u l t e d i n
i t s payments. M u s s o l i n i hoped t h a t Y u g o s l a v i a would co-operate
w i t h I t a l y i n imposing s a n c t i o n s on B u l g a r i a and proposed t h a t
Y u g o s l a v i a should s e i z e her neighbour^ customs and occupy t h e
29
P e r n i k c o a l f i e l d s . * Had Y u g o s l a v i a responded t o M u s s o l i n i ' s
suggestion, a l l S t a m b o l i s k i ' s work would have been i n v a i n and
both c o u n t r i e s would have l o s t more than they would have gained.
But S t a m b o l i s k i b e l i e v e d t h a t the Yugoslav l e a d e r s now saw t h e
wisdom o f h i s p o l i c y . When he went t o Belgrade i n November,
he had l e n g t h y t a l k s w i t h Pasic and Dr, N i n c i c . fie also had
an audience w i t h King Alexander. The King and he had g o t on
w e l l t o g e t h e r and Alexander even teased him about h i s r e p u b l i c a n
o u t l o o k . But the importance o f the meeting l a y i n a remark
by the K i n g i " I b e l i e v e , " he s a i d , " t h a t an a l l i a n c e between
30
us i s now p o s s i b l e . "
S t a m b o l i s k i and Todorov discussed M u s s o l i n i ' s demands and
when Todorov r e t u r n e d from h i s c o n s u l t a t i o n s i n S o f i a , he
p o i n t e d out t o the Yugoslav government t h a t i f t h e y y i e l d e d t o
M u s s o l i n i , o n l y 5% o f the r e p a r a t i o n s would go t o Y u g o s l a v i a .
28. C. H i b b e r t , B e n i t o M u s s o l i n i , London, 1 9 6 2 , p. 9 0 .
T h e r e f o r e , the o n l y b e n e f i c i a r y o f M u s s o l i n i ' s p o l i c y would be
2 9 . Todorov, op. c i t . . pp. 182-83. 3 0 . I b i d . , p. 1 7 3 .
 (80)

I t a l y h e r s e l f , since she would get 40$ o f t h e r e p a r a t i o n s

and d e s t r o y the prospect o f good r e l a t i o n s between B u l g a r i a
and Y u g o s l a v i a . Todorov suggested t h a t M u s s o l i n i ' s demands
might w e l l have been made t o impede a r e c o n c i l i a t i o n between
them. The Yugoslav l e a d e r s agreed w i t h t h i s view and Pas'ic
and Nincic' assured him t h a t t h e i r t r o o p s would n o t be used
a g a i n s t B u l g a r i a . They promised t o seek s i m i l a r assurances
from Rumania. When, i n March 1923, the Reparation Commission
gave way t s I t a l i a n pressure and ordered B u l g a r i a ' s neighbours
t o seize her customs and mines, Y u g o s l a v i a and Rumania r e f u s e d .
I n the l i g h t o f subsequent events and o f accusations of
Yugoslavian m i l i t a r y aggression, i t i s i m p o r t a n t t o remember
t h a t a t t h i s moment i n 1923 when m i l i t a r y a c t i o n was legally
s a n c t i o n e d , Y u g o s l a v i a made no move a g a i n s t B u l g a r i a .
One o f the r e s u l t s of M u s s o l i n i ' s p o l i c y was t o show the
u r g e n t need o f a Bulgaro-Yugoslav a l l i a n c e f o r the mutual
p r o t e c t i o n o f the two Balkan s t a t e s and the e v e n t u a l solidarity
of the whole p e n i n s u l a a g a i n s t F a s c i s t a g g r e s s i o n . The Yugoslav
32
government expressed i t s w i l l i n g n e s s t o n e g o t i a t e and the
f i r s t step was c l e a r l y an e a r l y s e t t l e m e n t o f the border problems*
Both governments agreed t o h o l d a Conference a t Nis* a t which
m i l i t a r y and p o l i c e a u t h o r i t i e s from b o t h c o u n t r i e s c o u l d work
out measures t o safeguard t h e i r common f r o n t i e r from IMRO
activitieso
The Nis Conference, which began, i n March 1923, lasted for
a month. Y u g o s l a v i a was represented by M. L a z i c , the d i r e c t o r
of the p o l i c e department o f the M i n i s t r y o f the I n t e r i o r ,
Colonel R i s t i c , Commandant o f the Skopje gendamerie and M. Millie,
the S e c r e t a r y o f the Yugoslav l e g a t i o n i n S o f i a . B u l g a r i a too
had t h r e e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s ; Colonel Neukpv from the B u l g a r i a n
M i n i s t r y o f the I n t e r i o r , Colonel Davidov, Commandant o f the
f r o n t i e r t r o o p s and Colonel P e t r o v , f o r m e r l y m i l i t a r y attache
a t P a r i s . The Conference agreed t o a s e r i e s o f comprehensive
3 1 . I b i d . , pp. 183-84. 3 2 . I b i d . , p. 182.
 (81)

measures t o improve border c o n t r o l on b o t h s i d e s o f the

f r o n t i e r . Dr. Beiss has g i v e n a summary o f the d e c i s i o n s which
were made a t Ni^»
"Along t h e f r o n t i e r t o a depth o f 100 metres on
each s i d e , a l l f o r e s t s w i l l be c l e a r e d and the f r e e space
p l a n t e d w i t h low-growing p l a n t s . The Yugoslav and B u l g a r i a n
f r o n t i e r p a t r o l s i n d i f f i c u l t c o u n t r y may use r o u t e s t h a t
i n places cross the f r o n t i e r . Springs on b o t h B i d e s may
be used by the f r o n t i e r guards o f both c o u n t r i e s . L i a i s o n
w i l l be m a i n t a i n e d between the o f f i c e r s and p a t r o l s o f
the two S t a t e s . The B u l g a r i a n government w i l l complete
the o r g a n i z a t i o n of i t s a u t h o r i t i e s i n the d i s t r i c t s of
P e t r i c h , K u s t e n d i l and Gorna Djoumaia. To t h i s end, i t
w i l l t r a n s f e r from the f r o n t i e r and n e i g h b o u r i n g r e g i o n s
a l l o f f i c i a l s compromised i n the a c t i v i t i e s o f the c o m i t -
a d j i s . I t w i l l a l s o remove from the f r o n t i e r a l l refugees
and d e s e r t e r s from the Yugoslav Army. I n g e n e r a l , i t
w i l l use every means t o p r e v e n t the f o r m a t i o n o f bands
and t h e i r passage over the f r o n t i e r . I t w i l l prevent
propaganda i n t h e i r f a v o u r . I t undertakes t o c o n s i d e r any
person who takes p a r t i n the o r g a n i z a t i o n and a c t i o n o f
the c o m i t a d j i s , or who abets the l a t t e r i n any way what-
soever, thus i n v o l v i n g S t a t e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , as falling
under the p e n a l t i e s o f the c r i m i n a l law. Both p a r t i e s
make a r e c i p r o c a l agreement f o r t h e e x t r a d i t i o n o f
c r i m i n a l s . The Yugoslav government w i l l take i n t o c o n s i d e r -
a t i o n a r e q u e s t made by t h e B u l g a r i a n Commission f o r
amnesty f o r the r e f u g e e s . Refugees can r e t u r n and the
Yugoslav government w i l l f a c i l i t a t e t h e i r r e t u r n . A f u r t h e r
Commission w i l l d i s c u s s t h e measures t o p r e v e n t propaganda
and the f o r m a t i o n o f bands. T h i s second Commission w i l l
meet a t S o f i a .
I t i s noteworthy t h a t a t the N i s Conference, the B u l g a r i a n

33. B e i s s , op. c i t . , pp. 3 7 - 3 8 .

 (82)

d e l e g a t e s f o r m a l l y a d m i t t e d t h a t the c o m i t a d j i bands were

34
formed on B u l g a r i a n t e r r i t o r y and crossed i n t o Y u g o s l a v i a .
v
The d e c i s i o n s of the N i s Conference were signed by the two
d e l e g a t i o n s on A p r i l 2 5 , and r a t i f i e d by the B u l g a r i a n
35
government. I t was agreed t h a t the d e c i s i o n s would come
i n t o f o r c e on May 1 2 , 1 9 2 3 , ^ but the coup d ' e t a t i n B u l g a r i a
and the overthrow of S t a m b o l i s k i came so q u i c k l y a f t e r the
r a t i f i c a t i o n o f the N i s agreement t h a t the d e c i s i o n s made
were never c a r r i e d o u t and the Second Conference a t S o f i a
37
never t o o k p l a c e .
V

The N i s Conference can r i g h t l y be regarded as the h i g h -

water mark i n Y u g o s l a v - B u l g a r i a n r e l a t i o n s i n the p e r i o d
1918-41. Never again d i d the p r o s p e c t o f a rapprochement seem
so c l o s e , nor the d e s i r e f o r f r i e n d s h i p so g r e a t . The bitterness
of war had been erased - a t l e a s t from the d i p l o m a t i c memory -
and the A g r a r i a n p o l i c y o f g o o d w i l l and c o n c i l i a t i o n had -paved
v
the way f o r a genuine s e t t l e m e n t . At the time o f the N i s
agreement, S t a m b o l i s k i t o l d a f r i e n d :
H
I o n l y need a few more years t o break down a l l
the e x i s t i n g b a r r i e r s between the Serbs and o u r s e l v e s .
B e l i e v e me, i n due course, t h e r e w i l l be no frontiers
38
between the two S t a t e s . . . . . "
On h i s way t o a League meeting i n Geneva i n May 1923» Todorov
met N i n c i c and arranged plans f o r a m i l i t a r y a l l i a n c e between
t h e i r two c o u n t r i e s . I t was proposed t h a t t h e p l a n s be k e p t
s e c r e t so as t o p r e v e n t any h o s t i l e r e a c t i o n from I t a l y .
Two o f f i c i a l s , Colonel Neukov from B u l g a r i a and General Pesic
of Y u g o s l a v i a were a p p o i n t e d t o work o u t the d e t a i l s and i t
was agreed t h a t when the a l l i a n c e was concluded, Y u g o s l a v i a
would ask France t o a l l o w m i l i t a r y equipment t o be despatched
t o B u l g a r i a under t h e g u i s e o f s u p p l i e s f o r the Yugoslav
34. Swire, op. c i t . . pp. 1 5 8 - 5 9 . 36. Swire, op. c i t . . l o c . c i t .
35. B e i s s , op. c i t . . l o c . o i t . 37. R e i s s , op. c i t . . l o c . c i t .
38. M. Padev, Escape from the Balkans. London, 1943t P« 68.
 (83)

arsenal. But events i n B u l g a r i a d e s t r o y e d the prospect

v
of an a l l i a n c e and, l i k e the d e c i s i o n s a t N i s , no practical
steps were ever t a k e n .
When, i n January, i t was known t h a t S t a m b o l i s k i had agreed
w i t h Yugoslavia t o take j o i n t a c t i o n a g a i n s t the c o m i t a d j i s ,
IMRO made p l a n s t o wreck the chances o f an agreement by
p r o v o k i n g the Yugoslavs t o r e p r i s a l s w h i c h would cause anger i n
Sofia. On January 16, a major a t t a c k was made on the Macedonian
v i l l a g e of K a d r i f a k o v o . I n the a t t a c k , 17 o f the p o p u l a t i o n
were bayonetted t o death and s i x o t h e r s s e r i o u s l y i n j u r e d .
Houses and s t a b l e s were b u r n t and l i v e s t o c k d r i v e n away, the
41
t o t a l damage being assessed a t 188,585 d i n a r s . Later, during
the Conference i t s e l f , another major r a i d was made, t h i s time
upon the v i l l a g e of D o l a n i . A s u b - p r e f e c t and seven policemen
were k i l l e d and Yugoslav t r o o p s pursued the c o m i t a d j i s t o
Garvan and s h e l l e d t h e i r emplacement. I n t h i s i n c i d e n t , twenty-
e i g h t B u l g a r i a n t e r r o r i s t s were k i l l e d . As IMRO had hoped, t h e
event provoked a l a r g e d e m o n s t r a t i o n i n Sofia w i t h f i e r y
speeches, b l a c k banners and demonstrators denouncing Yugoslavia
42
and demanding Macedonian autonomy.
On March 17, 1923, Stamboliski proclaimed m a r t i a l law
i n the P e t r i c h d i s t r i c t . This b e l a t e d attempt t o r e s t o r e the
a u t h o r i t y o f the B u l g a r i a n government d i d n o t please the Organ-
i z a t i o n . Alexandrov, who had r e t u r n e d t o B u l g a r i a d e s p i t e the
o r d e r f o r h i s a r r e s t , d e c l a r e d the D i s t r i c t autonomous and
t h r e a t e n e d a l l h i s opponents w i t h d e a t h . An a s s a s s i n was sent
to Sofia to k i l l S t a m b o l i s k i but the man was caught and the
c o n s p i r a c y d i s c o v e r e d . House-to-house searches were organized
i n S o f i a and the l e a d e r s o f the Macedonian Immigrants were
i n t e r n e d . These measures were h i g h l y s u c c e s s f u l except i n t h e
P e t r i c h D i s t r i c t where l o y a l t r o o p s were r e p e l l e d by IMRO's
39. Todorov, op. c i t . , p. 187. See a l s o S t a v r i a n o s , op. cit.,
p„ 2 1 1 . 40. Swire, op. c i t . , l o c . c i t .
4 1 . R e i s s , op. c i t . , pp. 1 0 5 - 6 . 42. Swire, op. c i t . , p. 158.
 (84)

private militia.^
I n March, S t a m b o l i s k i decided t o repeat the e l e c t o r a l
manoeuvre he had used i n 1920 t o secure a g r e a t e r m a j o r i t y
f o r the A g r a r i a n p a r t y i n t h e Sobranje. He b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e
rapprochement w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a and t h e change t o p r o p o r t i o n a l
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n would work i n h i s f a v o u r . The r e s u l t s
c e r t a i n l y v i n d i c a t e d h i s optimism, f o r i n t h e e l e c t i o n s which
were h e l d on A p r i l 22, 1923, t h e A g r a r i a n s gained 212 o f t h e
44
245 p a r l i a m e n t a r y s e a t s . Such a success was n o t o b t a i n e d
w i t h o u t t h e use o f unscrupulous methods by determined govern-
ment s u p p o r t e r s . The A g r a r i a n p a r t y o f 1923 vas u n d i s c i p l i n e d ,
c o r r u p t i o n was r i f e , c r i t i c i s m was n o t t o l e r a t e d and many
official posts were h e l d by peasants some o f whom were
45
incompetent and some even i l l i t e r a t e . Nevertheless, the
e l e c t i o n s showed an increase i n popular support f o r S t a m b o l i s k i .
A f t e r t h e e l e c t i o n s , he was v i r t u a l l y d i c t a t o r o f B u l g a r i a .
Rather u n w i s e l y , he a l l o w e d rumours t o c i r c u l a t e t h a t t h e
" T z a r t c h e t o " would now be d e p r i v e d o f some o f h i s p r e r o g a t i v e s
and t h e r e was s p e c u l a t i o n whether he would now d e c l a r e B u l g a r i a
a r e p uvbil •i c .46
For a l l those who were opposed t o S t a m b o l i s k i , t h e
e l e c t i o n s were t h e d e c i d i n g f a c t o r . There was no chance o f
d e f e a t i n g t h e A g r a r i a n l e a d e r i n a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l manner
since he had t h e massive and i n a l i e n a b l e support o f t h e
peasantry. The o n l y a l t e r n a t i v e was a coup d i e t a t .
Flans f o r t h e overthrow o f t h e government had been
c o n t i n u i n g f o r some t i m e . There had been t h e Trnovo a f f a i r
i n September 1922 and t h e s e i z u r e o f K u s t e n d i l i n December.
Two months l a t e r , t h e r e was open o p p o s i t i o n t o S t a m b o l i s k i
43. I b i d . , p. 1 5 9 .
44. I b i d . , p. 156. The r e s u l t s were; Agrarians 212
Communists 16
Others 17.
45. I b i d . , l o c , c i t . 46. I b i d . , l o c . c i t .
 (85)

from w i t h i n h i s own Cabinet and Tomov was somewhat b e l a t e d l y

47
dismissed. E a r l y i n 1923, t h e r e had been plans t o make an
immediate a t t a c k on t h e government b u t on January 15, s i x
days before t h e coup was due t o take p l a c e , Stamboliski
v i s i t e d t h e S o f i a M i l i t a r y Club. Here he met Colonel Ivan
Volkov, one o f t h e l e a d i n g c o n s p i r a t o r s and head o f t h e Map
D i v i s i o n i n t h e B u l g a r i a n War O f f i c e . When i n t r o d u c e d t o him,
S t a m b o l i s k i i s r e p o r t e d t o have s a i d "So you are t h e Colonel
48
Volkov who wants t o overthrow me!" A f t e r t h i B , t h e January
coup came t o noyhing. On February 4, a bomb was thrown i n t o
the box a t t h e N a t i o n a l Theatre where S t a m b o l i s k i and f i v e
M i n i s t e r s were s i t t i n g , The M i n i s t e r s l e f t t h e box before
the e x p l o s i o n and t h e K i n g , who was s i t t i n g i n a box o p p o s i t e ,
49
c o n g r a t u l a t e d h i s Prime M i n i s t e r on h i s escape. S i x days
l a t e r , t h e N a t i o n a l Theatre was b u r n t t o t h e ground. I t vas
discovered t h a t Tomov, t h e e x - M i n i s t e r o f War, and two c o n s p i r -
a t o r s had been p l o t t i n g a second coup and t h e b u r n i n g o f t h e
Theatre was t o be t h e s i g n a l f o r t h e o p e r a t i o n . I t has been
1
s a i d t h a t King B o r i s disapproved o f Tomov s a c t i v i t i e s - o r ,
a t l e a s t , p r e f e r r e d S t a m b o l i s k i t o him - and, before t h e coup
was launched, summoned S t a m b o l i s k i t o t h e palace and warned him
50
o f what was a f o o t . I n March, t h e S o v i e t Red Cross was a l l o w e d
t o s e t up an o f f i c e i n S o f i a f o r t h e r e p a t r i a t i o n o f those who
g e n u i n e l y wished t o r e t u r n t o Russia. 4,000 took advantage o f
the o f f e r b u t t h e remaining 36,000 misconstrued Stamboliski•s
a c t i o n . They b e l i e v e d t h a t he was i n t e n d i n g t o e s t a b l i s h
d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s w i t h Russia and was "hand i n g l o v e " w i t h
the B o l s h e v i k s . They immediately entered i n t o n e g o t i a t i o n s
w i t h t h e O p p o s i t i o n and promised t o r a i s e s e v e r a l regiments,
i n t h e event o f t h e r e being a coup o r r e v o l u t i o n a g a i n s t
5 1
Stamboliski.
47. Todorov, op. c i t . . p. 184. 49. I b i d . , p. 155.
48. Swire, op. c i t . . pp. 156-57. 50. I b i d . , pp. 155-56.
51. Todorov, op. c i t . , pp. 184-85.
 (86)

Two days a f t e r the e l e c t i o n , Alexander Tsankov, a

52
p r o f e s s o r o f P o l i t i c a l Economy a t S o f i a U n i v e r s i t y , had
a p r i v a t e d i s c u s s i o n w i t h Dimo Kazazov - a S o c i a l i s t j o u r n a l i s t
who had g r e a t i n f l u e n c e w i t h the S o f i a Press. Tsankov had
f o r m e r l y been a s o c i a l i s t who supported t h e i d e a o f a
Balkan c o n f e d e r a t i o n under the aegis o f the Austro-Hungarian
Empire. By t h i s t i m e , he was a determined opponent o f t h e Prime
M i n i s t e r and the p o l i c i e s he stood f o r . Now, w i t h t h e Macedonian
Organization, the Opposition leaders, dismissed A g r a r i a n
m i n i s t e r s , White Russians and opponents o f the pro-Yugoslav
p o l i c y , a " M i l i t a r y League" had been s e t Up. The o n l y common
o b j e c t o f the League was the o v e r t h r o w o f S t a m b o l i s k i and
Tsankov asked Kazazov whether he would j o i n t h e c o n s p i r a c y .
Kazazov t h o u g h t the m a t t e r over f o r a f o r t n i g h t and j o i n e d
53
the League on May 8. Other f i g u r e s , who were l a t e r t o p l a y
an i m p o r t a n t p a r t i n B u l g a r i a n h i s t o r y , a l s o t o o k p a r t i n t h e
coup - Colonel Volkov, Kimon Gheorgiev, Damian Velchev and
54
I v a n M i h a i l o v . M i h a i l o v , a 27 year o l d Macedonian, was t h e
main c o n t a c t between IMRO and t h e c o n s p i r a t o r s i n S o f i a . The
Macedonian O r g a n i z a t i o n had passed i t s d e a t h sentence on Stambol-
55
i s k i on March 3> but Alexandrov was anxious t o d e l a y t h e
coup u n t i l J u l y when the peasants would be g e t t i n g i n t h e i r
h a r v e s t . M i h a i l o v , however, d i d n o t take much n o t i c e o f
Alexandrov's o p i n i o n and began t o h i r e men t o take p a r t i n
56 '
the c o n s p i r a c y . On June 5» i t was decided t h a t t h e coup d ' e t a t
52. Tsankov was born a t Orehovo i n 1879. He was educated i n
Germany and remained pro-German t h r o u g h o u t the i n t e r - w a r p e r i o d ,
53. Swire, op. c i t . . pp. 1 5 9 - 6 0 . 54. M i h a i l o v was born a t
S h t i p i n 1896. He was educated a t S a l o n i k a and a l s o a t t h e S e r b i a n
High School a t Skopje. D u r i n g the B u l g a r i a n o c c u p a t i o n , he was
a t a x a t i o n c l e r k a t S h t i p . He j o i n e d IMRO i n 1920.
55. S. C h r i s t o w e , Heroes and Assassins. London, 1935# p. 164.
56. Swire, op. g i t . , pp. 1 6 0 - 6 1 .
 (87)

57
would take place f o u r days l a t e r - on June 9 .
A f t e r a l l t h e s i g n s o f r e c e n t months, S t a m b o l i s k i was
f u l l y avare o f t h e impending coup. Indeed, he i s r e p o r t e d t o
CO
have had p r e m o n i t i o n s o f h i s a s s a s s i n a t i o n . Muraviev, h i s
nephew knew o f a l l t h e p r e p a r a t i o n s and even t h e names o f
59
some o f t h e c o n s p i r a t o r s , b u t d i d n o t h i n g . InApril, a
Colonel L i c h e v o f t h e S o f i a G a r r i s o n came t o Todorov t o t e l l
him o f t h e c o n s p i r a c y t h a t was being formed. L i c h e v told
Todorov t h a t i f he was g i v e n a u t h o r i t y he c o u l d c r u s h i t and
t o g e t h e r t h e y went t o see Muraviev. The l a t t e r l i s t e n e d t o
them b u t s t i l l d i d n o t h i n g . ^ I t would have been easy t o have
p r o c l a i m e d m a r t i a l law b u t even t h i s was n e g l e c t e d . One w r i t e r ,
who examined t h e background o f t h e events o f June 1923» stated
11
" C r i m i n a l n e g l i g e n c e was t h e Government's undoing. ^
On June 1 , S t a m b o l i s k i r e t i r e d t o h i s farm a t S l a v o v i t s a
t o prepare changes i n t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n . I t seems l i k e l y that
these changes d i d i n v o l v e some r e d u c t i o n i n r o y a l p r e r o g a t i v e
2
and King B o r i s v i s i t e d him a t h i s farm on June 7 . ^ No r e c o r d
o f t h i s meeting e x i s t s . Two days l a t e r , e a r l y i n t h e morning
o f June 9, t h e coup d ' e t a t took p l a c e . The A g r a r i a n m i n i s t e r s
who were i n t h e c a p i t a l were a r r e s t e d ^ and, a f t e r s i x hours
o f i n d e c i s i o n , King B o r i s agreed t o make P r o f e s s o r Tsankov
64
Prime M i n i s t e r o f a new government. At S l a v o v i t s a , the
57. I b i d . . p. 1 6 2 . 59. I b i d . . l o c . c i t .
58. I bid.. l o c . c i t . 6 0 . Todorov, op. c i t . . pp. 1 8 6 - 7 .
61. A. Radolov, The P l o t o f June 9 . S o f i a 1 9 3 1 .
62. Swire, op. c i t . . p. 1 6 2 .
63. Several m i n i s t e r s escaped. Obov f l e d t o Rumania, Oaskalov
t o Prague. Todorov, who was i n Prague a t t h e t i m e , sent a
l e t t e r o f l o y a l t y t o t h e f a l l e n government and r e s i g n e d h i s p o s t .
64. Swire, op. c i t . . p. 1 6 3 . Cf. a l s o , N.P. N i k o l a e v ,
La d e s t i n e e t r a g i q u e d'un r o i , Uppsala, 1 9 5 2 , p. 2 2 0 .
 (88)

Orange Guards p u t up a s t r o n g r e s i s t a n c e t o t h e u n i t s sent

to capture S t a i n b o l i s k i but he vas caught on June 13* On the
f o l l o w i n g day, he was t a k e n back t o h i s home a t S l a v o v i t s a
and mude t o d i g h i s grave. His ears were t h e n c u t o f f and
v 65
a l s o t h e hands which signed the N i s Convention." Finally,
S t a m b o l i s k i was shot and h i s body dismembered.
The death o f S t a m b o l i s k i i s one o f t h e most t r a g i c
events i n B u l g a r i a n h i s t o r y . A t a time when so much was being
achieved, t h e p r i n c i p a l a r c h i t e c t o f the South Slav f r i e n d s h i p
was d e s t r o y e d and h i s government overthrown. A l t h o u g h the p r o -
Yugoslavian p o l i c y was o n l y one o f the causes o f t h e coup d ' e t a t ,
i t vas t h i s which had most e m b i t t e r e d the Macedonian O r g a n i z a t i o n .
IMRO had been one o f t h e most p o w e r f u l elements i n the c o n s p i r a c y ,
and i n t h e p o s t - A g r a r i a n B u l g a r i a , i t e x e r c i s e d a power and
i n f l u e n c e o u t o f a l l p r o p o r t i o n t o i t s s i z e . No l o n g e r was
i t s u b j e c t t o t h e government i n S o f i a ; no l o n g e r was i t c o n s t -
r a i n e d by the N i s agreement. W i t h S t a m b o l i s k i gone, the whole
process o f rapprochement came t o an end. The South Slav cause
had l o s t one o f i t s g r e a t e s t advocates and gained a " m a r t y r " .

65. I b i d . , pp. 167-68.

 Chapter 5.

The F r o n t i e r Question.
 (90)

The Great Powers regarded t h e coup d ' e t a t as an i n t e r n a l

q u e s t i o n and f e l t t h a t since King B o r i s had recognized t h e
Tsankov a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , t h e l a t t e r must be considered t h e
l e g a l government o f B u l g a r i a . Towards Y u g o s l a v i a , Tsankov shoved
an i n i t i a l d e s i r e t o c o n t i n u e S t a m b o l i s k i ' s p o l i c y o f c o n c i l -
i a t i o n . Several Macedonian newspapers were t e m p o r a r i l y suspended
and d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s between t h e two c o u n t r i e s were
r e s t o r e d on June 2 9 . 1
Nevertheless]
"The new a d m i n i s t r a t i o n became v e r y f r i e n d l y w i t h
IMBO. The Macedonians breathed w i t h r e l i e f . The new
Cabinet p r a c t i c a l l y ceded t h e P e t r i c h d i s t r i c t t o IMRO
and t h e eleven p a r l i a m e n t a r y v o t e s which represented t h e
d i s t r i c t went s o l i d l y behind t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i o n . I n
o t h e r words, t h e new government and t h e Macedonians
t a c i t l y co-operated and everyone seemed t o be s a t i s f i e d ,
everyone t h a t i s , except t h e A g r a r i a n s , t h e emigres, t h e
Communista, t h e Serbs, t h e Greeks, France, Czechoslovakia,
2
Roumania, and a few o t h e r s . "
F o l l o w i n g t h e coup t h e headquarters o f IMBO a t S o f i a were
the premises o f t h e Macedonia-Adrianople V o l u n t e e r s . The V o l u n t e e r s ,
most o f whom were a l r e a d y members o f t h e O r g a n i z a t i o n , were
o s t e n s i b l y an a s s o c i a t i o n f o r v e t e r a n s o l d i e r s b u t were i n f a c t
the young o f f i c e r s and N.C.O.s o f t h e " V o l u n t e e r D i v i s i o n " ,
which had been p a r t i c u l a r l y n o t o r i o u s i n S e r b i a d u r i n g t h e
1 . J . Swire, B u l g a r i a n Conspiracy, London, 1 9 3 9 , p. 174.
2 . S. Christowe, Heroes and Assassins. London, 1935* PP« 1 6 2 - 3 .
A l t h o u g h on t h e whole C h r i s t o v e w r i t e s s e r i o u s l y , he o c c a s i o n a l l y
puts over h i s p o i n t w i t h some humour. Throughout h i s book,
his sympathies remain w i t h t h e Macedonian O r g a n i z a t i o n .
 (91)

war. By having t h e i r headquarters a t t h i s o f f i v e i n t h e v e r y

h e a r t o f S o f i a , M i h a i l o v and Alexandrov v e r e assured o f being
i n constant touch w i t h Colonel Volkov, who nov became M i n i s t e r
of War. I n J u l y 1923,government r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s and some o f
Alexandrov's s e n i o r l i e u t e n a n t s met a t a s e c r e t conference
t o p l a n f u t u r e IMBO o p e r a t i o n s i n Southern S e r b i a . To f i n a n c e
these o p e r a t i o n s , t h e Government p r o v i d e d t h e O r g a n i s a t i o n w i t h
30 m i l l i o n l e v a .

During June, B r i o and o t h e r c o m i t a d j i l e a d e r s once more

crossed t h e border i n t o Y u g o s l a v i a and resumed t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s .
During t h e summer, t h e r e was asteep i n c r e a s e i n t h e number o f
i n c i d e n t s . On June 2 0 , 113 c o m i t a d j i s a t t a c k e d a p l a t o o n o f
62 p o l i c e and k i l l e d 15 o f them. I n September, t h e mayor o f
Radja (near G e v g h e l i ) was hung and bayonetted, and i n t h e
v i l l a g e of S v a d o r i t s e , a Moslem was hung w i t h a n o t i c e attached
t o h i s body, s a y i n g i "So p e r i s h a l l t r a i t o r s t o t h e B u l g a r i a n
5
o r g a n i z a t i o n i n Macedonia." The examples are l e g i o n .
S h o r t l y a f t e r t h e coup d ' e t a t , Todorov vas approached by
Colonel K a l f o v , t h e nev B u l g a r i a n f o r e i g n m i n i s t e r , who o f f e r e d
3 . Swire, op. c i t . , pp. 169-71. I n B u l g a r i a , many " s p o r t i n g
and c u l t u r a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s " were s e t up as a cover f o r p a r a -
m i l i t a r y f o r m a t i o n s . For i n s t a n c e , i n a c o u n t r y o f few b i c y c l e s ,
t h e r e was an 18,000 s t r o n g C y c l i s t ' s A s s o c i a t i o n and a Hunter*s
A s s o c i a t i o n w i t h 55*000 members. I n June 1927, f o l l o w i n g
s u r r e p t i t i o u s rearmament by Volkov, t h e Entente Representatives
o f t h e L i q u i d a t i o n Board, s t a t e d t h a t B u l g a r i a vas evading t h e
m i l i t a r y clauses o f t h e T r e a t y o f N e u i l l y and had never a n n u l l e d
the s t a t u t e e n a c t i n g compulsory m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e . Despite this,
G. Desbons, La B u l g a r i e apres l e T r a i t / de N e u i l l y , P a r i s ,
1930, p. 248, s t a t e s : "To be honest, B u l g a r i a has respected
the T r e a t y o f N e u i l l y . Being a new n a t i o n , a peasant n a t i o n , she
i s n o t m i l i t a r i s t and l a c k s t h e m i l i t a r y s p i r i t . She d e t e s t s t h e
military tradition." 4. Swire, i b i d . , p. 174. 5. R.A. Reiss,
The Comitad.ji Question i n Southern S e r b i a , London, 1924, pp. 105-8.
 (92)

him the post of M i n i s t e r P l e n i p o t e n t i a r y i n Paris, w i t h especial

reference t o propaganda i n Yugoslavia and France.** Ka}fov t o l d
the former M i n i s t e r i n Belgrade t h a t Yugoslav-Bulgarian
r e l a t i o n s had been g e t t i n g too close o f l a t e and he would
prefer to see a more p r o - I t a l i a n p o l i c y . Todorov refused the
7
o f f e r and joined Gbov and Daskalov who had formed a Revolution-
ary Committee i n Prague t o work against the "Bulgarian D i c t a t o r -
g
ship." Ever since the coup there had been large numbers of
refugees crossing from Bulgaria i n t o Yugoslavia and Daskalov
suggested t h a t Todorov go back t o Belgrade and make arrangements
w i t h the Yugoslav government f o r t h e i r food and s h e l t e r .
Todorov agreed t o do t h i s and went t o Belgrade, where he
received great sympathy from p o l i t i c a l leaders. The l a t t e r were
r e c a l l i n g Stamboliski's words i n 1915 and h i s unrelenting
e f f o r t s t o bring the two South Slav nations together. King
Alexander, w i t h whom he had an audience, declared t h a t he was
sorry t h a t the moment o f success f o r t h e i r work had been
forestalled,, Moreover, Pasic t o l d him that the peasantry would
one day reverse the decision.^ A f t e r seeing the King and Pasic,
Todorov busied himself w i t h arranging refugee camps and organ-
i z i n g the e x i l e s - many/ of whom were members of the Agrarian and
Communist p a r t i e s - i n t o a f i g h t i n g force, 4,000 strong. Companies
of e x i l e s were then placed near the f r o n t i e r so t h a t t h e i r
6. On the eve of the coup, Nikola Milev had been chosen as
prospective f o r e i g n m i n i s t e r by the conspirators but because of
h i s overt IMB0 connections and the e f f e c t t h i s might have on Yugo-
s l a v i a , Kalfov was chosen instead. Milev became head of IMBO's
Committee f o r P o l i t i c s and Propaganda. He was shot, February 13,1925.
7. &. Todorov, Balkan Firebrand, The Autobiography o f a Reb-
e l , Soldier and Statesman, Chicago, 1943» pp. 194-95. Kalfov
t r i e d t o blackmail Todorov i n t o accepting the post by detaining
h i s w i f e i n Sofia. 8. I b i d . , p. 197. Daskalov was k i l l e d
by IMRO i n Prague on August 27, 1923, 9. I b i g . . p. 194.
 (93)

couriers could pass i n t o Bulgaria, deing the work of the

Revolutionary Committee. Each company was superintended by a
m i l i t a r y commander d i r e c t l y under Todorov's c o n t r o l . ^
Within Bulgaria, the nev government foresaw the possib-
i l i t y of a peasant r e v o l t and decided to take the i n i t i a t i v e .
I n the second week of September, 3,000 Army o f f i c e r s and IMRO
leaders attended a Congress near B i l a . The meeting and the
sentiments expressed gave the impression t h a t a serious
clash between Yugoslavia and Bulgaria was being planned. The
Yugoslav government, hearing of the Congress, promptly concent-
rated large numbers of troops on the border to r e s i s t any
incursion.** But i n f a c t the Congress was merely a cover f o r
the attack which the Tsankov government waB about to launch
on the enemies of the regime. This began on September 12.
Claiming that the Communists had planned a r e v o l u t i o n f o r
mid-September, Professor Tsankov ordered the a r r e s t of large
numbers of Agrarians, Communists and other supporters of
Stamboliski. The arrests provoked a v i o l e n t r e a c t i o n , as had
been expected. On September 20, the Communists r e t a l i a t e d w i t h
a major r e v o l t . The lack of planning or co-ordination i n t h e i r
u p r i s i n g would seem to gainsay the t r u t h of any conspiracy, f o r
12
the rebels had no r i f l e s , a r t i l l e r y or machine guns. They
did not even have the support of the Agrarians, who r e f r a i n e d
from taking up arms u n t i l September 23.*' By then, the r i s i n g
had spread over most of north-west Bulgaria and Volkov
proclaimed m a r t i a l law. Macedonian bands roamed the countryside,
r e s e r v i s t s were mobilized and the White Russians were given
arms. Within a week these forces had overcome a l l organized
resistance and Dimitrov and Kolarov w i t h 2,000 armed peasants
f l e d to Belgrade where they joined forces w i t h the Revolutionary
14
Committee. Following the u p r i s i n g , a b i t t e r c i v i l war raged
10. I b i d . , p. 197. 11. Swire, op. c i t . . p. 174.
12. I b i d . . p. 175. 13. I b i d . . l o c . c i t .
14. Todorov, op. c i t . , pp. 196-97.
 (94)

w i t h i n Bulgaria and many a t r o c i t i e s were reported. The t o t a l

number k i l l e d has never been established bat estimates have
15
ranged from 10-20,000. Many m i n i s t e r s i n the Sofia
government were h o r r i f i e d by the outrages and two resigned.
Nevertheless, the Tsanlcov government had achieved i t s goal;
peasant resistance t o the regime had been r u t h l e s s l y suppressed
and i n the e l e c t i o n s held on November 18, 1923» Tsankov's
C o a l i t i o n party, "The Democratic Entente", von 199 out of the
16
247 seats i n the Sobranje.
With such a government i n power i n Sofia, i t was i n e v i t a b l e
t h a t r e l a t i o n s between Yugoslavia and Bulgaria should r a p i d l y
d e t e r i o r a t e . I n November 1923* a Yugoslav delegation came to
Sofia t o arrange f o r the r e p a t r i a t i o n of those Macedonians
who had not been connected w i t h the Revolutionary Organization.
This had been one of the agreements made by the delegates at
Nis. These negotiations were resented i n Sofia and a physical
attack was made on the Yugoslav m i l i t a r y attache and h i s
orderly. The Yugoslav government demanded an apology. Bulgaria
apologized w i t h reluctance but said t h a t the assailants could
17
not be found. A f t e r the Yugoslav delegation had returned 'u 18
to Belgrade, Tsankov declared i n a speech: "Macedonia has the
r i g h t to l i b e r t y and j u s t i c e We demand what belongs t o us
His speech evoked protests from Greece and Yugoslavia and Tsankov
h u r r i e d l y explained t h a t h i s speech had been wrongly transmitted.
Belgrade was not very impressed by h i s excuses since Alexandrov,
s t i l l wanted f o r war-crimes i n Serbia, was l i v i n g f r e e l y i n
19
Sofia and was even reported to be c o n f e r r i n g w i t h King Boris.
Early i n 1924, f o l l o w i n g a rumour t h a t Alexandrov was
15. I b i d . , p. 197* Todorov states t h a t 17,000 died; Swire,
op. c i t . . p. 176-77, suggests 10-17,000; S.G. Evans, A Short
H i s t o r y of Bulgaria. London, 1960, p. 161, estimates 20,000 k i l l e d .
16. Swire, op. c i t . . p. 177. 18. Swire, op. c i t . . p.179*
17. fieiss, op. c i t . , pp. 39-40, 19. I b i d . . l o c . c i t .
 (95)

concentrating 10,000 men f o r a great offensive i n A p r i l and

f o l l o w i n g two more attacks on the Yugoslav M i l i t a r y attache',
the Yugoslav a u t h o r i t i e s began t o take stronger defensive
measures i n South Serbia. Frontier v i l l a g e s were armed against
the r a i d e r s and more police.were drafted i n t o the region.
An ex-comitadji leader defected to Yugoslavia and gave useful

2
advice on how t o organize the f r o n t i e r against enemy incursions.
Abroad, the Belgrade government made i t known t h a t i f Bulgaria
continued to harbour r e v o l u t i o n a r y bands on her t e r r i t o r y , i t
disclaimed a l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r the consequences. The
j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r the Yugoslav a t t i t u d e was clear. Between
1919-1934, there were 467 major outrages i n South Serbia
21
i n v o l v i n g the deaths of 706 Yugoslav o f f i c i a l s and c i v i l i a n s .
Furthermore, the whole process of d a i l y l i f e was disrupted i n
Yugoslav Macedonia:
"Alexandrov made a good job of organizing h i s
border d i s t r i c t s . He had established a courier servicee
and issued stamps bearing e i t h e r h i s head or a map of
Macedonia. Quite o f t e n , peasants were i n v e i g l e d i n t o
paying tax and those who disobeyed or complained t o the
Yugoslav a u t h o r i t i e s were l i k e l y t o f i n d t h e i r houses on
f i r e or else they disappeared. Corpses by the wayside
warned the t r u c u l e n t . A woman's body, hanging from a t r e e ,
a s l i p of paper pinned t o i t readings 'We have k i l l e d
you by order o f the great Alexandrov because you disobeyed
the Organization* - such sights struck t e r r o r . I n three
years, r a i d e r s murdered 100 people i n the Strumica d i s t r i c t
alone. Sometimes, Macedonian o f f i c i a l s i n Yugoslav service
20. I b i d . , p. 180.
21, jbid«, p. 43. The s t a t i s t i c s were as f o l l o w s :
1923 - 51 outrages. I926 - not a v a i l a b l e .
1924 - 74 outrages 1927 - 6 l outrages.
1925 - 55 outrages. 1928 - 10 outrages.
 (96)

were threatened or bribed i n t o c o l l a b o r a t i o n and were

put a t the head of l o c a l organizations, which well-to-do
peasants o f t e n joined to save t h e i r riches and l i v e s
22
from the bands."
One Macedonian, a grocer, t o l d Dr. Reiss: " I f we t e l l the
a u t h o r i t i e s , we r i s k being k i l l e d by the Bulgarsi i f we don't
23
t e l l them, we r i s k going t o prison." Many chose the l a t t e r
course. When, l a t e r i n the year, Dr. Reiss wrote h i s study of
the comitadji question i n Southern Serbia, he observed t h a t :
"Up to the present time, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats
and Slovenes has been long-suffering f o r the sake of peace.
However, since the a c t i v i t i e s of the comitadjis i n South
Serbia amounts not only t o a breach of the Treaty of
N e u i l l y but rather an act of war, nobody can deny the
Kingdom the r i g h t t o r e p l y to t h i s act of war by an act
which s u f f i c e s to put a stop to i t . The Bulgarian government
pretend that they cannot prevent the comitadjis from
crossing the f r o n t i e r because, as they say, they have not
enough s o l d i e r s . However, the active c o m i t a d j i s , i e . those
who cross the f r o n t i e r , are estimated to be 5-7,000 i n
number. Bulgaria w i t h her army was able to overcome the
partisans of Stamboliski, who were a t least 200,000 i n
number; how i s i t that she cannot s e t t l e w i t h 5-7,000
24
comitadjis? The f a c t i s that she does not want t o . "
But the r e v i v a l of IMB0 a c t i v i t y a f t e r the 1923 coup
25
produced such a strong r e a c t i o n t h a t there was a serious
convulsion w i t h i n the Organization i t s e l f . The concentration of
22. I b i d . , p. 171.
23. Reiss, op. c i t . . p. 123. 24. I b i d . , pp. 127-28.
25. The Yugoslavs moved troops up t o the border a f t e r the
rumours of Alexandrov's attack. At the same time, IMR0 was b u s i l y
c o l l e c t i n g funds and even American c i t i z e n s of Macedonian o r i g i n
were b u l l i e d f o r money u n t i l the U.S.A. threatened t o break o f f
diplomatic r e l a t i o n s .
 (97)

Yugoslav troops i n Southern Serbia and the arming of Macedonian

peasants t o r e s i s t the comitadji bands, had made the prospect
of a Bulgarian " l i b e r a t i o n " of Macedonia somewhat u n r e a l i s t i c .
IMRO looked f o r fresh support and, i n October 1923, Alexandrov
hinted t h a t he had a few surprises i n store f o r the Yugoslav
g o v e r n m e n t P r i n c i p a l among these was an a l l i a n c e w i t h the
Communist Party.
A f t e r the u p r i s i n g of September 1923 and i t s severe
a t r o c i t i e s , the Russian leaders of the Communist movement
decided that a genuine Communist r e v o l u t i o n i n Bulgaria -
the most suitable place i n the Balkans - could not succeed i f
was opposed by IMRO. During the w i n t e r months of 1923-24, there
27
were conversations between the two sides, Alexandrov r e a l i z e d
t h a t both they and the Communists were opposed t o the Triune
Kingdom and remembered t h a t , i n the 1920 Yugoslav e l e c t i o n s ,
there had been massive support f o r the Communist candidates i n
28
Southern Serbia. Protogerov, who had had fresh thoughts
about the objectives of the Organization, was disturbed by the
c o l l a b o r a t i o n between IMRO and Volkov during the September
r e v o l t . He f e l t that IMRO's resources had been exploited and
declared t h a t the Organization must remain independent. Common
29
i n t e r e s t drew the two sides together.
I n March 1924, Alexandrov and Protogerov went t o Vienna
0
and conferred w i t h representatives of the Third I n t e r n a t i o n a l . '
On A p r i l 29, as a r e s u l t of t h e i r discussions, Chaoulev, Proto-
gerov and Alexandrov signed a "Declaration of Policy", pledging
themselves to work f o r an autonomous Macedonia w i t h i n a Balkan
26. Swire, op. c i t . . p. 180. 27. Christowe, op. c i t . . p. 175.
28. See above, chapter 3* p. 56. The Communists secured 58
of the 419 seats i n the Constituent Assembly. Following a bomb
attack on Prince ( l a t e r King] Alexander and the subsequent ass-
assination on J u l y 21, 1921 of Draskovic, the M i n i s t e r of the
I n t e r i o r , the Communist p a r t y were banned and remained so u n t i l 1941.
29. Swire, op. c i t . . p. 184. 30. Christowe, op. c i t . , pp. 176-8.
 (98)
31
Federation. This d i d not mean any respite f o r the Yugoslav
government. Indeed, the d e c l a r a t i o n committed the Macedonian
Organization to collaborate w i t h other European r e v o l u t i o n a r y
movements and t o r e s i s t the " i m p e r i a l i s t designs" of the Greek,
Yugoslav and Bulgarian governments on Macedonia. A "Manifesto
to the Macedonian Nation," embodying these decisions, was
signed on May 5, 1924 and appeared i n the f i r s t e d i t i o n o f
Federation balkanique - a new magazine sponsored j o i n t l y by
"52
IMBO and the Communists - on J u l y 22, 1924.
When the Manifesto which urged a federal s o l u t i o n t o
Macedonia appeared i n p r i n t , there was something approaching
panic i n Bulgarian o f f i c i a l quarters. Newspapers publishing
the Manifesto were confiscated and government troops i n the
P e t r i c h d i s t r i c t were r e - i n f o r c e d . Jfciring June and J u l y , several
supporters of the Manifesto suffered sudden and mysterious
33
deaths. Alexandrov, n a t u r a l l y disturbed by the loss of some
of h i s closest colleagues, announced t h a t he would i n s t i t u t e
i n v e s t i g a t i o n s i n t o t h e i r deaths at the 6 t h . General Congress
of the Organization t o be held a t Lopovo on September 1.
However, on the eve of the Congress, w h i l s t he was oil the way
to Lepovo, Alexandrov was shot by "unknown assassins". When
the news of h i s death was released on September 16, i t was
34
stated that he had been k i l l e d a t "Yugoslav i n s t i g a t i o n . "
The f a c t that the p r i n c i p a l b e n e f i c i a r y of Alexandrov•e death
was Ivan Mihailov would seem to cast some doubt on t h i s a l l e g -
a t i o n . For the next ten years, Mihailov excused much of h i s
feuding i n Bulgaria by declaring that he was "pursuing and
35
1
punishing Alexandrov s murderers." But these feuds amounted
to nothing less than a thorough purge of a l l those who believed
31. Swire, op. c i t . . loc. c i t .
32. L. S. Stavrianos, Balkan Federation. . A H i s t o r y of the
Movement towards Balkan Unity i n Modern Times. Northampton,
Mass., 1944, p. 218. 33. Swire, op. c i t . . pp. 186-87.
34. Christove, op. c i t . , pp. 180-88. 35. Swire, op. c i t . p. 188.
 (99)

i n a federal s o l u t i o n f o r Macedonia, the 6ommuniste included.

On September 12, a t Gorna Djoumaia, many key supporters of
the Vienna Manifesto were massacred and the hunt f o r the r e s t
continued f o r several months. Chaoulev, one of the a r c h i t e c t s
of the Vienna Manifesto, declared t h a t i t was the Bulgar-ian
Government that had i n s t i g a t e d t h i s purge of iMRO's f e d e r a l i s t
supporters.*^ His a l l e g a t i o n has never been denied. On Decem-
ber 23, 1924, Chaoulev was shot i n Milan. Hi6 assassin, t r i e d
by an I t a l i a n Court, i n A p r i l 1926, was a c q u i t t e d . "
The Revolutionary Committee i n Prague and Belgrade were
ready t o take advantage of t h i s unrest. The September r e v o l t
had increased the number of armed e x i l e s t o over 6,000. Most
of these men had b i t t e r memories and were determined t o seek
vengeance on the regime which they abhorred. Between October
1923 and A p r i l 1925, there were a t least 32 raids by these
e x i l e s and, as from June 1924, Zemledelsko Zname. an o f f i c i a l
p u b l i c a t i o n of the Agrarian party was published i n Belgrade
38
urging r e v o l u t i o n i n Bulgaria. I m i t a t i n g IMRO and w i t h the
connivance of $he l o c a l Yugoslav a u t h o r i t i e s , the e x i l e s crossed
i n t o Bulgaria t o provoke unrest and spread propaganda against
the Tsankov government. The raids were contrary t o Todorov's
v *
wishes f o r they brought cautionary warnings from Nincic,
36. I b i d . , p. 192. Peter Chaoulev was a member of IMRO's
Action Committee, tie was also one of those wanted by the Yugo-
slav government f o r war crimes. I n the f i r s t l i s t pf 1,662,
he had been no. 1369; on the l i s t of 500, no. 409. He was
accused o f executions, flogging and p i l l a g e a t Buchie. Cf.
Reiss, op. c i t . . pp. 41-45.
1
37. Chaoulev s assassin, Stefan Dimitrov, l e f t Bulgaria i n
September 1924. The v e r d i c t of the I t a l i a n Court acquitted him
because "he k i l l e d a Communist by order of IMRO under the
menace of death i f he f a i l e d , " Dimitrov returned t o Sofia i n
triumph. Swire, op. c i t . . p. 192.
38. C.J. Logio, Bulgaria, Past and Present, Manchester, 1936,
453.
p #
 (100)

Yugoslavians Foreign M i n i s t e r , and also impeded the surpnise

39
i n s u r r e c t i o n f o r v h i c h Todorov was working. Unfortunately,
the Revolutionary Committee was by no means united and two
former Agrarian M i n i s t e r s , Athanassov and Stoyanov, who had
escaped from p r i s o n i n August 1924 and f l e d to Belgrade,
divulged the Committee's plans to Genov, a Communist agent.
This l e d to Communist preparations i n Bulgaria designed to
produce an u p r i s i n g before the Agrarian-planned conspiracy
40
could take place. But neither these preparations nor the
Agrarian conspiracy were wholly under way when three major
events took place i n Bulgaria.
The f i r s t , on A p r i l 14, 1925, was an attack on King BoriB.
I t was not d e l i b e r a t e l y directed against the King. Todorov
reported t h a t a peasant group led by Tumangelov, which had
been engaged i n g u e r i l l a warfare w i t h Volkov's troops f o r
two years, were on t h e i r way out of Bulgaria. Before crossing
the f r o n t i e r , they saw a car of armed men t r a v e l l i n g along the
41
road and made a s u p e r f i c i a l attack upon i t . The attack,
however, made a profound impression upon King Boris who was
t r a v e l l i n g i n the car. On the same day, General Konstantin
Gheorgiev, Chief of M i l i t a r y Justice i n Bulgaria, was assass-
inated i n Sofia. Two days l a t e r , a funeral service was held i n
his honour i n the Sveta Nedelja Cathedral. During the service,
a bomb exploded i n the cathedral, s i l l i n g 128 and i n j u r i n g
several hundred. Among the dead were the Mayor of Sofia,
42
fourteen generals and the 6hief of P o l i c e . There was an
immediate public outcry and the Communist Party were blamed
f o r the explosion. Although the i n c i d e n t may have been of
Communist i n s t i g a t i o n , i t has been suggested t h a t the Cathedral
Bomb p l o t was i n f a c t an e a r l i e r version of the Reichstag f i r e
39. Todorov, op. c i t . , p. 218. The Bulgarian government put
a 2 m i l l i o n leva ransom on Todorov's head.
40. I b i d . , p. 220 41. I b i d . , p. 222.
42. Swire, op. c i t . . p. 198.
 (101)

and that General Volkov, the Minister f o r War, was responsible

43
for i t . Whether or not t h i s t r u e , the i n c i d e n t provided him
w i t h an excellent opportunity t o suppress a l l opposition t o the
regime. M a r t i a l law was proclaimed, large numbers of Agrarians
44
and Communists were arrested and 300 condemned t o death.
These three events proved extremely fortunate f o r the regime
since they disrupted plans f o r the Agrarian and Communist
insurrections and the purge of Agrarian sympathizers was so
thorough t h a t the Revolutionary Committee l o s t many of i t s
i n t e r n a l contacts w i t h i n Bulgaria and the Committee was formally
45
dissolved i n May 1925.
Whatever the personal p o s i t i o n of General Volkov, the
a t t i t u d e of the Tsankov government towards the post-Alexandrov
IMRO was one of anxiety. During the w i n t e r o f 1924-25, there
were no fewer than 200 p o l i t i c a l murders i n Bulgaria and the
Cathedral i n c i d e n t had caused alsrm w i t h i n the Army cadre.
There was mutiny i n a f r o n t i e r g a r r i s o n and t a l k of a mass IMRO
attack on Tsaribrod, which provoked a severe warning from
46
Yugoslavia. Then, i n October 1925, IMRO operations provoked
the Greek government t o send troops i n t o the P e t r i c h d i s t r i c t .
Bulgaria appealed t o the League of Nations. The League t o l d
the Greek forces not t o intervene and ordered them to withdraw
t h e i r forces. A League Commission under S i r Horace BumboId
found t h a t Greece had v i o l a t e d the League Covenant and the
Athens government was obliged t o pay Bulgaria 30 m i l l i o n leva
47
as compensation. A scheme f o r the League's supervision of the
43. I b i d . , p. 199.
44. I b i d . . l o c . c i t . A series of 81 t r i a l s were held. Apart
from the condemned, a f u r t h e r 611 were imprisoned.
45. Todorov, op. c i t . . pp. 223-24. Nevertheless, i n March 1926,
Obov, Todorov, Athanassov and Stoyanov were t r i e d i n t h e i r
absence. They were charged w i t h organizing bands against the
Tsankov regime and were condemned t o death by hanging.
46. Swire, op. c i t . . p. 198. 47. £45,000 ( a t 1924-5 v a l u e s ) .
 (102)

Graeco-Bulgarian f r o n t i e r was B e t up but t h i s d i d not apply

to the Yugoslav-Bulgarian f r o n t i e r where there had been many
more i n c i d e n t s . ^ Tsankov and Kalfov, who feared t h a t Yugo-
49 z
s l a v i a might f o l l o w Greece's example, and overthrow the regime,
decided t o improve relatione,; Already, there had been some
contact. Professor Tsankov had v i s i t e d Belgrade i n December
50
1924 and Kalfov i n Hay 1925. I n September 1925, Tsankov met
Pasic i n Geneva, a f t e r making some gestures of goodwill i n c l u d i n g
the a r r e s t of several a g i t a t o r s and the dismissal of two d i s t r i c t
51
governors f o r belonging t o IHRO. I n December, there were
rumours i n Sofia t h a t Tsankov was piatoning a customs union w i t h
Yugoslavia. At the same time, Kalfov declared t h a t the Bulg-
arian people as a whole desired f r i e n d s h i p w i t h Yugoslavia.
"Belgrade," he said,"has understood us and t h a t i s enough f o r
52
us."
This abrupt change i n the p o l i c y of the Bulgarian government
produced an immediate r e a c t i o n . Both King Boris and General
Volkov d i s l i k e d the now outlook and the King had p r i v a t e
53
consultations w i t h Andrew Liapchev, a p r o - I t a l i a n p o l i t i c i a n
Within a f o r t n i g h t , there was strong a g i t a t i o n against Professor
Tsankov and he was p u b l i c l y blamed f o r a l l the repressive
48. Swire, op. c i t . , pp. 201-3* The Greek troops occupied
the P e t r i c h d i s t r i c t f o r 8 days, from October 21 and 29.
Previously, r e l a t i o n s between Greece and Bulgaria had been
comparatively good. Kalfov and P o l i t i s had signed a Convention
f o r the Protection o f the m i n o r i t i e s of both countries on
March 24, 1924. However, t h i s t r e a t y was never r a t i f i e d . Cf.
A. Toshev, The Bulgarian-Serbian Dispute, Sofia, 1932, pp. 74-75.
49. Worries t h a t Yugoslavia might f o l l o w Greece's example were
caused by the Yugoslav-Greek Treaty of Friendship which was
signed on August 17* 1926, which was very much i n the ai? a t
t h i s time. 50. I n subsequent months a t r a n s i t protocol and
a property agreement were signed. 51. Swire, op. c i t . p. 203.
52. I b i d , l o c . c i t . 53. I b i d . , pp. 203-4.
 (103)

measures of the past three years. On January 3» 1926, i n a

packed meeting of the Sobranje, he vas defeated and handed
54
his resignation to the King. His successor vas Liapchev,
w i t h Athanas Bourov as h i s f o r e i g n m i n i s t e r . Volkov remained
Minister of War but Liapchev took personal control of the
M i n i s t r y of the I n t e r i o r .
Just as the destruction of Stamboliski had encouraged
IMRO, so the r i s e of Mihailov and the downfall of Isankov
increased the strength and e f f e c t i v e capacity of the Organiz-
a t i o n . A sympathizer of the movement has w r i t t e n :
"After h i h a i l o v had s e t t l e d h i s scores w i t h the
Communists and 'Federalists', he proceeded t o show r e v o l -
utionary l i f e i n the Serb and Greek parts of Macedonia.
Tsankov's government had been supplanted by a c o a l i t i o n
government headed by the Macedonian, Andrew Liapchev.
Liapchev's government l a s t e d a long time and was d i s t i n g u -
ished f o r i t s patronage and tolerance of the Macedonians.
Under h i s regime, the Macedonians ran amok i n Bulgaria
and Bulgarian Macedonia. At times i t was hard t o t e l l j u s t
who had the power i n Bulgaria, the o f f i e i a l government
or the Macedonians. As f o r the P e t r i c h department, one
may say without s t r e t c h i n g the t r u t h t h a t i t existed as
a t i n y Macedonian s t a t e , independent i n practice i f not
55
on paper."
Mihailov's succession t o Alexandrov was not confirmed u n t i l
the Revolutionary Congress held i n February 1925. At t h i s
Congress, the d i s t r i c t s of P e t r i c h and Skop.je were placed under
56 ~
his c o n t r o l . The I t a l i a n government were pleased by the change
54. Cf. Todorov, op. c i t . . p. 225, who states t h a t Tsankov
was forced t o resign at p i s t o l point at a banquet on December 31»
1925, a f t e r King Boris had p u b l i c l y asked f o r h i s r e s i g n a t i o n .
The two reports are not incompatible. A f t e r h i s resignation,
Tsankov became President of the Sobranje.
55. Christowe, op. c i t . . pp. 204-5. 56. Swire, op. c i t . pp.193-4.
 (104)

i n the Organization's leadership and, i n the autumn of 1925,

they handed Maum Tomalevski 2,000,000 l i r a t o finance future
IHRO operations. Shortly a f t e r t h i s , a f i e r c e Press campaign
was launched i n Sofia against "our bloody neighbours" and
57
there were rumours of increased outrages.
Mihailov's accession to pover vas marked by a s i g n i f i c a n t
change i n the methods of t e r r o r i s m . Whereas the previous p r a c t -
ice had been to send large bands of comitadjis, h i h a i l o v
organized small groups of 4-5 men to prowl through Macedonia.
Yet t h i s i t s e l f was i n e f f e c t i v e , f o r the incidents were so small
that they never reached the columns of the f o r e i g n press.
Nevertheless:
"Arsenals were destroyed and bombs thrown i n t o cafes
patronized by police and army o f f i c e r s . Bridges were blown
up and i t became dangerous to t r a v e l on the Orient Express
i n the summer months of August and September.
"Under Mihailov's chieftanship, IME0 became more and
more a t e r r o r i s t i c society. Every time a major act of
t e r r o r i s m was committed by the comitadjis i n Macedonia,
Belgrade threatened to invade Bulgaria. And Belgrade would
not have hesitated to do so but f o r the state of European
. p o l i t i c s . Mussolini was ready t o attack Yugoslavia should
CO

presume t o go rough-riding through the Balkans."

I t i s noticeable t h a t when Bulgaria was engaged i n d e l i c a t e negot-
i a t i o n s abroad - such as the 1926 Refugee Settlement or when
Liapchev was t r y i n g to obtain the S t a b i l i z a t i o n Loan from the
League's f i n a n c i a l committee i n 1928 - there was a marked decrease
59
i n IMRO's a c t i v i t i e s i n Yugoslavia.
King Boris, who had not l e f t Bulgaria since 1918, took
advantage of the s t a b i l i t y of the new Liapchev government to
57* I b i d , p. 203. Tomalevski, an IMR0 supporter of Protogerov,
was murdered on December 3» 1930. See below, ch. 7.
58. Christowe, op. c i t . . pp. 206-7.
59. Swire, op. c i t . , p. 206.
 (105)

make a lengthy v i s i t to Western Europe. I n 1926, he vent to

Switzerland and attended the League of Nations. Following t h i s ,
he went to Coburg t o see h i s father, ex-King Ferdinand, and
spent a few days w i t h h i s s i s t e r a t Wurtemburg.^° I n 1927, he
t r a v e l l e d abroad again and v i s i t e d a f r i e n d , who l i v e d i n
Zurich. She wrote:
"tie works l i k e a convict, s t r u g g l i n g c o n t i n u a l l y
under the menace of p o l i t i c a l conspiracies, of criminal
attacks, of personal danger. Ee believes t h a t s i x i n d i v i d -
uals paid by Moscow, Prague and Belgrade have been ordered
6l
to k i l l him before August 3 0 . "
This fear of attack, although understandable i n a Balkan monarch,
seems, i n King Boris, t o have become obsessive. His biographer
has stated t h a t !
"When his secretaries showed him a r t i c l e s about
himself i n the newspapers, he simply asked them what had
been w r i t t e n about him. I f the a r t i c l e s were k i n d l y or
f l a t t e r i n g towards him, he d i d not read them and discouraged
anyone from t a l k i n g to him about them. But those which were,
by contrast, directed against him, which contained c r i t i c i s m s
62
or were inspired by malevolence retained a l l h i s a t t e n t i o n "
A f t e r h i s v i s i t t o Switzerland i n 1927, he went on t o France
and saw M. Doumergue, the French President, and also had a p r i v a t e
discussion w i t h M.Poinoare. He enjoyed h i s stay i n Paris but
for an a r t i c l e i n L'Humanite. which was e n t i t l e d "Le Tsar
Sanglant" These v i s i t s abroad became annual periods of
refreshment but many j o u r n a l i s t s saw them as f l i g h t s from
Bulgaria t o avoid assassination. I t i s s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t on h i s
v i s i t B to the West, he was followed by a great f l o o d of telegrams
and business, sent on to him from Sofia. This would indicate
60. N.P. Nikolaev, La destinee tragique d'un r o i . Uppsala,
1952, pp. 51-52. 61. I b i d . . p. 52. See above,
chapter 2, p. 29. 62. I b i d . , p. 206. (Comment by Nikolaev).
63. I b i d . , p. 52.
 (106)

that King Boris was by no means i s o l a t e d from events i n

Bulgaria and t h a t , i n the period 1925-30, he was very much
64
involved i n the workings of h i s s t a t e .
On the other hand, i t muBt be recognized that-the
Bulgarian government were by no means masters of t h e i r own
house. Christowe, who f i r s t v i s i t e d Bulgaria i n 1927, gave an
alarming p i c t u r e of Macedonian influence!
"The p o s i t i o n of the Macedonians i n Sofia i s analog-
ous to that of the Jews i n New York C i t y . They are the
backbone of the professional, economic, s o c i a l , p o l i t i c a l
and c u l t u r a l l i f e of the c a p i t a l . The foremost person i n
any f i e l d i s l i k e l y t o be Macedonian, or a t least p a r t
Macedonian. I n 1928, nine of the eleven Bulgarian M i n i s t e r
P l e n i p o t e n t i a r i e s i n f o r e i g n c a p i t a l s were Macedonians.
And the Prime M i n i s t e r i s one t o o . Macedonians i n Bulgaria
are united i n a national organization i n Sofia - the
Macedonian National Committee. A f f i l i a t e d and other Mace-
donian organizations t o t a l 600 i n number and wherever
65
there was a Macedonian organization, there was IMEO."
A f t e r the 1926 Treaty of Tirana and I t a l i a n domination of
Albania, r e l a t i o n s between Rome and Belgrade once more became
c p o l . ^ IMRO leaders held a conference i n Rome^ and the constant
64. I b i d . , pp. 53-54. I t i s noteworthy t h a t both Schaufelberger
and Nikolaev omit the p o l i t i c a l background, of the period from
1923 t o 1930, comment b r i e f l y on h i s v i s i t s abroad and make
unfounded references t o the love and respect shewn f o t him by
his people.
65. Christowe, op. c i t . . pp. 262-63.
66. Stavrianos, op. c i t . . p.227. When France signed her t r e a t i e
of f r i e n d s h i p w i t h Rumania (June 10, 1926) and Yugoslavia
(November 11, 192?) I t a l y had no option but to befriend the
" r e v i s i o n i s t " 6 t a t e s i f she were t o maintain a foothold i n the
Balkans. 67* Swire, op. c i t . . p. 207.
 (107)

succession of outrages, murders and sabotage continued. Bombs

vere l e f t , i n hotels at Kocane, Gevgheli and Stromica; t r a i n s
and m i l i t a r y depots vere attacked, public buildings bombed
68
and the railways mined. An old Macedonian c h i e f , Todor
Panitza, who now enjoyed Yugoslav c i t i z e n s h i p , was shot i n a
Vienna theatre by Mentcha Karnitcheva, a young Macedonian
69
g i r l who l a t e r became Mihailov's w i f e . I n September 1927,
two t e r r o r i s t s , sent t o blow up the Yugoslav consulate at
70
Salonika, were caught by the Greek police and, on October 5,
a Serbian general, Mihajlo Kovacevic, was shot at h i s home i n
7 1
Shtip.
V s
The death of General Eovacevic prompted f o r e i g n i n t e r v e n t i o n .
Both B r i t a i n and France sent notes t o Sofia urging the d i s s o l -
72
u t i o n of IMRO. A s i m i l a r request had been made by Rumania
i n August 1926 but Bulgaria had r e p l i e d t h a t she could not guard
her f r o n t i e r s unless she increased her army, adding t h a t since
IMRO e x i B t e d only i n Yugoslavia, Bulgaria could not possibly
73 v /
control i t . However, a f t e r the death of Kovacevic and the
notes from B r i t a i n and France, the Bulgarian government d i d take
note of the Yugoslav t h r e a t B of invasion and proclaimed m a r t i a l
74
law i n the P e t r i c h and Kustendil d i s t r i c t s on October 10, 1927.
This had l i t t l e impact upon Mihailov and the Macedonian Organ-
i z a t i o n f o r Volkov was responsible f o r administering the m a r t i a l
lav and, w h i l s t he was i n power, Mihailov was p e r f e c t l y safe.
To show Bulgaria's s i n c e r i t y , a house-to-house search was made
68. I b i d . , pp. 201-8.
69. Christowe, op. c i t . . pp. 199-202. Mentcha was Imprisoned
i n A u s t r i a but l a t e r released because of i l l - h e a l t h .
70. Swire, op. c i t . . l o c . c i t
71. Christowe, op. c i t . . p. 207 and Svire, op. c i t . . p. 208.
His. assassins, Hippocrate Razvigorov and 2 accomplices, were
caught i n a cave and shot. 72. I b i d . . l o c . c i t .
73. Swire, op. c i t . . l o c . c i t . 74. The Bulgarians said t h a t
they only d i d t h i s t o prove t h e i r s i n c e r i t y .
 (108)

i n K u s t e n d i l b u t t h i s was m e r e l y a convenient o p p o r t u n i t y
75
t o r o o t o u t a f u r t h e r number o f M i h a i l o v ' s opponents.
The Yugoslav government, r e a l i z i n g t h a t these measures
would have no l a s t i n g e f f e c t upon IMRO, decided t o b u i l d an
unbroken system o f f r o n t i e r defence. 524 k i l o m e t r e s l o n g ,
s t r e t c h i n g from t h e Dragoman Pass, near T s a r i b r o d , t o t h e Greek
f r o n t i e r , a l o n g t h e e n t i r e l e n g t h o f t h e i r border v i t h B u l g a r i a .
The "Black F r o n t i e r " , as i t was c a l l e d , c o n s i s t e d o f t h e most
e l a b o r a t e defences. F i r s t l y a r o v o f w h i t e pyramids marking
the f r o n t i e r , t h e n a s t o u t t h o r n fence w i t h barbed-wire
entanglements behind i t i
"At p l a c e s , t h e barbed w i r e entanglements a r e t e n
f e e t deep. Next t o t h e w i r e w o r k t h e r e are rows o f d i t c h e s
1
( c a l l e d 'wolves chasms' by t h e c o m i t a d j i s ) . To p r e v e n t
c u t t i n g t h e w i r e w i t h p i n c e r s , t h e r e i s a system o f e l e c t r i c
alarms c o n n e c t i n g t h e w i r e j u n g l e w i t h t h e blockhouses.
The l a t t e r are v e r i t a b l e f o r t r e s s e s o f cement and i r o n .
Some o f them have h i g h towers l i k e b a t t l e m e n t s upon which
stand ' a e r i a l o b s e r v e r s ' . Between these f r o n t i e r citadels,
t h e r e are small h u t s shaped l i k e bee-hives and b u i l t o f
stone and mud, f o r t h e i n t e r m e d i a r y ground guards. Behind
the boundary f o r a d i s t a n c e o f s e v e r a l m i l e s , t h e r e are
76
f o u r more l i n e s o f defence a t r e g u l a r i n t e r v a l s . "
These c o n c r e t e blockhouses were s i t u a t e d a t % m i l e i n t e r v a l s
and proved an almost i n v i n c i b l e o b s t a c l e t o a l l b u t t h e most
daring intruders.
While t h e F r o n t i e r was being c o n s t r u c t e d , s e v e r a l f u r t h e r
outrages occured, some o f w h i c h g i v e us an i n s i g h t i n t o t h e
e t h i c s and methods o f t h e Macedonian O r g a n i z a t i o n . The f i r s t
o f these occured a t S h t i p on October 31* 1927, t w e n t y - s i x days
v •
a f t e r t h e death o f General Kovacevic. The i n c i d e n t concerned
75. Swire, op. c i t . . p. 207.
76. C h r i s t o w e , op. c i t . . pp. 208-9. By c o n t r a s t , he d e s c r i b e d
the B u l g a r i a n f r o n t i e r p o s t s as "mere whitewashed shacks".
 (109)

M i h a i l o v ' s b r o t h e r and f a t h e r , who were s h o t i n t h e main

s t r e e t o f t h e i r home town. I t i s s i g n i f i c a n t that Mihailov's
r e l a t i o n s had remained i n S o u t h e r n S e r b i a and t h a t t h e two men
were on good terms w i t h the l o c a l police - i n fact, t h e y had
j u s t spent the evening i n a cafe' w i t h them. N e v e r t h e l e s s ,
M i h a i l o v s i n g l e d out "King Alexander and h i s White Hand S o c i e t y "
77
a s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r the c r i m e . I t i sstill u n c e r t a i n who
a c t u a l l y committed t h e murder. The Y u g o s l a v authorities blamed
the l o c a l p o p u l a t i o n who were t r y i n g to avenge t h e m s e l v e s f o r
t h e c o m i t a d j i r a i d s . B u t one w r i t e r h a s s u g g e s t e d that Mihailov
h i m s e l f o r d e r e d their,, d e a t h s i n o r d e r t o o b t a i n a genuine
78
grievance a g a i n s t the Yugoslav government. Such a p o s s i b i l i t y
cannot be r u l e d o u t .
Another outrage c e n t r e d around a woman named Mara Buneva,
who had s e t up a h a t shop i n S k o p j e . Born i n Tetovo, Mara had
been a member o f the E x a r c h a t e C h u r c h and m a r r i e d a B u l g a r i a n
o f f i c e r . Approached by M i h a i l o v i s t s , she r e t u r n e d t o Y u g o s l a v i a ,
where she soon a c q u i r e d a wide c i r c l e of f r i e n d s , i n c l u d i n g
Prelic, t h e v i c e - g o v e r n o r o f S k o p j e , who had been t h e p r o s e c u t i o n
lawyer in a trial i n v o l v i n g IMRO i n June 1927* On J a n u a r y 13*
1928, Mara met P r e l i c on the b r i d g e o v e r the Vardar, shot the
l a w y e r and t h e n s h o t h e r s e l f . Such was t h e l o y a l t y t h a t IMRO
commanded. As a t r i b u t e , a s t r e e t i n S o f i a was named a f t e r h e r
and h e r p o r t r a i t was c a r r i e d through t h e s t r e e t s i n s o b e r
79
procession.
77. When, d u r i n g t h e F i r s t World War, t h e B l a c k Hand s o c i e t y
•J ,

( s e e c h a p t e r 8, note 9 ) was s u s p e c t e d o f r e p u b l i c a n i s m , Z i v k o v i c ,
one of Alexander's t r u s t e d f r i e n d s , founded a p r o - r o y a l i s t
s o c i e t y , known a s t h e "White Hand''. From 1 9 2 1 - 2 9 , Z i v k o v i c was
Commander o f t h e 18,000 s t r o n g p a l a c e g u a r d . He e x e r c i s e d a
s t r o n g i n f l u e n c e behind t h e s c e n e s and became Prime M i n i s t e r o f
Yugoslavia i n January 1929*
78. S w i r e , op. c i t . . p. 2 0 8 .
79. I b i d . . pp. 209-10 and C h r i s t o w e , op. c i t . , p. 2 0 7 .
 (110)

In A p r i l 1928, s h o r t l y a f t e r Mara*a d e a t h , t h e r e were

severe earthquakes i n B u l g a r i a , w h i c h w r e c k e d the town o f
P l o v d i v and many v i l l a g e s i n s o u t h e r n B u l g a r i a , c a u s i n g g r e a t
l o s s of l i f e . Y u g o s l a v i a promptly re-opened h e r f r o n t i e r and
80
s u p p l i e d 3,000,000 d i n a r s i n a i d . M i h a i l o v was disappointed
by s u c h magnanimity and d e c i d e d to e n g i n e e r a n o t h e r daring
outrage. T h i s was the r a t h e r c u r i o u s L a z i c - M o m t c h i l o v affair
w h i c h took p l a c e i n J u l y 1928 and f o r w h i c h t h e r e a r e two v e r s i o n s .
The first view, from the IMR0 s t a n d p o i n t , was that Lazic,
the c h i e f of Y u g o s l a v N a t i o n a l Defence a t the M i n i s t r y of the
Interior, s e n t I v a n Momtchilov to B u l g a r i a to a s s a s s i n a t e Mihailov.
Momtchilov went to M i h a i l o v and t o l d h i m ' t h a t he had been s e n t
to kill him. Hearing t h i s , M i h a i l o v d e c i d e d to t u r n the opport-
u n i t y to h i s advantage. He s e n t Momtchilov back to Belgrade
w i t h o r d e r s to k i l l L a z i c and arranged f o r a mock b a t t l e to
t a k e p l a c e and rumours to r e a c h B e l g r a d e t h a t M i h a i l o v had been
k i l l e d . Momtchilov would then be r e c e i v e d by L a z i c and would
81
shoot him dead. A complicated p l o t l The o t h e r , and probably
more r e l i a b l e account, comes from L a z i c h i m s e l f . He told Swire
t h a t Momtchilov had r e c e i v e d an u r g e n t command from M i h a i l o v
to go to B e l g r a d e and shoot him (Lazic). I n return for this,
Momtchilov's mother who l i v e d i n B u l g a r i a , would r e c e i v e 300,000
l e v a s . Whatever the t r u e s t o r y , i t i s a f a c t t h a t on J u l y 12,
1928, Momtchilov went to see L a z i c . He handed him a petition
82
to r e a d and w h i l s t L a z i c was r e a d i n g i t , he s h o t him. f o u r t i m e s .
A f t e r t h e s e m a j o r i n c i d e n t s , w h i c h were w i d e l y r e p o r t e d i n
the Western P r e s s , B r i t i s h and F r e n c h m i n i s t e r s i n S o f i a dem-
anded the d i s s o l u t i o n of IMR0, p o i n t i n g out t h a t s i n c e the
80. S w i r e , op. cit.. p. 211.
81. C h r i s t o w e , op. cit., pp. 223-27.
82. S w i r e , op. cit.. p. 210. A f t e r s h o o t i n g L a z i c , Momtchilov
committed s u i c i d e . L a z i c , s e r i o u s l y i n j u r e d , d i d not d i e and
s u r v i v e d to become Y u g o s l a v M i n i s t e r of the I n t e r i o r i n 1935.
 (Ill)

movement was d i v i d e d , i t was no l o n g e r a s i n v i n c i b l e a s

J
B u l g a r i a claimed. L i a p c h e v r e s e n t e d t h e i r demands and
d e c l a r e d t h i s to be an " u n w a r r a n t a b l e i n t e r f e r e n c e i n B u l g a r i a ' s
84
internal affairs"* N e v e r t h e l e s s , the progress of•the (Stabil-
i z a t i o n Loan through t h e L e a g u e ' s f i n a n c i a l committee<had t o
be c o n s i d e r e d , and so s e v e r a l o f M i h a i l o v ' s opponents were
imprisoned and t h e O r g a n i z a t i o n ' s a c t i v i t i e s c u r t a i l e d f o r the
time being. I t i sinteresting to o b s e r v e that I t a l y dissociated
herself from t h e A n g l o - F r e n c h p r o t e s t , d e c l a r i n g t h a t " t h e
B u l g a r i a n government w i l l t a k e , o f i t s own i n i t i a t i v e , a l l
measures w h i c h t h e s i t u a t i o n demands."
A c e r t a i n amount o f I t a l o - I M R O c o l l u s i o n i s e v i d e n t a t t h i s
time, f o r the L a z i c outrage and t h e A n g l o - F r e n c h p r o t e s t
c o i n c i d e d w i t h one o f M i h a i l o v ' s most d e s p i c a b l e v i c t o r i e s -
8
the d e a t h o f G e n e r a l A l e x a n d e r Protogerov. ^
R e l a t i o n s between M i h a i l o v and P r o t o g e r o v had worsened over
the p a s t few months. I n 1927» P r o t o g e r o v went t o I t a l y t o
d i s c u s s f u t u r e developments i n Macedonia. D u r i n g his discussions,
M u s s o l i n i had promised t h a t I t a l y would s u p p o r t a Macedonian
i n s u r r e c t i o n even t o t h e e x t e n t o f s e n d i n g m i l i t a r y a i d t h r o u g h
Albania. However, he proposed t h a t when Macedonia was t h u s
"liberated", i t should, l i k e A l b a n i a , become an i n d e p e n d e n t
87
s t a t e under I t a l i a n control. W h i l s t i n Rome, P r o t o g e r o v also
l e a r n t t h a t M u s s o l i n i had g i v e n K i n g Zog a s s u r a n c e s t h a t , i n
the e v e n t o f a Y u g o s l a v i a n c o l l a p s e , A l b a n i a would be g i v e n a
common border w i t h B u l g a r i a . T h i s c o u l d o n l y be a t t h e expense
83. At t h i s time, a r i f t was growing between t h e M i h a i l o v i s t s
and the P r o t o g e r o v i s t s , See below.
84. S w i r e , op. c i t . . p. 2 1 1 . 85. Ibid., p. 2 1 9 .
86. Protogerov was one o f t h o s e wanted by Y u g o s l a v i a f o r war
c r i m e s under A r t i c l e 118 o f t h e T r e a t y o f fteuilly. On t h e l i s t
of 1 , 6 6 2 , he was no. 1 , 1 2 0 and on t h e l i s t o f 5 0 0 , no. 3 3 5 . He
was accused of v a r i o u s massacres i n c l u d i n g one a t S h t i p . C f .
a l s o H e i s a , op. c i t . , pp. 41-45. 8 7 . Todorov, op. c i t . , p. 2 2 6 .
 (112)

88
of Macedonia. Protogerov r e t u r n e d t o Sofia., disillusioned
and h i g h l y i n d i g n a n t . W i t h sudden c l a r i t y , he p e r c e i v e d t h e
d i r e c t i o n i n w h i c h IMRO was moving, and t h e l i k e l y outcome
of i t s o p e r a t i o n s . He r e a l i z e d t h a t o n l y by f r i e n d s h i p w i t h
Y u g o s l a v i a c o u l d t h e r e be any genuine p l a n s f o r Macedonian
89
autonomy. M i h a i l o v , who had p a i d a s e c r e t v i s i t t o Rome i n
December 1 9 2 7 , h e a r d of Protogerov's a t t i t u d e to M u s s o l i n i ' s
p r o p o s a l s and, on h i s r e t u r n , postponed t h e S e v e n t h Revolution-
ary Congress (planned f o r February 1928) and made a t t e m p t s t o
90
expel Protogerov from t h e O r g a n i z a t i o n ' s C e n t r a l Committee.
In t h e meantime, P r o t o g e r o v made c o n t a c t w i t h the. Y u g o s l a v
Minister i n Sofia, and p l a n s were l a i d f o r coming t o an
understanding over t h e Macedonian i s s u e . The f i n a l details for
t h i s were due to be made on J u l y 8, 1928. But l a t e on the
91
n i g h t o f J u l y 7» P r o t o g e r o v was s h o t . M i h a i l o v admitted f u l l
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r the. a s s a s s i n a t i o n and t h e r e a s o n s f o r h i s
92
d e c i s i o n were p r i n t e d i n most S o f i a n e w s p a p e r s . By P r o t o -
gerov's death, M i h a i l o v gained an a l m o s t complete c o n t r o l o v e r
the Macedonian O r g a n i z a t i o n and w h i l e he remained i n charge o f
IMRO o p e r a t i o n s , t h e f u t u r e o f Y u g o s l a v - B u l g a r i a n relatinns
was v e r y bleak.
88. S w i r e , op. c i t . , pp. 2 1 4 - 1 5 .
8 9 . O t h e r w i s e Macedonia would be p a r t i t i o n e d , one p a r t going
to A l b a n i a , the o t h e r t o B u l g a r i a . •
90. S w i r e , op. c i t . . l o c . c i t .
91. Ibid., p. 2 1 2 .
92. C h r i s t o w e , op. c i t . , p. 2 3 8 .
 Chapter 6.

The E r a of the Conferences.

 (114)

The death of General Protogerov made a profound i m p r e s s i o n

upon the i n t e r n a l events of B u l g a r i a . By a d m i t t i n g h i s r e s -
p o n s i b i l i t y f o r the a s s a s s i n a t i o n , M i h a i l o v g r e a t l y weakened
the p o s i t i o n of IMRO. Protogerov'8 s u p p o r t e r s , now l e d by
Poro Shandanov,^ l o f t the O r g a n i z a t i o n and made a number o f
u n s u c c e s s f u l attempts t o oust M i h a i l o v . Thore was a minor
r e v o l t a g a i n s t him i n the P a t r i c h d i s t r i c t and a spate of
2
t o r r o r i s m c o n t i n u e d t h r o u g h the summer months.
This fouding d i d n o t commond l t s o i f to oouio l l u l g a r i a n
l o a d e r s , p a r t i c u l a r l y thooo i n charge of tho Army, who knew
t h a t M i h t i i l o v ' o a c t i v i t i e s had tho t a c i t support o f tho War
M i n i s t e r , l i o n o r a l Volliov. T h o i r o p p o o i t i o i i to tho p o l i t i c a l
roglino had boon growing oiuoo January 1928 whon a now magazine,
/ypno. had boon launched.' I to alma worn t h r o o l ' o l d i tho r o o t -
o r a t i o n of popular uovornmnnt, a moro t o i o r u n t f o r e i g n policy
and proper govurumoiital c o n t r o l o f tho I'otrioh d l n t r l o t .
Kliuon ( l l i o o r j i l o v , u p a r t i c i p a n t i n tho 19^3 uoun, l o f t the
Movurnniont and beoaino ono o f tho moat prominent "Zvonaro",
aa moinbora o f tho now group woro o a l l o d . Muiiiluii Volohov,
another of tho 19^3 o o n o p l r u t o r s and ono of tho d i a g r u n t l o d
1. Poro Shandauov, born i n 1893 a t u h r i d , van an o l d IMItO
inoiubor, who hud p a r t i c i p a t e d i n niuiiy o f tho o o m i t u d j i exped-
i t i o n s i n t o South S e r b i a i n tho 1 9 2 0 B . by 1 9 3 3 , Shandunov hud
como t o f a v o u r a union o f tho South Slavs i n u s i n g l e s t a t e .
M i h a i l o v ' e s u p p o r t e r s dubbed h i a f o l l o w e r s as "Serbian s p i e s ,
h i r e l i n g s of Uolgrado."
2. J. Swire, B u l g a r i a n Conspiracy, London, 1939, pp. 218-20.
3 . Tho E d i t o r of Zveno was Oimo Kazuzov. See above, p. 3 6 .
4. Swiro, op. c i t . . pp. 211-12.
 (115)

Army l e a d e r s , took advantage o f t h e s i t u a t i o n t o i s s u e , a

s t r o n g p r o t e s t a g a i n s t G e n e r a l V o l k o v , demanding t h a t King
B o r i s d i s m i s s him.
They were n o t a l o n e i n t h e i r p r o t e s t . A t h a n a s Bourov,
the F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r , had a l s o d e c i d e d t h a t t h e time had come
f o r him t o go, and p u b l i c l y d e c l a r e d t h a t he had t h w a r t e d a l l
measures t a k e n by t h e C a b i n e t a g a i n s t IMBO and t h a t t h e r e
c o u l d be no improvement w h i l s t he remained t h e r e . ^ But K i n g
B o r i s was d e t e r m i n e d t o d e f y t h e O p p o s i t i o n . Speaking at a cer-
emony t o commemorate t h e b a t t l e o f t h e S h i p k a P a s s , he warned
7
h i s o f f i c e r s to avoid "pernicious i n f l u e n c e s " . Shortly after-
wards, on September 3, V e l c h e v was d i s m i s s e d from ..his Army
p o s t , i n j u s t i f y i n g h i s a c t i o n , Volkov d e c l a r e d t h a t h i s
Q
o r d e r s came "from above". T h i s was a c l e a r i n d i c a t i o n t h a t
V o l k o v had t h e s u p p o r t o f K i n g B o r i s . Two d a y s l a t e r , following
the r e s i g n a t i o n o f two o t h e r m i n i s t e r s who o b j e c t e d t o V o l k o v ' s
p r e s e n c e , L i a p c h e v t e n d e r e d h i s own r e s i g n a t i o n to t h e K i n g .
B o r i s r e f u s e d t o s e e Volkov d i s m i s s e d , and i n s i s t e d on
Liapchev's reforming h i s C a b i n e t and r e t a i n i n g t h e s e r v i c e s o f
Q
h i s deeply compromised M i n i s t e r o f War.
I n Y u g o s l a v i a , t h e r e had been s i m i l a r t u r m o i l . The l o n g
drawn o u t b i t t e r n e s s between t h e S e r b i a n and C r o a t i a n p a r t s
of t h e Kingdom r e a c h e d i t s c l i m a x i n June 1928 when a Monte-
n e g r i n deputy s h o t and k i l l e d Stephen Radic' and two o t h e r
5. I b i d . . pp. 218-20. V e l c h e v was a t t h i s time Commandant
of t h e Army Cadet s c h o o l i n S o f i a . 6. I b i d . . p. 219.
7. August 26, 1928. I b i d . . p. 220. 8. I b i d . . loc. c i t .
9* When V o l k o v was e v e n t u a l l y moved from the War M i n i s t r y ,
he was a p p o i n t e d B u l g a r i a n M i n i s t e r i a Rome- a s i n g u l a r l y happy
choice, 10. Along w i t h .Stephen R a d i c , B a s s a r i c e k and
P a v l e R a d i c were a l s o s h o t . P u n i s a R a c i c , t h e R a d i c a l deputy
from Montenegro, was t r i e d on nay 27, 1929, found g u i l t y and
sentenced t o twenty y e a r s imprisonment w i t h h a r d labour.
 (116)

1 0
Croatian leaders i n the S k u p s t i n a . The e v e n t l e d t o r i o t i n g
i n Z a g r e b and, f o r s i x months, t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f c i v i l war
and t h e d i v i s i o n o f t h e Kingdom i n t o two p a r t s seemed a l m o s t
i n e v i t a b l e . But on J a n u a r y 6 , 1929* K i n g A l e x a n d e r p r o c l a i m e d
a r o y a l d i c t a t o r s h i p , lie had watched t h e c o u r s e of e v e n t s w i t h
growing a l a r m and d e c i d e d t h a t t h e d e a t h o f Radio" s y m b o l i z e d
the f a i l u r e of p a r l i a m e n t a r y democracy t o overcome extreme
n a t i o n a l i s m . D e s c r i b i n g the impact o f d i c t a t o r s h i p , one w r i t e r
commented:

"For f i v e y e a r s Alexander undertook t h e s o l e respon-

sibility f o r d i r e c t i n g t h e d e s t i n i e s of Y u g o s l a v i a . The
t a s k was one w h i c h he had assumed s o l e l y from a s t e r n
s e n s e o f duty when c o n f r o n t e d w i t h t h e complete deadlock
w h i c h p a r l i a m e n t a r y i n s t i t u t i o n s i n h i s c o u n t r y had r e a c h e d .
Once he had put h i s hand to t h e plough i t was c h a r a c t e r i s t i c
of t h e man and t h e S e r b i n him t h a t he d i d n o t l o o k back
but would f a c e h i s r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t o t h e p r o j e c t e d end.
At f i r s t , q u e s t i o n s o f i n t e r n a l government w h o l l y absorbed
his attention However, s i n c e h i s i n t e r e s t h a s t u r n e d
to t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l s p h e r e , King A l e x a n d e r h a s shown
h i m s e l f c a p a b l e of i n i t i a t i v e and v i s i o n . " * *
With t h e d e s t i n y o f Y u g o s l a v i a now i n t h e hands o f a man
so determined to prevent the d i s i n t e g r a t i o n o f n a t i o n a l u n i t y ,
i t was perhaps i n e v i t a b l e t h a t h i s regime s h o u l d evoke hostility
from a l l those who were a n x i o u s t o s e e t h e end o f t h e " Y u g o s l a v
mosaic." Among t h e C r o a t i a n s e p a r a t i s t s were a s e c r e t s o c i e t y ,
x >* 1 2
the U s t a s e , and i t s l e a d e r , Dr. Ante P a v e l i c . Both IMHO and

11. A. L o n d r e s , T e r r o r i n t h e B a l k a n B . London, 1935* p. 2 2 6 .

The passage above i s p a r t o f the appendix t o L o n d r e s * 8 work,
added by t h e t r a n s l a t o r , L , Z a r i n e , who was S e c r e t a r y t o t h e
R u s s i a n l e g a t i o n i n S e r b i a from 1 9 1 2 - 1 6 .
12. Dr. P a v e l i c , a l a w y e r , was f o r m e r l y a member o f t h e
C r o a t i a n P e a s a n t P a r t y i n t h e S k u p s t i n a . He l e f t Y u g o s l a v i a f o r
I t a l y on J a n u a r y 9 , 1929. At Borgotaro, he s e t up a t r a i n i n g
 (117)

the Ustase wished t o see the c o l l a p s e o f the Yugoslav

Kingdom and Dr, P a v e l i c , who had l e f t Zagreb soon a f t e r
the p r o c l a m a t i o n of the d i c t a t o r s h i p , was q u i c k t o come t o
an understanding w i t h the Macedonian O r g a n i z a t i o n . I n A p r i l
1 9 2 9 , he v i s i t e d S o f i a and was g i v e n a tremendous o v a t i o n by
the Macedonian " e m i g r a n t s " , lie was ceremonially received, a
f e a s t was g i v e n i n h i s honour by the B u l g a r i a n N a t i o n a l Committee
and h i s v i s i t was made the occasion of v i g o r o u s anti-Yugoslav
a r t i c l e s i n the S o f i a Press. Before l e a v i n g Hulgaeia, P a v e l i c
went down t o the P e t r i c h d i s t r i c t and met M i h a i l o v . Together
they worked out plans f o r combatting Alexander's "Sorbomania"
and p u b l i s h e d an agreement f o r j o i n t lMRO-UBtas'e t e r r o r i s t
a c t i v i t i e s t o " l i b e r a t e " C r o a t i a and Macedonia. The agreement
provoked a a t o m Yugoslav p r o t e s t . '
S h o r t l y a f t e r the c r e a t i o n of tho r o y a l d i c t a t o r s h i p ,
Todorov had a p r i v a t e meeting w i t h iving Alexander. Uo t o l d tho
King t h a t Volkov and M i h a i l o v hud convinced King B o r i s t h a t
thoy woro p r o t e c t i n g him a g a i n s t u p l o t by tho Yugoslav govern-
ment:

"Lust Biimmor", ho informed him, " M i h a i l o v ' a gang k i l l e d

( c o n t i n u e d from the p r e v i o u s page)

camp f o r Ustas t e r r o r i s t s and t h i s was supplemented l a t e r i n
1 9 2 9 by another camp a t Yanka Pusta, i n Hungary.
13> S. C h r i s t o w e , lie roe a and Assassins. London, 1 9 3 5 , pp.
210-lG. Swire t e l l s a d e l i g h t f u l s t o r y o f another v i s i t o r t o
S o f i a , t h i s timo i n June 1931* Claiming t o r e p r e s e n t the Ustas'e,
a man named Pero Gruber was g i v e n a g r e e t r e c e p t i o n on h i s
a r r i v a l . Immigrant g i r l s were sent w i t h bouquets of f l o w e r s t o
meet him a t tho s t a t i o n , he was i n t r o d u c e d t o 1MR0 l e a d e r s ,
shown t h e i r arms s t o r e s , r e c e i v e d by Bourov, the F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r ,
and presented w i t h an album autographed by h i s e n t h u s i a s t i c
h o s t s . Swire r e p o r t s t h a t he t o l d an e x c e l l e n t s t o r y to the
Belgrade p o l i c e and Press on h i s r e t u r n ! Op. c i t . , p. 249.
 (118)

one of our men and threw h i s c o r p s e i n t o the garden of

the K i n g ' s summer p a l a c e a t V r a n i a w i t h a note s t a t i n g t h a t
the murdered man had come to the p a l a c e to k i l l K i n g B o r i s .
At about the same time, S t o i c h o Mushanov, a deputy, who
was i n the d e l e g a t i o n to the League of N a t i o n s r e t u r n e d
from Geneva w i t h a 'document' on the s t a t i o n e r y of the
Y u g o s l a v M i n i s t e r i a l C o u n c i l p u r p o r t i n g to show t h a t the
Y u g o s l a v C a b i n e t had d e c i d e d to k i l l K i n g B o r i s . Vhe t h i n g
was f o r g e d , of c o u r s e , i n the o f f i c e of 'La Macedoine' i n
Geneva.

"Does B o r i s r e a l l y b e l i e v e s u c h r u b b i s h ? " A l e x a n d e r
had asked.
"I'm a f r a i d he does," s a i d Todorov."Ever since they
s h o t a t him i n 1925, he's been c o n v i n c e d t h a t the r e f u g e e s
are p l o t t i n g w i t h the S e r b s to k i l l him!"
Alexander commented t h a t he was astounded t h a t King
B o r i s c o u l d a c t u a l l y b e l i e v e t h a t the Y u g o s l a v government
were p l o t t i n g to k i l l him. " I am a s o l d i e r , " he s a i d , "and
at the same time a K i n g . I would n e v e r p e r m i t a n y t h i n g so
shameful."
Todorov o b s e r v e d t h a t I t a l y was behind a l l B a l k a n i n t r i g u e s and
15
King Alexander agreed.
One of the f i r s t a c h i e v e m e n t s of the new r o y a l government

14. L a Macedoine was an IM110 p u b l i c a t i o n , produced i n Geneva.

15. K. Todorov, B a l k a n F i r e b r a n d . The Autobiography of a
R e b e l . S o l d i e r and S t a t e s m a n . Chicago, 1943t PP« 2 3 I - 3 2 . In
s u p p o r t of K i n g B o r i s ' s f e a r s , i t i s worth n o t i n g t h a t i n J a n -
uary 1930, two e x - d e p u t i e s of the S k u p s t i n a and a one-time
mayor of S k o p j e , who had d e f e c t e d to B u l g a r i a , p r e s e n t e d a
p e t i t i o n a t Geneva on b e h a l f of the " o p p r e s s e d B u l g a r i a n s i n
Macedonia". I n the c o u r s e of t h i s , t h e y . s t a t e d t h a t King A l e x -
a d e r had a s k e d them to a r r a n g e f o r the a s s a s s i n a t i o n of K i n g
B o r i s . S w i r e , op. c i t . . p. 2 0 9 . T h e i r s t a t e m e n t was quite untrue.
 (119)

was the opening of n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h B u l g a r i a o v e r the frontier

question. The n e g o t i a t i o n s , w h i c h s t a r t e d i n March 19^9* centred
upon s u c h problems as the l i q u i d a t i o n of p r o p e r t i e s d i v i d e d by
the f r o n t i e r , the w i t h d r a w l of i m m i g r a n t s from f r o n t i e r zones
and the c r e a t i o n of a Permanent Mixed Commission to i n v e s t i g a t e
and settle i n c i d e n t s o c c u r r i n g along the border.Detailed
d i s c u s s i o n s l a s t e d f o r a y e a r . Bourov, who conducted the
B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n , was regarded w i t h d i s f a v o u r by I t a l y and
Piacentini, the I t a l i a n M i n i s t e r i n S o f i a , a r r a n g e d for a S o f i a
newspaper to p u b l i s h an a r t i c l e u r g i n g the B u l g a r i a n people to
disavow t h e i r F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r ' s F r a n c o p h i l e policy. Piacentini's
a c t i o n went beyond the l i m i t s of d i p l o m a t i c l i b e r t y and he was
r e c a l l e d . But M u s s o l i n i announced t h a t "the sympathies and
full support of I t a l y remain i n v a r i a b l y f a i t h f u l to the Bulg-
17
a r i a n people." Despite Italy's a t t i t u d e , the negotiations
were completed and the P i r o t C o n v e n t i o n was eventually ratified
on F e b r u a r y 14, 1930.
W h i l s t the C o n v e n t i o n was being d i s c u s s e d , the frontier
between Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a was re-opened, and Mihailov's
Organization took advantage of t h i s c o n c e s s i o n to redouble
t h e i r e f f o r t s on South S e r b i a . T r a i n s and r a i l w a y l i n e s were
bombed, s h o t s were exchanged between the two border p a t r o l s
and a Y u g o s l a v Moslem was riddled with bullets by a s s a s s i n s
d i s g u i s e d as Moslem women. I n November 1929, p a r t of the Orient
E x p r e s s was d e r a i l e d n e a r T s a r i b r o d and further attacks against
the t r a i n were f o r e s t a l l e d by prompt a c t i o n on the p a r t of the
Yugoslav p a t r o l s .
The B u l g a r i a n government i n v a r i a b l y d e n i e d t h a t the r a i d e r s
16. L . S . S t a v r i a n o s , Balkan F e d e r a t i o n . A HaBtory of the
Movement towards B a l k a n U n i t y i n Modern Times, Northampton, Mass,
1944, p. 228.. • 17. Swire, op. c i t . . pp. 225-26
18. Ibid.. p. 224.
 (120)

ever crossed from B u l g a r i a n t e r r i t o r y and claimed t h a t the

outrages were caused by "oppressed Macedonians". At the same
t i m e , the B u l g a r i a n Press p u b l i s h e d s t o r i e s o f p e r s e c u t i o n
19
and murder i n the "West F r o n t i e r T e r r i t o r y , " The magazine,
"Near East", backed up the B u l g a r i a n case by s t a t i n g t h a t the
outrages proved the d i s c o n t e n t of the f r o n t i e r p o p u l a t i o n s
and observed t h a t t h i s d i s c o n t e n t "must sooner or., l a t e r rouse
1
p u b l i c o p i n i o n i n Europe" - t o r e c t i f y the f r o n t i e r s i n B u l g a r i a
20
favour.
I n view o f the a t t i t u d e of the "Near East" magazine, i t i s
w o r t h remembering t h a t the Macedonian O r g a n i z a t i o n and the
B u l g a r i a n Supr-emists a t t a c h e d a g r e a t importance t o the Anglo-
American Press, b e l i e v i n g t h a t by c o n t i n u a l l y s t r e s s i n g the
j u s t i c e o f the B u l g a r i a n case i n i t s columns, they c o u l d secure
support f o r a r e v i s i o n of the terms of the peace s e t t l e m e n t .
J . Swire, t o whom r e f e r e n c e has c o n s t a n t l y been made i n t h i s
work, was Reuter's correspondent i n S o f i a from October 1932
till December 1 9 3 5 * He commented:
"For y e a r s , B r i t i s h and American newspapers have
been r e p r e s e n t e d i n B u l g a r i a by B u l g a r i a n s or f o r e i g n e r s
who, depending f o r p r o s p e r i t y upon o f f i c i a l or 1MR0
g o o d w i l l , e i t h e r dared n o t or cared n o t t o send news of
which the a u t h o r i t i e s d i s approved. My good f r i e n d , the
Hungarian Press attache', who boasted of h i s f r i e n d s h i p
w i t h M i h a i l o v , r e p r e s e n t e d one B r i t i s h newsagency; another
was served by a Supremist o f f i c i a l ; a t h i r d shared the
house o f the Press D i r e c t o r . The D i r e c t o r of Bulagence
(the B u l g a r i a n F o r e i g n O f f i c e Press Bureau) represented
a l a r g e American newsagency. Small wonder the Anglo-
21
American p u b l i c thought B u l g a r i a was a model democracy!"
19. The B u l g a r i a n term f o r Yugoslav t e r r i t o r y around T s a r i b r o d
and B o s i l g r a d . 20. Near East and I n d i a . XXXVII,
(1930), p. 311• A r t i c l e on Macedonian o u t r a g e s .
21. Swire, op. c i t . , p. 324. I n p o i n t o f f a c t , i n the 1927
 (121)

Swire a t f i r s t accepted the o f f i c i a l view but the events o f

1929-33 q u i c k l y d i s i l l u s i o n e d him.

I n September 1929t Dr. Bajdarov, a' v e t e r a n s u p p o r t e r o f

1HR0 and a h i g h l y placed member o f t h e B u l g a r i a n N a t i o n a l
Committee, was a s s a s s i n a t e d , f o l l o w i n g the p u b l i c a t i o n of a
pamphlet i n which he s t a t e d t h a t the t e r r o r i s m i n the P e t r i c h
d i s t r i c t was worse than a n y t h i n g happening i n Southern S e r b i a .
I n t h e correspondence l e f t by Bajdarov, d e t a i l s were found o f
a p l a n t o k i l l Damian Velchev, t h e ex-Army c h i e f and now leader
o f a group known as t h e " O f f i c e r s ' League". An unsuccessful
a t t a c k was made on Velchev on October 21 and one o f t h e
c o n s p i r a t o r s was d i s c o v e r e d t o be a c e r t a i n Lieutenant-Colonel
Porkov, the D i r e c t o r o f I n t e l l i g e n c e a t t h e War O f f i c e . On
the f o l l o w i n g day, Velchev wrote an open l e t t e r t o t h e Press
and t o the War O f f i c e , p u b l i c l y accusing Volkov o f u s i n g
2
members o f M i h a i l o v ' s O r g a n i z a t i o n t o g e t r i d o f h i s opponents.
I n March 1 9 3 0 , Porkov brought a l i b e l a c t i o n a g a i n s t Velchev
2
f o r h i s a l l e g a t i o n s , b u t was unable t o prove h i s own innocence.
This i n c i d e n t i s b u t a small example o f t h e chaos and
24
anarchy which e x i s t e d w i t h i n B u l g a r i a a t t h i s t i m e . During
1929, t h e r e were 28 murders and I 3 8 attempted a s s a s s i n a t i o n s .
25

By A p r i l 1930, 53 had d i e d , a number o f the d e p u t i e s i n t h e

( c o n t i n u e d from t h e p r e v i o u s page)
e l e c t i o n s , Liapchev, the Prime M i n i s t e r , had gained I 6 3 d e p u t i e s
i n the Sobranje w i t h 495*000 v o t e s , whereas t h e O p p o s i t i o n ,
under M a l i n o v , had e l e c t e d o n l y 86 d e p u t i e s , d e s p i t e their
higher t o t a l of the e l e c t o r a t e ( 5 5 6 , 0 0 0 v o t e s ) .
2 2 . I b i d . . pp. 2 2 6 - 2 9 . 23. I b i d . . loc. c i t .
24. The. b i g g e s t scandal o f t h e 1929-33 p e r i o d was t h e
M a r i n o p o l s k i a f f a i r , which has been c a l l e d t h e "Dreyfus Case o f
B u l g a r i a " . However, t h i s Velchev i n c i d e n t i s i m p o r t a n t f o r i t
shows a l i t t l e o f the c h a r a c t e r and n a t u r e o f the p r o - I t a l i a n ,
pro-Macedonian group i n B u l g a r i a , which Velchev was l a t e r t o
t r y t o overthrow. 25. Swire, op. c i t . , p. 2 2 9 .
 (122)

Sobranje were being i n t i m i d a t e d , h o s t i l e j o u r n a l i s t s were

shot and judges s u b j e c t e d t o t h r e a t s . ^ Assassins were o n l y
found g u i l t y a f t e r l o n g and profound h e a r t s e a r c h i n g and i t
i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o observe that, after a l i t t l e of this
27
"heartsearching", the public prosecutor "committed suicide".
No r e a l attempt was made t o enforce p u b l i c o r d e r . During a
r e c e p t i o n towards t h e end o f 1 9 3 0 , King B o r i s t o l d a B u l g a r i a n
named K o u l i c h e v t h a t he r e g r e t t e d t h e c o n s t a n t d i s p u t e s i n v o l -
v i n g Macedonians. K o u l i c h e v r e t o r t e d t h a t he and h i s f r i e n d s
o n l y wanted t h e Government t o apply t h e laws, whereupon t h e
King s a i d t h a t h i s Government had always f e l t t h a t t h e y should
28
n o t i n t e r f e r e i n Macedonian a f f a i r s .
Soon a f t e r t h e P i r o t Convention had been r a t i f i e d i n
February 1 9 3 0 , IMRO i n c r e a s e d i t s a c t i v i t i e s i n Southern Serbia.
On March 3, a bomb was thrown i n t o a cafe at Pirot, killing
or wounding twenty-seven people. A s i m i l a r a t t a c k was made a t
Strumica, k i l l i n g f i f t e e n more. On March 2 9 , a bomb exploded
i n t h e War O f f i c e i n Belgrade. The outrages c o n t i n u e d . M i h a i l o v
p u b l i c l y a d m i t t e d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r them i n t h e IMRO newspaper,
"Freedom o r Death", and prophesied t h e imminent d e s t r u c t i o n o f
the S k u p s t i n a . The Yugoslav M i n i s t e r i n S o f i a p r o t e s t e d a g a i n s t
t h i s f l a g r a n t a t t e m p t t o d e s t r o y the work o f t h e P i r o t Convention.
B r i t a i n and France supported t h e Yugoslav p r o t e s t and t h e Mixed
Y u g o s l a v - B u l g a r i a n F r o n t i e r Commission, faced w i t h t h e i r r e f u t -
able evidence t h a t t h e t e r r o r i s t s came from B u l g a r i a , signed
a p r o t o c o l c a l l i n g on t h e B u l g a r i a n government t o take a c t i o n .
The p r o t o c o l caused c o n t r o v e r s y i n S o f i a . Both Bourov and Tsankov
demanded t h a t Liapchev should make some e f f e c t i v e response,
but t h e Prime M i n i s t e r was u n w i l l i n g t o take a c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e
O r g a n i z a t i o n . Tsankov withdrew M B 3 5 d e p u t i e s from t h e Govern-
26. The most l i v e l y and r e a l i s t i c account o f t h e scene i n
B u l g a r i a i s g i v e n by A l b e r t Londres, op. c i t . , pp. 7-102.

27. Swire, op. c i t . . pp. 230-31.

28. I b i d . , l o c . c i t .
 (123)

ment and o n l y by c e r t a i n dubious concessions being g r a n t e d -

such as the banning of P r o t o g e r o v i s t newspapers ( which had
condemned the o u t r a g e s ) and the i n t e r n m e n t of s e v e r a l Proto-
g e r o v i s t supporters - was the Cabinet c r i s i s s o l v e d . During this
u n c e r t a i n t y , M i h a i l o v p a i d a h u r r i e d v i s i t t o Home; on h i s
v- 29
r e t u r n , t h e r e was a f u r t h e r bomb a t t a c k on Nis station.
Despite the v i o l e n c e and b i t t e r n e s s o f M i h a i l o v ' s r e a c t i o n
to the s i g n i n g o f the f r o n t i e r agreement w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a , the .
P i r o t Convention does to. some e x t e n t symbolize the more t o l e r a n t
and c o n s t r u c t i v e a t t i t u d e of some Balkan statesmen a t t h i s time.
As e a r l y as 1 9 2 6 , a Yugoslav'named Georgevic had s t a r t e d a
newspaper campaign i n favour o f a Balkan Customs Union. I n 1928,
he had founded the " I n t e r - B a l k a n A s s o c i a t i o n f o r Peace and
P r o s p e r i t y " and, i n June 1 9 2 9 . the A s s o c i a t i o n sent a c i r c u l a r
t o European statesmen, u r g i n g an economic union as a prelude
t o p o l i t i c a l r a p p r o c h e m e n t . ^ Many s o c i e t i e s , e s t a b l i s h e d i n
memory of S t a m b o l i s k i i n numerous European c a p i t a l s , were a l s o
working f o r the f u r t h e r a n c e o f South Slav u n i t y . I n 1 9 3 0 , a l l
these s o c i e t i e s wete u n i t e d i n t o the "Ligue pour l e rapproche-
11
ment des Serbes e t des Bulgares.
These developments, i n themselves small and insignificant,
helped t o prepare the ground f o r the Balkan Conferences and made
an e f f e c t i v e c o n t r i b u t i o n t o the movement towards c o n f e d e r a t i o n
i n the p e n i n s u l a . Three o t h e r f a c t o r s were i n v o l v e d ; the Locarno
agreements i n Western Europe i n 1925-6, the w o r l d economic
depression and the need t o group the A g r a r i a n n a t i o n s o f E a s t e r n
29. I b i d . , pp. 226 and 231.
30. S t a v r i a n o s , op. c i t . , p. 224.
31. D. S t r a n j a k o v i c , Oeuvre dn rapprochement e t de 1'union
des Serbes e t des Bulgares dans l e passe, P a r i s , 1930* P« 1.

S o c i e t i e s f o r South Slav u n i t y were e s t a b l i s h e d i n Belgrade,

Prague, Vienna, B e r l i n , Munich, P a r i s , Geneva, Toulouse and
L e i p z i g . The work by S t r a n j a k o v i c was the o n l y p u b l i s h e d work
o f the League's Committee.
 (124)

32
Europe i n t o a more e f f e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g u n i t . Gradually,
a number o f i n t e r - B a l k a n agreements were made. I n 1928, Rumania
and Greece n e g o t i a t e d a t r e a t y o f non-aggression and a r b i t r a t i o n ;
i n 1929» Y u g o s l a v i a and Rumania signed a g e n e r a l a c t o f c o n c i l -
i a t i o n , a r b i t r a t i o n and j u d i c i a l s e t t l e m e n t ; i n t h e same y e a r ,
Greece and Y u g o s l a v i a came t o an u n d e r s t a n d i n g about S a l o n i k a
and, by October 1930, f r i e n d s h i p between Greece and Turkey had
developed t o t h e e x t e n t o f a t r e a t y o f n e u t r a l i t y , c o n c i l i a t i o n ,
a r b i t r a t i o n and f r i e n d s h i p .

The a c t u a l i n i t i a t i v e f o r c a l l i n g a Conference was made by

Alexander Papanastassiou a t t h e 27th. U n i v e r s a l Congress o f
34
Peace which was h e l d i n Athens between October 6 and 10, 1929*
On October 9* a t t h e p l e n a r y s e s s i o n o f t h e Congress, Papanast-
a s s i o u presented a r e s o l u t i o n s t i p u l a t i n g the necessity f o r
annual Balkan Conferences t o study a l l m a t t e r s o f common interest
to t h e Balkan peoples, and suggested t h a t t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l
35
Bureau o f Peace should c a l l such a meeting. On May 12, 1930*
the Bureau i s s u e d i n v i t a t i o n s t» a Conference which would be
h e l d i n Athens i n October 1930. By t h e end o f June, a l l t h e
Balkan s t a t e s had s i g n i f i e d t h e i r a p p r o v a l o f t h e purpose o f
J
36.
the Conference and expressed t h e i r w i l l i n g n e s s t o send d e l e g a t e s .
32. D u r i n g August 1930, e i g h t A g r a r i a n s t a t e s ( i n c l u d i n g
Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a ) had a e t t o d i s c u s s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f
f o r m i n g a Customs Union which would t h e n be able t o p r e s e n t a
s o l i d A g r a r i a n f r o n t t o t h e i n d u s t r i a l n a t i o n s o f Western Europe.
33« See a l s o Appendix D. f o r commercial t r e a t i e s from 1926-34.
34. For proceedings, see XXVIIeme Congres de l a p a i x . Athenes,
6-10. o c t o b r e 1929. Documents o f f i c i e l s . Athens, 1931. For a
summary see M.J. P a d e l f o r d , Peace i n t h e Balkans, New York, 1935»
pp. 9-H. 35. I b i d . , l o c . c i t . See a l s o , A.P. Papanastassiou,.
Vers 1'union balkanique. P a r i s , 1934, p. 1 1 .
36. R.J* Kerner and II.N. Howard, The Balkan Conferences and t h e
Balkan Entente 1930-35. B e r k e l e y , C a l i f o r n i a , 1936, p. 26. The a u t -
hors note t h a t K i r o v , t h e B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t e , r e c e i v e d t h e i d e a
w i t h favour.
 (125)

The o b j e c t o f the meeting was c l e a r l y s t a t e d i n A r t i c l e 1

of the " S t a t u t e s o f the Balkan Conference":
"The Balkan Conference w i l l endeavour t o c o n t r i b u t e
to the rapprochement and c o l l a b o r a t i o n o f the Balkan
peoples i n t h e i r economic, s o c i a l , i n t e l l e c t u a l and
p o l i t i c a l r e l a t i o n s i n order to d i r e c t t h i s rapprochement
u l t i m a t e l y towards t h e u n i o n of the Balkan s t a t e s (Albania,
37
B u l g a r i a , Greece, Rumania, Turkey and Y u g o s l a v i a ) . " .
The Athens meeting, which began on October 5, was a t t e n d e d by
150 d e l e g a t e s and observers from the s i x Balkan c o u n t r i e s .
A l t h o u g h the Conference was o n l y s e m i - o f f i c i a l i n c h a r a c t e r ,
many of those p r e s e n t r e a l i z e d t h a t i f a Balkan f e d e r a t i o n c o u l d
be e s t a b l i s h e d , g r e a t economic and p o l i t i c a l b e n e f i t s would
f o l l o w . A g r i c u l t u r e , i n d u s t r y and commerce would prosper and
having a t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n o f 60 m i l l i o n s and a l a n d area o f
600,000 square m i l e s ( i n c l u d i n g Turkey's A s i a t i c l a n d s ) , the
new Union would be i n i t s e l f a Great Power. Thus, a t t h i s first
Conference, the d e l e g a t e s s e t up an organism w h i c h would serve
the i d e a o f a Balkan Union. S i x commissions (including a p o l i t i c a l
commission) were s e t up t o discuus v a r i o u s aspects of f e d e r a t i o n
and t h e i r members were e n t r u s t e d w i t h the t a s k of p r o d u c i n g
some c o n c r e t e , workable p r o p o s a l s upon which Balkan c o - o p e r a t i o n
•zg
c o u l d grow. The. f i n a l meeting of the Conference was h e l d on
October I3f i n the t h e a t r e a t D e l p h i which had been the scene
of the Amphictyonic League i n c l a s s i c a l t i m e s ; the choice o f
such a h i s t o r i c spot f o r the l a s t s e s s i o n no doubt r e f l e c t e d
the hopes and wishes o f those who wanted t o see t h e c r e a t i o n of
a genuine c o n f e d e r a t i o n .
But, from the s t a r t , the v i s i o n a r y i d e a l foundered on the
37. B u l g a r i a n N a t i o n a l Group, B u l g a r i a and the Balkan Problems.
S o f i a , 1934, p. 40.
38. For proceedings, see I e r e Conference b a l k a n i q u e . Athenes,
5-12, o c t o b r e 1930. Documents o f f i c i e l s , Athens 1931. For a
summary, see Kerner and Howard, op. c i t . . pp. 30-41, and
P a d e l f o r d , op. c i t . , pp. 11-22.
 (126)

p r a c t i c a l problem o f n a t i o n a l m i n o r i t i e s . Only a week b e f o r e

the Conference opened, the B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n announced t h a t
since the m i n o r i t i e s ' problem was n o t on the agenda, they
would n o t a t t e n d . Papanastassiou p o i n t e d o u t t h a t the Conference
was d e a l i n g w i t h no more than the g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e s o f organ-
i z a t i o n . He added t h a t , a l t h o u g h the q u e s t i o n o f m i n o r i t i e s
might be discussed " i n p r i n c i p l e " , the Conference "must be
1
prudent and a w a i t the c r e a t i o n o f a f r i e n d l y s p i r i t ! before
e n t e r i n g upon such dangerous ground. H i s r e p l y did.,not a l t o g e t h e r
s a t i s f y the B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n b u t , on the eve o f the Conf-
39
erence, they decided t o a t t e n d .
N e v e r t h e l e s s , the damage was done. I n both the 1930 and
1931 Conferences, the B u l g a r i a n s demanded t h a t the meeting
should c o n s i d e r the s t a t u s and r i g h t s o f the Macedonian S l a v s ,
d e s p i t e the f a c t t h a t the Conferences were never i n t e n d e d t o
s o l v e acknowledged d i f f e r e n c e s , but r a t h e r t o develop common
grounds f o r agreement. One of the Yugoslav d e l e g a t i o n , M. Topalovic,
r e a l i z e d t h a t i f the l o n g - s t a n d i n g Y u g o s l a v - B u l g a r i a n controversy
was going t o be brought up a t these meetings, the whole i d e a
of Balkan f e d e r a t i o n would be d e s t r o y e d . M. T o p a l o v i c addressed
some s t r o n g words t o the B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n :
"Let us say f r a n k l y t o B u l g a r i a n p u b l i c o p i n i o n
t h a t o n l y t h r o u g h p o l i t i c a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g and collaboration
can they w i n the sympathy which w i l l h e l p them o u t o f
t h e i r present d i f f i c u l t i e s . " Be concluded by u r g i n g h i s
B u l g a r i a n f r i e n d s " t o p a r t i c i p a t e l o y a l l y and w i t h o u t
40
r e s e r v a t i o n i n the c o n c e r t of the Balkan peoples."
King B o r i s , however, had no d e s i r e t o reach a s e t t l e m e n t
w i t h h i s Balkan neighbours. E i t h e r by coincidence or d e s i g n , h i s
b e t r o t h a l t o P r i n c e s s Giovanna d i Savoia o f I t a l y , which had
been discussed i n the w o r l d press f o r almost .two y e a r s , was
o f f i39.
c i a l lKerner
y announced i n Borne
and Howard, op.on c the
i t . . eve
l o c .o f c the
i t e opening meeting
40. I b i d . . l o c . c i t .
 (127)
41
of the F i r s t Balkan Conference. Three weeks l a t e r , the couple
were m a r r i e d a t A s s i s t , and r e t u r n e d t o B u l g a r i a on October 31.
T h e i r r e t u r n aroused g r e a t enthusiasm and a l e a d i n g a r t i c l e i n
Naroden Glas. d e c l a r e d :
"We b e l i e v e t h a t our Queen w i l l b r i n g about peace
and p r o s p e r i t y t o our c o u n t r y and a l s o freedom t o our
42
c o - n a t i o n a l s under f o r e i g n yoke."
I t was reasonably suspected t h a t King B o r i s might have e n t e r e d
i n t o a s e c r e t a l l i a n c e w i t h I t a l y , thus making B u l g a r i a as
43
much an I t a l i a n p r o t e c t o r a t e as A l b a n i a . These apprehensions
were g i v e n credence by the u t t e r a n c e s o f h i g h B u l g a r i a n d i g n i t -
a r i e s . An example was g i v e n i n Zorat
"The B u l g a r i a n N a t i o n a l Church i s p r a y i n g t o
A l m i g h t y (iod t o c o n s o l i d a t e the n a t i v e dynasty as a
44
p r e c i o u s pledge f o r our n a t i o n a l u n i f i c a t i o n . "
But no a l l i a n c e was made. King B o r i s ' s b i o g r a p h e r , w r i t i n g w i t h
41. T . I . Geshkoff, Balkan Union. A Road t o Peace i n South-
Eaatern Europe. New York, 1940, p. 204. Cf. N.F. Nikolaev,
La d e s t i n e e t r a g i q u e d'un r o i , Uppsala, 1952, p. 56 which denies
t h a t the choice o f date had any p o l i t i c a l m o v i t a t i o n .
42. Naroden Glas. November 21, 1930. Quoted by Geshkoff, op.
c i t . , loc. c i t .
43. Suspicions had been r a i s e d by I t a l y ' s being g i v e n f r e e
access t o the p o r t o f Varna i n March 1930 and a l s o the complete
monopoly i n the motor market, which was conceded i n May.
I t a l y ' s d o m i n a t i o n o f A l b a n i a had begun w i t h the s i g n i n g of
a f i n a n c i a l agreement on March 15, 1925. On November 27, 1926,
the T r e a t y o f T i r a n a converted the c o u n t r y i n t o an I t a l i a n p r o t -
e c t o r a t e . On November 22, 1927, a 20 year d e f e n s i v e m i l i t a r y
a l l i a n c e was signed, and, on December 1, 1928, A l b a n i a became
a Kingdom though s t i l l under I t a l i a n p r o t e c t i o n .
S i m i l a r developments i n B u l g a r i a seemed more than l i k e l y .
44. Archbishop Neophite i n Zora. November 2, 1930. Quoted by
GeBhkoff, op. c i t . , l o c . c i t .
 (128)

the b e n e f i t o f h i n d s i g h t , s t a t e d t h a t t h e King
"had no i n t e n t i o n whatsoever o f s t e e r i n g h i s
barge i n t h e wake o f t h e I t a l i a n s h i p o f s t a t e , He t o l d
both h i s f a t h e r - i n - l a w and M u s s o l i n i t h a t he would n o t
45
welcome I t a l i a n i n f l u e n c e i n t h e Balkans."
Another o f King B o r i s ' s acquaintances has s a i d t h a t even i n t h e
e a r l y t h i r t i e s , h i s i d e a l was t o make B u l g a r i a a Balkan S w i t z -
46
erland. The v e r a c i t y o f such a remark i s open t o c o n s i d e r a b l e
doubt f o r t h e same w r i t e r adds:
"The three Balkan Kings worked w i s e l y f o r a
rapprochement which was d e s i r a b l e and advantageous
47
t o t h e i r peoples. I n t h i s , Boris. I l l took the i n i t i a t i v e . "
I n t h i s e r a o f t h e Conferences, there i s no evidence whatsoever
t o show t h a t King B o r i s had any d e s i r e t o come t o an agreement
w i t h h i s neighbours, lie m a i n t a i n e d h i s p r o - I t a l i a n p o l i c y , he
t o l e r a t e d a government u n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f the m a j o r i t y o f h i s
people and p r o t e c t e d men l i k e Volkov, under whose t u t e l a g e , t h e
Macedonian O r g a n i z a t i o n continued tp flourish.
S h o r t l y a f t e r t h e r o y a l m a r r i a g e , a new s o c i e t y was formed
i n S o f i a . I t was c a l l e d Revizi.ja (Revision), and t h e m a n i f e s t o
issued by t h e s o c i e t y , made t h e i r o b j e c t q u i t e c l e a r :
"Revision o f t h e peace t r e a t i e s w i l l be conceded
but i t must be demanded. Germany and Hungary have begun
a peaceful campaign f o r r e v i s i o n o f t r e a t i e s . We must do
the same. T r a i t o r s t o t h e i r own c o u n t r y are those B u l g a r -
ians who are keeping mute. L e t us demand and impose
r e v i.s i.o n i.s m . „48
This r e s o l u t e demand d i d n o t make the task o f t h e B u l g a r i a n
d e l e g a t i o n a t t h e Conferences any e a s i e r . A t t h e C o u n c i l
Meeting h e l d i n S a l o n i k a i n January 1931i M. K i r o v demanded
t h a t t h e m i n o r i t y problem be brought up once more. Papanastassiou
anxious t o avoid o v e r t c o n t r o v e r s y , suggested t h a t the m i n o r i t i e s
45. N i k o l a e v , op. c i t . . l o c . c i t . 46. I b i d . . p. 58,.
47. I b i d . . l o c . c i t . 48. Geshkoff, op. c i t . . p. 190.
 (129)

problem should be discussed i n c o n n e c t i o n v i t h the study on t h e

a p p l i c a t i o n o f t r e a t i e s . M. K i r o v agreed t o t h i s but government
o p i n i o n i n S o f i a f e l t he had been, too c o n c i l i a t o r y and M.
Sakazov was appointed as the new l e a d e r o f the B u l g a r i a n
49
delegation.
This s t e r n a t t i t u d e on the p a r t o f the S o f i a government
was l a r g e l y i n f l u e n c e d by i n t e r n a l events w i t h i n B u l g a r i a .
Through the w i n t e r months of 1930-1, the Prime M i n i s t e r , Andrew
Liapchev, f o u g h t a l o s i n g b a t t l e t o m a i n t a i n p o l i t i c a l power.
E v e n t u a l l y he conceded d e f e a t and, on A p r i l 20, handed h i s
r e s i g n a t i o n t o the K i n g . B o r i s i n v i t e d M a l i n o v , the O p p o s i t i o n
l e a d e r , t o form a c o a l i t i o n government but M a l i n o v c o u l d
n o t meet the demands o f Liapchev, Tsankov and Bourov. He
t h e r e f o r e suggested a Democrat-Agrarian c o a l i t i o n or a r e s t o r -
a t i o n o f the Liapchev government. King B o r i s had no d e s i r e
to see the r e t u r n o f the A g r a r i a n s and r e c a l l e d Liapchev. The
l a t t e r strengthened h i s government by i n c l u d i n g Radoslavov
and o t h e r v e t e r a n p o l i t i c i a n s , who r e p r e s e n t e d the most extreme
50
n a t i o n a l i s t s w i t h i n Bulgaria. Malinov j o i n e d forces w i t h
the A g r a r i a n and L i b e r a l d e p u t i e s and f o r c e d t h e government
i n t o e l e c t i o n s on June 21, 1931• The e l e c t i o n s r e s u l t e d i n
a c r u s h i n g d e f e a t f o r Liapchev and a s i z e a b l e m a j o r i t y f o r
M a l i n o v , who now became Prime M i n i s t e r . ^
The change o f government i n B u l g a r i a evoked a c e r t a i n
optimism i n Belgrade, f o r the A g r a r i a n p a r t y , which had
t r a d i t i o n a l l y favoured s t r o n g l i n k s w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a , now formed
49* Kerner and Howard, op. c i t . . pp. 45-48. For proceedings
of the C o u n c i l Meeting, see P a d e l f o r d , op. c i t . , pp. 23-27.
30. See above, chapter 2, note 10. S h o r t l y a f t e r the war,
Radoslavov was t r i e d ( " i n contumaciam") f o r h i s a c t i o n s i n the
war. He was condemned t o l i f e l o n g imprisonment ( i n h i s absence)
but was a l l o w e d t o r e t u r n t o B u l g a r i a i n 1929 and resume a f u l l
political life.
51. Swire, op. c i t . . pp. 241-42.
 (130)
52
a s u b s t a n t i a l p a r t o f the government p a r t y . M. T o p a l o v i c ,
who had spoken so f o r c i b l y t o the B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n a t
the F i r s t Balkan Conference, f e l t t h a t the new government
i n S o f i a should make a c l e a n break w i t h the past and e s t a b l i s h
the c l o s e s t of r e l a t i o n s w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a . He w r o t e :

"There i s no o t h e r road f o r the B u l g a r i a n people

but t o renounce every r a c i a l b l i n d n e s s and t o proceed
towards the r e a l i z a t i o n o f two g r e a t new purposes: the
f o r m a t i o n o f an i n t e g r a l Yugoslavian Union and then the
f o r m a t i o n of a Union w i t h the o t h e r Balkan people. Only
i n t h i s way c o u l d a l l the c o n f l i c t s be e l i m i n a t e d and
a l l the t r u e i n t e r e s t s be s a t i s f i e d .
"The Union o f the Yugoslav races i s a g r e a t r e v o l u t -
ionary act. I t i s not yet f i n i s h e d . I t s t i l l finds itself
i n the process o f i t s development. I t w i l l o n l y end when
the B u l g a r i a n s j o i n up w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a No conferences
on m i n o r i t i e s , no s o l u t i o n s from I n t e r n a t i o n a l Forums
c o u l d change the present s i t u a t i o n . I f , however, the
B u l g a r i a n s want t o be s a t i s f i e d i n r e s p e c t t o t h e i r territ-
o r i a l a s p i r a t i o n s , as w e l l as i n t h e i r n a t i o n a l a s p i r a t i o n s ,
t h e r e i s o n l y one road open t o them - t o j o i n the Y u g o s l a v i a n
Union. There m a i n l y l i e s the g r e a t meaning of t h i s Union.
Only t h i s c o u l d d e f i n i t e l y erase and l i q u i d a t e a l l our o l d
53
d i s p u t e s and d r y up the blood shedded i n the past." '
Had H. Topalovic been addressing the p a r l i a m e n t a r y d e p u t i e s

52.The r e s u l t of the 1931 e l e c t i o n s was as f o l l o w s : -

H a t i o n a l Bloc A g r a r i a n s 72. Liapchev 67.
(Malinov) Democrats 4 3 . I LP (Communists) 31*
L i b e r a l s 30. Radoslavovists 11.
Radicals 7. Macedonians 8.
Total 152. Socialists 5.
53. A. Toshev, The B u l g a r i a n - S e r b i a n D i s p u t e , S o f i a , 1932,
pp. 83-85. Toshev's book was w r i t t e n as a r e p l y t o T o p a l o v i c ' s
book "For the Balkan Agreement", Zagreb, 1931* whence the q u o t a t i o n .
 (131)

of 19^2-23, he would no doubt have found w h o l e - h e a r t e d agreement

w i t h h i s v i e w s . But t h e A g r a r i a n p a r t y o f 1931 bore little
r e s e m b l a n c e to t h e p a r t y w h i c h S t a m b o l i s k i had l e d . Soon a f t e r
their electoral victory, two A g r a r i a n l e a d e r s , G i t c h e v , and h i s
nephew, V i r g i l Dimov, met M i h a i l o v a t the flila m o n a s t e r y and
54
negotiated a s e c r e t understanding w i t h him. M i h a i l o v had
been g r e a t l y p e t u r b e d by t h e c o l l a p s e o f t h e L i a p c h e v government
w h i c h had p r o t e c t e d t h e Macedonian O r g a n i z a t i o n s i n c e 1926.
When t h e e l e c t i o n s were c a l l e d , he t r a v e l l e d t o Rome t o c o n f e r
55
w i t h Volkov and I t a l i a n l e a d e r s as t o what s t e p s he s h o u l d take.
On h i s r e t u r n , he made t h i s s e c r e t u n d e r s t a n d i n g with Gitchev
and Dimov and l a t e r c o n s o l i d a t e d t h i s i n a f o r m a l agreement.
The terms of t h i s agreement, w h i c h were s c r u p u l o u s l y observed
by both s i d e s , c a n be summed up a s f o l l o w s :
"The A g r a r i a n l e a d e r s would oppose e n t e n t e with
Y u g o s l a v i a so long a s S u p r e m i s t c l a i m s were u n r e a l i z e d ;
t h e y would f o l l o w I t a l y i n f o r e i g n p o l i c y , demand t r e a t y
i t s
r e v i s i o n , defend M i h a i l o v ' s o r g a n i z a t i o n and uphold
a u t h o r i t y i n t h e P e t r i c h department. I n r e t u r n , M i h a i l o v ' s
men would p r o t e c t t h e A g r a r i a n l e a d e r s ; M i h a i l o v ' s Macedon-
ian d e p u t i e s would s u p p o r t them; t h e y would r e c e i v e s u b s i d i e s
from a " f o r e i g n power" and former A g r a r i a n l e a d e r s would
be p r e v e n t e d from c h a l l e n g i n g t h e l e a d e r s h i p of t h e A g r a r i a n
5 6
party."
54. S w i r e , op. c i t . , pp. 242-43* 55. I b i d . , loc. c i t .
56. I b i d . , l o c . c i t . Swire s t a t e s t h a t t h i s agreement, o f
w h i c h he g i v e s a summary, was made p u b l i c i n 1933 and was con-
f i r m e d by e x p e r i e n c e d o b s e r v e r s . Up to t h i s p o i n t , t h e rank
and file A g r a r i a n s had been unaware o f i t s e x i s t e n c e . Todorov,
still l i v i n g i n e x i l e i n Belgrade, c o u l d n o t adhere even t o t h e
proclaimed p r i n c i p l e s o f t h e A g r a r i a n p a r t y and founded h i s own
'Alexander S t a m b o l i s k i Peasant Union' to keep t r u e t o S t a m b o l i s k i ' s
p o l i c i e s . K. Todorov, B a l k a n F i r e b r a n d . The A u t o b i o g r a p h y of
A R e b e l . S o l d i e r and S t a t e s m a n . C h i c a g o , 1943* p. 2 4 1 .
 (132)

A p a r t from t h i s s e c r e t agreement, t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f any

rapprochement v i t h Y u g o s l a v i a was rendered h i g h l y u n l i k e l y
by the presence o f the former M i n i s t e r o f War and Chief o f
57
S t a f f , who were r e t a i n e d , upon t h e advice o f King D o r i s .
F e e l i n g t h a t t h e change o f government made l i t t l e o r no
d i f f e r e n c e t o t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e Macedonain O r g a n i z a t i o n and
c o n f i d e n t o f A g r a r i a n support i n t h e Cabinet, M i h a i l o v resumed
t e r r o r i s t a c t i v i t i e s . There had been a l u l l i n operations
since October 1930, but now t h e outrages i n c r e a s e d r a p i d l y i n
number. During J u l y , t h e r e was a spate . o f . i n c i d e n t s i n t h e
eg
West F r o n t i e r T e r r i t o r y , where, i t was s a i d , t h e Yugoslavs
59
had k i l l e d 274 B u l g a r i a n s s i n c e 1921. L a t e r i n t h e month,
S o f i a newspapers announced t h a t t h e b r i d g e s on t h e r a i l w a y l i n e
between N i s and Skopje had been d e s t r o y e d . But such r e p o r t s were
premature f o r t h e t e r r o r i s t s sent t o d e s t r o y them were k i l l e d
before t h e y reached t h e i r d e s t i n a t i o n . The Yugoslav government
decided t h a t i t had a chance o f p r o v i n g t h a t t h e c o m i t a d j i a
came from B u l g a r i a and were n o t , as was c o n s t a n t l y claimed,
"oppressed Macedonians". The Yugoslav l e g a t i o n i n S o f i a showed
Malinov evidence found on t h e dead men, which proved they had
come from B u l g a r i a , and demanded t h a t he should take steps t o
suppress M i h a i l o v ' s O r g a n i z a t i o n . But M a l i n o v had n e i t h e r t h e
courage n o r t h e power t o a c t . On October 12, 1931i a f t e r o n l y
f o u r months as Prime M i n i s t e r , he r e s i g n e d from o f f i c e " f o r reasons
of h e a l t h " . He was succeeded by Mushanov, who had always been
amongst the' most I t a l o p h i l e o f B u l g a r i a n p o l i t i c i a n s . ^
57. Swire, op. c i t . . loc. cit. 58. See above, note 19.
59. Swire, op. c i t . . p. 252. Operations i n t h e West F r o n t i e r
T e r r i t o r y were d i r e c t e d by a f o r m e r teacher i n T s a r i b r o d ,
u t
I v a n Gioshev. Gioshev had l e f t T s a r i b r o d i n 1919 and was p
in charge o f these o p e r a t i o n s i n 1931. This s e c t i o n o f IMRO
had a s p e c i a l newspaper, V r t o p , t o t e l l of i t s exploits.
60. I b i d . . p. 253.
 (133)

This increase i n t e r r o r i s m was one o f t h e s u b j e c t s brought

up a t the Second Balkan Conference which met a t I s t a n b u l
between October 20 and 26, 1931* A t the v e r y f i r s t plenary
session o f the Conference, t h e q u e s t i o n o f m i n o r i t i e s was r a i s e d ,
Both A l b a n i a and B u l g a r i a demanded a f u l l e r examination of the
problem and Andrei Toshev, one o f t h e B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n ,
claimed t h a t "the f i r s t g r e a t o b s t a c l e which obstructs our
roads i s the q u e s t i o n o f m i n o r i t i e s W i t h o u t having settled
"6l
i t f i r s t , we do n o t see how we can go f u r t h e r . I n reply,
M. Georgevic, o f the Yugoslav group, s t a t e d t h a t h i s d e l e g a t i o n
did n o t b e l i e v e i t was p o s s i b l e t o reach any p o l i t i c a l underst-
anding as long as any s t a t e , e i t h e r by i t s e l f o r through organ-
i z a t i o n s which i t t o l e r a t e d , i n t e r f e r e d i n the " i n t e r n a l life
of neighbour s t a t e s f o r the purpose o f p r e v e n t i n g t h e i r consol-
i d a t i o n . " Hi. Georgevic added t h a t i t was i m p o s s i b l e t o b u i l d a
Union as long as some s t a t e s were a l l i e d w i t h " e x t r a - B a l k a n
s t a t e s having designs o f conquest o r tendencies towards c o l o n -
i z a t i o n i n the Balkan c o u n t r i e s and whose own t e r r i t o r y o r
whose own f o r c e s and i n s t i t u t i o n s were t o be u t i l i z e d against
62
one o r s e v e r a l Balkan s t a t e s . " This outspoken summary o f
Yugoslav f e a r s w i t h regard t o I t a l y and B u l g a r i a caused v i o l e n t
c o n t r o v e r s y a t t h e Conference and most o f the o t h e r problems
before the meeting were shelved t o the v a r i o u s committees
for c o n s i d e r a t i o n a t t h e T h i r d Conference t o be h e l d i n October
6 3
1932.
Two Balkan Conferences had now been h e l d , one i n Athens,
1
the o t h e r i n I s t a n b u l . The meetings remained w i t h i n the realm
of p r i v a t e i n i t i a t i v e and, though the governments looked w i t h
6 1 . Kerner and Howard, op. c i t . , p. 52. 62. I b i d . . l o c . c i t .
63. For proceedings a t I s t a n b u l , see Heme Conference
balkaniqge ( I s t a n b u l - A n k a r a ^ 19-26, octobre 1931). Documents
o f f i c i e l s . premiere p a r t i e . ( I s t a n b u l , 1932). For a summary,
see Kerner and Howard, op. c i t . . pp. 50-64 and P a d e l f o r d , op.
cit.. pp. 28-35.
 (134)

apparent benevolence on t h e i d e a l i s t i c l a b o u r s o f t h e i r n a t i o n a l s ,
they d i d almost n o t h i n g towards g i v i n g t h e r e s o l u t i o n s o f t h e
Conferences t h e f o r c e o f law. I n B u l g a r i a , t h e a n n i v e r s a r y
o f t h e s i g n i n g o f t h e T r e a t y o f N e u i l l y - always a time f o r
organized demonstrations and mourning borders upon edges o f
the newspapers - was t h e occasion o f even more v i o l e n t a g i t a t i o n
f o r t r e a t y r e v i s i o n , which i n c l u d e d t h e s t o n i n g o f t h e Yugoslav
64
legation i n Sofia. A t t h e same t i m e , t h e A l b a n i a n Conference
Group o f f i c i a l l y recognized t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a B u l g a r i a n
m i n o r i t y i n e a s t e r n A l b a n i a , t h e r e b y i m p l y i n g t h a t t h e Slavs
l i v i n g between t h e A l b a n i a n and B u l g a r i a n f r o n t i e r s were a l s o
65
Bulgars. I n November, Mushanov v i s i t e d I t a l y . On h i s r e t u r n ,
he was r e p o r t e d t o have s a i d t h a t B u l g a r i a "supported by I t a l y ,
w i l l continue her peaceful policy."^
On A p r i l 17, M i h a i l o v h e l d h i s E i g h t h R e v o l u t i o n a r y Congress
near K u s t e n d i l . A t t h e Congress, t h e i d e a o f Balkan F e d e r a t i o n
was r e p u d i a t e d and f u r t h e r c o m i t a d j i o p e r a t i o n s i n Southern
S e r b i a were proposed. The delegates a t t h e Congress declaimed
a l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r any i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m p l i c a t i o n s which
might ensue, m a i n t a i n i n g t h a t t h e Great Powers had never
67
" l i b e r a t e d " Macedonia. Such an excuse d i d n o t commend i t s e l f
t o t h e Belgrade government, which faced an unending s e r i e s o f
outrages and border i n c i d e n t s . Despite t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e
Mixed Commission, s e t up under t h e P i r o t Convention, the Bulg-
a r i a n Premier, Mushanov, u s u a l l y found some p l a u s i b l e excuse
t o prevent t h e Commission i n v e s t i g a t i n g them. I n October 1932,
Yugoslav delegates a t Geneva Bought t h e support o f B r i t a i n and
France f o r t h e p r o j e c t o f a demarche a g a i n s t B u l g a r i a a t t h e
League o f N a t i o n s . They b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e now proven e x i s t e n c e
o f IMRfl on B u l g a r i a n s o i l would enable them t o appeal on t h e
basis o f A r t i c l e s 11 and 12 o f t h e League Covenant. B r i t a i n
and France gave t h e Yugoslav d e l e g a t i o n no encouragement and
64. Swire, op. c i t . , p. 254. 66, I b i d . , l o c . c i t .
65. I b i d . , p. 253. 67. I b i d . , p. 249.
 (135)

when the p r o j e c t was o f f i c i a l l y announced, t h e y n o t i f i e d

Belgrade t h a t t h e y had no i n t e n t i o n o f r a i s i n g so d e l i c a t e
a s u b j e c t which would o n l y e m b i t t e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s .
Mushanov, f o r h i s p a r t , d e c l a r e d p u b l i c l y t h a t s i n c e B u l g a r i a
"has taken and w i l l c o n t i n u e t o take the most e n e r g e t i c measures
and i n view o f her g o o d w i l l and i n c o n t e s t a b l e l o y a l t y
recourse t o Geneva would n o t promote Bulgarian-Yugoslav f r i e n d -
69
ship." C o n f r o n t e d by t h i s Anglo-French r e b u f f , Y u g o s l a v i a
renounced the p r o j e c t e d demarche and merely w i t h d r e w c e r t a i n
r a i l w a y concessions which B u l g a r i a n e x p o r t e r s had l o n g enjoyed.
I t i s perhaps h a r d l y s u r p r i s i n g t h a t from t h e p o i n t o f
70
view o f Balkan c o - o p e r a t i o n , t h e T h i r d Conference, held i n
Bucharest between October 22 and 29, 1932, should have been a
f a i l u r e . A t t h e p r e l i m i n a r y C o u n c i l meeting, h e l d on October 2 1 ,
the B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n p r e s e n t e d a l e t t e r , announcing w i t h
r e g r e t t h a t B u l g a r i a must w i t h d r a w from t h e Conference. The
reason f o r t h i s was t h a t t h e problem of m i n o r i t i e s and juridicial
e q u a l i t y o f s t a t e s , w h i c h t h e B u l g a r i a n group had p l a c e d a t the
f o r e f r o n t o f q u e s t i o n s t o be c o n s i d e r e d , had n o t been s o l v e d
i n t h e i n t e r v a l since t h e l a s t meeting. They a s s e r t e d the o l d
argument t h a t a " m i n o r i t i e s " s e t t l e m e n t should precede any
71
t a l k about f e d e r a t i o n . D u r i n g the two opening days o f t h e
Conference, when the d r a f t o f a Balkan Pact was being d i s c u s s e d ,
the B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n attempted t o seek an adjournment o f
72
the whole Conference u n t i l t h e f o l l o w i n g s p r i n g . They d i d n o t
68. Londres, op. c i t . . p. 180. The p r o j e c t e d demarche.
f o l l o w e d a memorandum sent by the Yugoslav government t o Mushanov,
e a r l y i n October 1932, l i s t i n g no fewer t h a n 11 outrages by
t e r r o r i s t s from B u l g a r i a i n a s i n g l e month. Mushanov denied t h a t
B u l g a r i a was r e s p o n s i b l e . 69. Swire, op. c i t . . p. 254.
70. For proceedings a t Bucharest, see I l l e m e Conference
balkanique ( B u c a r e s t . 22-29. o c t o b r e 1932) Documents o f f i c i e l a .
Bucharest, 1933. For a summary, see Kerner and Howard, op. cit..
pp. 73-90 and P a d e l f o r d , op. c i t . . pp. 42-65.
71. Kerner and Howard, op. c i t . . p. 76. 72. I b i d . . l o c . c i t .
 (136)

Bucceed. The delegates,,who were anxious t o see t h e Pact

become a p o l i t i c a l r e a l i t y , suggested t h a t t h e c o n t e n t i o u s
m i n o r i t y q u e s t i o n be s e t t l e d by d i r e c t b i - l a t e r a l n e g o t i a t i o n s
73
between t h e n a t i o n a l groups themselves. Having seen t h e Con-
ference r e j e c t t h e i r p r o p o s a l , and h a v i n g r e c e i v e d a telephone
c a l l , o s t e n s i b l y from t h e B u l g a r i a n N a t i o n a l Committee, t h e
74
B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t e s l e f t Bucharest and r e t u r n e d home.
A f t e r t h e i r d e p a r t u r e , t h e Conference proceeded t o d i s c u s s
the proposed Balkan Pact and f i n a l l y adopted t h e d r a f t settle-
ment. For t h e f i r s t time i n Balkan h i s t o r y , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s
of t h e Balkan peoples - though n o t o f f i c i a l government repres-
e n t a t i v e s - had adopted a p o l i t i c a l agreement which was t o
govern t h e Balkan s t a t e s i n t h e i r mutual r e l a t i o n s . A l t h o u g h
t h i s appeared t o be a g r e a t achievement, i t was r e a l l y a h o l l o w
v i c t o r y . B u l g a r i a had d e l i b e r a t e l y withdrawn from t h e Conferences
i n a b r t t e r and r e s e n t f u l mood; her l e a d e r s had no d e s i r e t o
a s s o c i a t e themselves w i t h a Balkan Pact and t h e d i v i s i o n between
Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a , which had l a s t e d s i n c e 1923« remained
unresolved.
73. S t a v r i a n o s , op. c i t . . pp. 235-36. A l s o Papanastassiou,
op. c i t . . p. 102.
74. Geshkoff, op. c i t . . p. 102, s t a t e s t h a t t h e telephone
c a l l d i d i n f a c t come from t h e B u l g a r i a n M i n i s t e r o f F o r e i g n
A f f a i r s and n o t t h e N a t i o n a l Committee.
 Chapter 7.

Balkan Entente or

B u l g a r i a n I s o l a t i o n ?.
 (138)

The e r a of the Conferences marked a c l e a r t u r n i n g - p o i n t

i n the t r o u b l e d w o r l d o f Balkan p o l i t i c s . I t had shown t h a t ,
d e s p i t e a l l the b i t t e r n e s s and rancour which c o n t i n u e d t o
surround Y u g o s l a v - B u l g a r i a n r e l a t i o n s , t h e common need f o r
s e c u r i t y and c o - o p e r a t i o n c o u l d b r i n g b o t h n a t i o n s t o g e t h e r
w i t h i n a s i n g l e i n t e r n a t i o n a l g a t h e r i n g . Now the peoples o f
the p e n i n s u l a were faced w i t h t h e q u e s t i o n ! "Could or would
the Balkan s t a t e s r e s o l v e t h e i r d i f f e r e n c e s and work f o r a
genuine Entente? Or would they p r e f e r i s o l a t i o n ? " Once again,
the eyes o f Balkan statesmen t u r n e d t o B u l g a r i a .
W i t h i n B u l g a r i a t h e r e had been f u r t h e r p o l i t i c a l unrest,
and Mushanov, hoping t o d i v i d e and d e f e a t h i s opponents,
g r a n t e d an amnesty t o the A g r a r i a n s e x i l e d abroad - i n c l u d i n g
Todorov, Obov and Stoyanov. T h i s was on January 6, 1933* b u t
Todorov d i d n o t r e t u r n u n t i l March 3 because he had doubts
about the s i n c e r i t y o f the B u l g a r i a n government. The r e t u r n o f
the e x i l e s occasioned w i l d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s a g a i n s t the "Serbian
s p i e s " , f o r Todorov and Obov were w i d e l y regarded as p a i d
agents o f Y u g o s l a v i a bent on s e l l i n g t h e i r c o u n t r y ' s freedom.
Mushanov's hopes were r e a l i z e d , f o r Todorov p r o m p t l y launched
an e n e r g e t i c campaign a g a i n s t the government and succeeded i n
d i v i d i n g the l o y a l t i e s o f the A g r a r i a n p a r t y . The newspapers
of which he became e d i t o r promised f o r e i g n loans f o r the
2
peasants and urged the n e c e s s i t y f o r an a l l i a n c e w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a .
The Macedonian O r g a n i z a t i o n was p a r t i c u l a r l y incensed by
Todorov's campaign and he was d e s c r i b e d as a " T r o j a n horse
1. J . Swire, B u l g a r i a n Conspiracy, London, 1939, p. 238.
2. A. Londres, T e r r o r i n the Balkans, London, 1935* pp» 205-06.
 (139)

sent by King Alexander t o seize B u l g a r i a from w i t h i n . " ^

E a r l i e r i n t h e year, on February 12, 1933, t h e Macedonian
O r g a n i z a t i o n , under t h e auspices o f t h e I m m i g r a n t s ' Conference,
h e l d a Congress a t Gorna Djoumaia which was a t t e n d e d by
d e l e g a t e s from a l l over B u l g a r i a , The g a t h e r i n g was condoned
by t h e government who gave t h e d e l e g a t e s 75% r e d u c t i o n on t h e i r
4
r a i l w a y f a r e s and s t a t e o f f i c i a l s h o l i d a y s w i t h pay! Ten
thousand were p r e s e n t a t t h e Conference, i n c l u d i n g Swire,
Reuter's correspondent i n S o f i a . I t was opened by a s e r v i c e
conducted by the Bishop o f Nevrokop and a t t e n d e d by t h i r t y - s i x
p r i e s t s . A f t e r t h i s , ajnessage from M i h a i l o v was read t o t h e
d e l e g a t e s : " A g a i n s t t h e Yugoslav government, we can speak o n l y
i n t h e language o f r i f l e s and bombs. The s t r u g g l e w i l l c o n t i n u e
w i t h f i r e and blood." F o l l o w i n g t h i s message, Marko Dosen, a
Croat member o f t h e Ustase, e x p e l l e d from Y u g o s l a v i a i n 1929,
read a message from Dr. P a v e l i c , t h e l e a d e r o f t h e Ustase,
u r g i n g t h e break-up o f t h e "Yugoslav mosaic". I n c o n c l u s i o n ,
Dr. Tatarchev read t h e substance o f a p e t i t i o n he had lodged
a t Geneva concerning Yugoslav misdeeds. During t h e banquet
which rounded o f f t h e Conference, Kondov, t h e chairman o f t h e
B u l g a r i a n N a t i o n a l Committee, d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e B u l g a r i a n
Army was "ready t o l i b e r a t e Macedonia f o r t h e t h i r d t i m e " when
the o p p o r t u n i t y arose. H i s remark, Swire n o t e d , was g r e e t e d
5
w i t h l o u d applause.
C e r t a i n S o f i a newspapers began a v i o l e n t revisionist
a g i t a t i o n timed t o c o - i n c i d e w i t h t h e Conference, and t h e
N a t i o n a l Committee placarded t h e c a p i t a l w i t h n o t i c e s u r g i n g
the immigrants t o prepare themselves f o r Yugoslavia's d i s i n t -
e g r a t i o n , f o r t h e hour o f l i b e r a t i o n was a t hand. A t t h e same
3. K. Todorov, Balkan F i r e b r a n d , The Autobiography o f a Rebel,
S o l d i e r and Statesman. Chicago, 1943, p. 243. Todorov's campaign
was supported by t h e P r o t o g e r o v i s t s under Shandanov.
4. P . P i p i n e l i s , C a i t i f f B u l g a r i a . London, 1944, p. 57.
5. Swire, op. c i t . . pp. 264-65.
 (uo)
t i m e , c e r t a i n lMflO l e a d e r s ( b u t n o t M i h a i l o v ) announced t h a t
i f Macedonia vas n o t " l i b e r a t e d " w i t h i n two y e a r s , they
would provoke another European war.
I n Belgrade, t h e r e was sudden panic. Rumours were abraad
t h a t B u l g a r i a and I t a l y were about t o launch a j o i n t a t t a c k
on Y u g o s l a v i a . On February 1 6 , i n answer t o B u l g a r i a n and
g
German revanchism. the L i t t l e Entente r e o r g a n i z e d i t s e l f and,
on February 27, the Belgrade government warned B u l g a r i a t h a t ,
s i n c e the s t a t e a u t h o r i t i e s had shown such i n c o n t r o v e r t i b l e
s o l i d a r i t y w i t h the r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a t Gorna Djoumaia and
openly applauded w a r - l i k e a c t s , the S o f i a government would be
9
h e l d r e s p o n s i b l e f o r any f u t u r e outrages.
A f t e r t h i B s t e r n warning, the s i t u a t i o n quietened down and,
i n A p r i l 1933» f r i e n d l y gestures were made by both s i d e s .
The most i m p o r t a n t of these was the v i s i t o f N i k o l a V e l i m i r o v i c ,
the Bishop o f O h r i d , and the Yugoslav s e c t i o n o f the "Union f o r
Peace and F r i e n d s h i p t h r o u g h the Churches." The v i s i t was des-
igned t o show the B u l g a r i a n people t h a t c o n d i t i o n s i n Yugoslav
Macedonia were by no means as bad as they were belietoed t o be,
and, i n the course of t h e i r v i s i t , they h e l d out the hope t h a t
an exchange v i s i t c o u l d be made so t h a t each s i d e c o u l d see
what the o t h e r was r e a l l y l i k e . The Bishop's v i s i t was vitiated
by the d i s c o v e r y o f an IMHO attempt t o blow up the SkupYtina,
and f u r t h e r developments i n the r e l a t i o n s between Y u g o s l a v i a
and B u l g a r i a , prevented the r e t u r n v i s i t ever being made.^
6. Ibid.. loc. c i t . 7. I b i d . , loc. c i t .
8. N.J. P a d e l f o r d , Peace i n the Balkans. New York, 1 9 3 5 « PPI

190-93. 9. Swire, op. c i t . , p. 2 6 6 . Along w i t h

t h i s warning, an u n o f f i c i a l h i n t was dropped t h a t , i f Hushanov
c o u l d n o t c o n t r o l the t e r r o r i s t s h i m s e l f , Y u g o s l a v i a and her
a l l i e s would w i l l i n g l y place t h e i r own t r o o p s a t King Boris's
disposal.
10. Londres, op. c i t . . pp. 2 0 9 - 1 2 . The s e r i o u s attempt t o blow
up the Skupstina was d i s c o v e r e d e a r l y i n May 1933*
 (141)

Seen i n a w i d e r c o n t e x t , the month o f A p r i l h e r a l d e d the

f i r s t p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r a Balkan a l l i a n c e . Todorov went t o
Rumania and saw Radulescu who t o l d him t h a t n e g o t i a t i o n s
f o r an a l l i a n c e were a l r e a d y t a k i n g place and d i r e c t c o n s u l t *
a t i o n s w i t h the B u l g a r i a n government would take place a t " t h e
proper t i m e " . * * From Bucharest, Todorov went t o Y u g o s l a v i a
where he had t a l k s w i t h King Alexander, lie r e p o r t e d t h a t the
King had s a i d t o him:
" I ' v e a l r e a d y begun t a l k s w i t h Roumania, Turkey
and Greece but a Balkan a l l i a n c e w i t h s u t B u l g a r i a i s
w o r t h l e s s . Both s t r a t e g i c a l l y and f o r the q u a l i t y o f
her s o l d i e r s , B u l g a r i a i s e s s e n t i a l f o r a p o w e r f u l
Balkan a l l i a n c e . "
"Why don't you t r y t o meet King B o r i s ? " asked Todorov.
"lie doesn't t r u s t me," r e p l i e d the K i n g . "He t h i n k s
I*m h i s enemy."
Todorov t o l d him t h a t he was sure t h a t i n one conv-
e r s a t i o n , Alexander c o u l d convince B o r i s t h a t h i s f e a r s
12
were g r o u n d l e s s .
These n e g o t i a t i o n s f o r an a l l i a n c e r e f l e c t the growing d e s i r e ,
i n t h e s p r i n g o f 1933i tor Balkan s o l i d a r i t y and the d e s i r e t o
see B u l g a r i a brought w i t h i n the framework o f an Entente.Even
a t t h i s stage, the i s s u e was c l e a r l y one of Entente o r I s o l a t i o n
f o r a four-power pact was signed by France, B r i t a i n , I t a l y and
Germany on June 7. I n S o f i a , t h e r e were f e a r s t h a t a Franco-
I t a l i a n rapprochement would d e p r i v e B u l g a r i a o f her o n l y
trustworthy a l l y .
These apprehensions had a s a l u t a r y e f f e c t upon B u l g a r i a n
o p i n i o n . I t was n o t i c e a b l e t h a t , d u r i n g 1933. the scale o f
13
t e r r o r i s m a g a i n s t Y u g o s l a v i a was c o n s i d e r a b l y d i m i n i s h e d .
By c o n t r a s t , t e r r o r i s m i n B u l g a r i a i n c r e a s e d as IMRO t r i e d t o
stem11. theTodorov,
r i s i n g op.
t i d e c ii tn. .f a vpp.
o u r 250-51.
o f f r i e n d s h12.
i p wI ib it dh. .Y ulgoocs.l acvii ta .
13. Swire, op. c i t . . p. 255.
 (1*2)

Whereas, i n 1932, t h e r e had been 45 murderous a t t a c k s (mainly

i n S o f i a ) r e s u l t i n g i n 36 deaths, d u r i n g t h e f i r s t s i x months
of 1933 t h e r e were no f e v e r than 38 a t t a c k s , r e s u l t i n g i n
the deaths o f 49 people. On June 22, a member o f t h e O f f i c e r s '
League went t o King B o r i s and t o l d him t h a t he was m o r a l l y r e s -
p o n s i b l e f o r t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n s . H i s d e c l a r a t i o n made King
B o r i s and Mushanov suspect t h a t a coup d ' e t a t was being prepared.
So, on June 23, t h e Sobranje passed l e g i s l a t i o n t o reduce t h e
scale o f t e r r o r i s m . As a consequence, on the' n i g h t o f June 24-39
t r o o p s made a house-to house search through S o f i a . This was
'designed' t o purge the c a p i t a l o f t e r r o r i s t s and c o n f i s c a t e
any arms found t o be i n i l l e g a l possession. As a demonstration
of m i l i t a r y e f f i c i e n c y and thoroughness i t vas f a u l t l e s s , b u t
i t vas q u i t e u n p r o d u c t i v e , f o r the m a j o r i t y o f the t e r r o r i s t s
had been warned beforehand and had taken temporary leave o f
the c •*
i t y !r l *
i f t h e Macedonian O r g a n i z a t i o n was unpopular a t home:, i t
vas an even g r e a t e r l i a b i l i t y abroad. On May 24, 1933* the
S o v i e t Union p u b l i s h e d d e t a i l s o f t h e pacts o f non-aggression
15
i t vas soon t o make w i t h Rumania, Turkey and Y u g o s l a v i a .
W i t h i n these p a c t s , t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f an aggressor resembled
the d e f i n i t i o n c o n t a i n e d i n the "Convention d e f i n i n g t h e
Aggressor", signed i n London on J u l y 3 , 1933• l n
the Convention,
A r t i c l e 5 r a n as f o l l o w s :
" A i d t o armed bands formed on t h e t e r r i t o r y o f
a s t a t e and i n v a d i n g t h e t e r r i t o r y o f another s t a t e o r
the r e f u s a l , d e s p i t e t h e demands on t h e p a r t o f t h e s t a t e
s u b m i t t e d t o a t t a c k , t o take a l l p o s s i b l e measures on it's
own t e r r i t o r y t o d e p r i v e t h e s a i d bands o f any a i d o r
protection.
14. I b i d . , pp. 268-70. See a l s o L.S. S t a v r i a n o s , Balkan Feder-
a t i o n . A H i s t o r y o f the Movement t o v a r d s Balkan U n i t y i n Modern
Times. Northampton, Mass., 1944, p. 238.
15. S t a v r i a n o s , i b i d . . p. 237.
 (143)

T h i s , o f course, a p p l i e d d i r e c t l y t o B u l g a r i a . , a n d s i n c e
the Convention o f J u l y 3 was signed by Rumania, Greece, Poland,
Czechoslovakia, the S o v i e t Union and Y u g o s l a v i a , i t was clear
t h a t B u l g a r i a was c o m p l e t e l y i s o l a t e d and alone i n her r e v i s -
i o n i s t aims i n the Balkan p e n i n s u l a . She was surrounded by a
l a r g e number o f p o w e r f u l c o u n t r i e s a c t i v e l y determined t o
r e s i s t her i n t e n t i o n s . Many B u l g a r i a n s urged Mushanov t o s i g n
the Convention too but he made a number o f excuses and vent
17
f o r a b r i e f h o l i d a y w i t h the I t a l i a n M i n i s t e r i n S o f i a .
I t a l y was n a t u r a l l y r e l u c t a n t t o see any change i n t h e B u l g a r i a n
a t t i t u d e and I t a l i a n d e c o r a t i o n s were l a v i s h l y c o n f e r r e d upon
c a b i n e t m i n i s t e r s and o t h e r d i g n i t a r i e s . A P o l i t i s reporter
observed t h a t the I t a l i a n M i n i s t e r i n S o f i a was almost always
18
i n the company o f Prime M i n i s t e r Mushanov.
But even i f the Prime M i n i s t e r remained unmoved by B u l g a r i a ' s
growing i s o l a t i o n , King B o r i s was aware o f i t s dangers. On the
same day as t h e Convention was signed i n London,he u n e x p e c t e d l y
went abroad. B u l g a r i a ' s o f f i c i a l j o u r n a l announced on J u l y 4
t h a t he had d e p a r t e d f o r an "unknown d e s t i n a t i o n " , but i t was
19
i n f a c t an extended t o u r o f t h e c a p i t a l s o f Western Europe.
A f t e r a b r i e f h o l i d a y i n Geneva where he had c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h
20
s e v e r a l h i g h d i g n i t a r i e s a t t h e League o f N a t i o n s , he moved
t o S t u t t g a r t . A few days l a t e r , M a l i n o v , now P r e s i d e n t o f t h e
Sobranje, t o l d t h e Press: "The time has a r r i v e d ' f o r a d e f i n i t e
16. R.J.Kerner and II.N. lloward, The Balkan Conferences and
the Balkan Entente 1930-35. B e r k e l e y , C a l i f o r n i a , 1936, pp. 117-9.
17. Swire, op. c i t . . p. 273.
18. P o l i t i s . May 24, 1933. Quoted by T . I . Geshkoff, Balkan
Union. A Road t o Peace i n Sonth-Eastern Europe, New York, 1940,
p. 207.
19- Geshkoff, i b i d . . l o c . cit.
20. N.P. N i k o l a e v , La d e s t i n e e t r a g i q u e d'un r o i . Uppsala,
1952, pp. 64-65.
 (144)

o r i e n t a t i o n of B u l g a r i a ' s f o r e i g n p o l i c y B u l g a r i a should
now see w h i c h were h e r f r i e n d s and w h i c h h e r p r o t e c t o r s
The K i n g , when abroad, would f i n d , a s a l w a y s , the means o f
21
being u s e f u l t o h i s people."
I t was a c u r i o u s r e l e a s e t o the P r e s s but, i n the circum-
s t a n c e s , u n d e r s t a n d a b l y o p t i m i s t i c . K i n g B o r i s made g r e a t
e f f o r t s t o be " u s e f u l t o h i s p e o p l e " but no one, n o t even Italy
(now p r e p a r i n g s e c r e t l y f o r h e r A b y s s i n i a n campaign), was w i l l i n g
to s u p p o r t B u l g a r i a n a d v e n t u r e s . As the summer months p a s s e d ,
Boris realized t h a t he would have t o y i e l d t o the growing
movement f o r f r i e n d s h i p w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a . Moreover, he was w o r r i e d
lest the O f f i c e r s ' League s h o u l d e f f e c t a coup d ' e t a t i n h i s
absence and p l a c e Damian V e l c h e v i n power (rumours t o t h i s
22
e f f e c t had r e a c h e d him from S o f i a ) . So, a f t e r f r u i t l e s s v i s i t s
23
to Home, Geneva, P a r i s , London and B e r l i n , he became finally
c o n v i n c e d t h a t h i s c o u n t r y ' s p o l i c y o f " s p l e n d i d i s o l a t i o n " waB
both dangerous and wrong. On h i s way home, he a r r a n g e d f o r h i s
t r a i n t o s t o p a t B e l g r a d e and a t the s t a t i o n t h e r e , he had an
i n f o r m a l meeting w i t h King Alexander of Yugoslavia.
T h i s meeting was o f the g r e a t e s t s i g n i f i c a n c e , f o r B o r i s
had shunned a l l p e r s o n a l c o n t a c t , had n o t a t t e n d e d Alexander's
marriage and had even s u s p e c t e d t h a t h i s neighbour might be
24
p l o t t i n g h i s death. T h i s meeting, which took p l a c e on S e p t -
ember 17, 1933* marked an a b r u p t change i n o f f i c i a l relations
between the two c o u n t r i e s . I t was v e r y much a p e r s o n a l d e c i s i o n
by K i n g B o r i s f o r h i s meeting was q u i t e unexpected and c a u s e d
21. Near E a s t and I n d i a , X L I I , (1933)# P. 659.
22. S w i r e , op. c i t . , p. 273.
23. Documents on German F o r e i g n P o l i c y . 1918-45, S e r i e s C,
London 1949cc ( h e r e a f t e r r e f e r r e d t o a s G.D.). I I , no. 2 2 .
Rumelin, German M i n i s t e r i n S o f i a , r e p o r t s B o r i s ' s v i s i t t o
the European c a p i t a l s and the r e c e p t i o n he r e c e i v e d t h e r e i n ;
see a l s o G e s h k o f f , op. c i t . , p. 209.
24. Todorov, op. c i t . . p. 232.
 (145)

c o n s t e r n a t i o n i n the B u l g a r i a n p r e s s w h i c h had a l r e a d y p r e p a r e d
25
indignant d i a t r i b e s concerning Yugoslav discourtesy.
As the time f o r the annual B a l k a n C o n f e r e n c e drew n e a r e r ,
t h e r e were h u r r i e d l a s t - m i n u t e e f f o r t s to s e c u r e some measure
of rapprochement. The m a t t e r was d i s c u s s e d a t the L i t t l e Entente
2
C o n f e r e n c e , h e l d a t S i n a i a i n the l a t t e r p a r t of S e p t e m b e r . ^
K i n g A l e x a n d e r a t t e n d e d the C o n f e r e n c e and, after spending
some time w i t h K i n g C a r o l , he s a i l e d from C o n s t a n z a to V a r n a
27
i n the Y u g o s l a v d e s t r o y e r "Dubrovnik". Here he was welcomed
by K i n g B o r i s , tjueen I o a n n a and members of the B u l g a r i a n g o v e r n -
ment.
L i k e the meeting a t B e l g r a d e s t a t i o n l e s s t h a n t h r e e weeks
b e f o r e , t h i s meeting a t the E u x i n o g r a d P a l a c e on October 5 was
an e x t r e m e l y i m p o r t a n t moment i n r e l a t i o n s between the two South
S l a v n a t i o n s . " T h a t , i t seemed to me," s a i d Todorov l a t e r , "was
28
the t u r n i n g - p o i n t i n the post-war h i s t o r y of the B a l k a n s . " Even
Mushanov, whose s i n c e r i t y on t h i s a c c a s i o n must be doubted, dec-
l a r e d to the p r e s s : "We must c o n s i d e r t h a t t h i s v i s i t will
advance the d e s i r e d rapprochement between the two S l a v peoples."
But, a l t h o u g h i t was an i m p o r t a n t e v e n t , when the whole
p e r i o d of b i t t e r n e s s and r a n c o u r c o u l d have been swept away
and the f o u n d a t i o n s of B a l k a n s o l i d a r i t y l a i d , i t proved q u i t e
i n e f f e c t u a l a s can be s e e n from the r e p o r t of a c o n v e r s a t i o n
w h i c h Todorov had w i t h the Y u g o s l a v K i n g s h o r t l y a f t e r h i s r e t u r n
from Euxinograd:
"Alexander t o l d me t h a t he had o f f e r e d K i n g Boris
the p r o s p e c t s o f an a l l i a n c e w i t h Bulgaria.
' U n f o r t u n a t e l y , ' B o r i s had r e p l i e d , 'the Macedonians
a r e v e r y s t r o n g i n my country. T h e y ' l l kill anyone who makes
25. L o n d r e s , op. cit., p. 216.
26. S w i r e , op, cit.. p. 275.
27. (Corner and Howard, op. cit.. p. 121.
28. Todorov, op. c i t . . p. 251.
29. K e r n e r and Howard, op. cit.. loc. c i t .
 (146)

an a l l i a n c e w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a . "
' I warned him,' c o n t i n u e d Alexander, ' t h a t Roumania
and Turkey were i n s i s t i n g on t h e immediate c o n c l u s i o n o f
a Balkan Pact and t h a t I d i d n ' t want t o s i g n i t u n t i l I'd
e
done e v r y t h i n g p o s s i b l e t o b r i n g i n B u l g a r i a . '
'That's n o t h i n g , ' B o r i s had t o l d Alexander. ' I f it's
necessary, s i g n t h e Pact.' A p p a r e n t l y , B o r i s r e c o n s i d e r e d
his view and a few minutes l a t e r s a i d , 'Yes, you'd better
wait.'
Todorov t h e n asked Alexander, 'What about t h e r e s u l t s
of your t a l k ? '
'So f a r , none,' t h e King r e p l i e d - and then added
s a d l y , 'I'm a f r a i d we s h a l l j u s t have t o conclude t h e Pact
without B u l g a r i a . ' " ^
N e v e r t h e l e s s , T i t u l e s c u made another v i s i t - t h i s time on
b e h a l f o f Rumania - on October 12-13. He r e p o r t e d : " B u l g a r i a
r e f u s e s t o j o i n t h e Pact because she s t i l l does n o t accept t h e
T r e a t y o f N e u i l l y o r r e c o g n i z e t h e B t a t u s quo."^*
Some o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s t a t e s were made r a t h e r anxious by
the a t t e n t i o n l a v i s h e d on B u l g a r i a by h e r neighbours and by t h e
p r o s p e c t s o f a Y u g o s l a v - B u l g a r i a n d e t e n t e . On October 26, t h e
Hungarian Prime M i n i s t e r , Gombos, and h i s F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r ,
de Kanya, descended on S o f i a where t h e y r e c e i v e d an e n t h u s i a s t i c
32
welcome. T h e i r v i s i t was t h e o c c a s i o n o f t o r c h l i g h t demonstrat-
i o n s o f b e l l i c o s i t y towards Y u g o s l a v i a , and Mushanov p u b l i c l y
33
spoke o f "our l e g i t i m a t e r i g h t s - m i n o r i t y r i g h t s . " * ^ The Near
East magazine r e p o r t e d :
"Considerable alarm was aroused i n those c i r c l e s i n
Belgrade where t h e prospect, o f B u l g a r i a n f r i e n d s h i p i s
welcomed, when i t was seen what a warm welcome t h e Hungarian
30. Todorov, op. c i t . . p. 252. Cf. a l s o P i p i n e l i s , op. c i t . . p.
31. S t a v r i a n o s , op. c i t . . pp. 2 3 8 - 3 9 .
32. Geshkoff, op. c i t . . p. 210.
33. Swire, op. c i t . . p. 275.
 (H7)

p o l i t i c i a n s received i n Sofia I t i s f e l t i n Yugoslavia

t h a t the Hungarians are h o l d i n g o u t such g l o v i n g o f f e r s
t o tempt B u l g a r i a away from f r i e n d s h i p w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a
and Roumania, and w i n h e r a g a i n t o t h e I t a l o - H u n g a r i a n
34
bloc o f r e v i s i o n i s t s . " ' '
On October 3 1 , i n a f i n a l e f f o r t t o secure B u l g a r i a ' s
adhesion t o a Balkan a l l i a n c e , B o r i s and K i n g C a r o l , accompanied
by t h e i r m i n i s t e r s , met a t Rustchuk on t h e R i v e r Danube. T i t u l -
escu a g i a n proposed t h a t B u l g a r i a j o i n a Balkan Pact. Mushanov
r e f u s e d b u t suggested a p a c t o f non-aggression between t h e i r two
c o u n t r i e s . I f such a b i l a t e r a l agreement had been e f f e c t e d , i t
would have t h w a r t e d t h e "mutual guarantee" clause o f t h e Pact
35
which wa6 t h e f o u n d a t i o n stone o f t h e whole E n t e n t e .
v
S h o r t l y a f t e r t h i s , King Alexander c a l l e d Todorov t o H i s .
Todorov r e p o r t s t h a t he found t h e K i n g i n a c o n s i d e r a b l e s t a t e
of a g i t a t i o n :
'"France,"he s a i d , "demands a Balkan Pact a t once.
T i t u l e s c u a l s o i n s i s t s . The Turks and Greeks are i n a h u r r y .
I'm h o l d i n g i t up b u t t h a t breeds d i s t r u s t , especially
amongst t h e Greeks and Roumanians, who are a l r e a d y d i s t u r b e d
by my meeting w i t h King B o r i s . They're a f r a i d 1 m i g h t make
an a l l i a n c e w i t h B u l g a r i a which m i g h t be d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t
the Greeks. I c a n ' t w a i t any l o n g e r . "
Knowing t h a t a Balkan Pact w i t h o u t B u l g a r i a m i g h t
e a s i l y t u r n i n t o a Balkan Pact a g a i n s t B u l g a r i a , I remarked,
" I t would be a p i t y i f t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f a Pact now were
t o c u t s h o r t progress towards a Y u g o s l a v - B u l g a r i a n under-
standing."
" I m y s e l f would p r e f e r an a l l i a n c e w i t h B u l g a r i a t o
any k i n d o f Balkan Pact," s a i d Alexander, " b u t I c a n ' t h o l d
them any l o n g e r . "
I suggested t h a t Alexander m i g h t g a i n time by i m i t a t i n g
34. Near East and I n d i a . X L I I , ( 1 9 3 3 ) » p. 9 2 6 .
3 5 . P i p i n e l i s , op. c i t . , p. 3 .
 (148)

the Greeks' r e c e n t attempt t o come t o an understanding

w i t h t h e I t a l i a n s . I c o n t i n u e d , " I f you made one o f t h e
c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e Balkan Pact t h a t a l l s i g n a t o r i e s should
recognize t h e s o l i d a r i t y o f t h e Balkan s t a t e s a g i a n s t
any g r e a t power which might a t t a c k any o f them. Since
t h i s c o n d i t i o n c o u l d be p r i m a r i l y d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t I t a l y ,
Greece would be r e l u c t a n t t o s i g n . Y e t w i t h o u t i t , t h e
Balkan Pact would count f o r v e r y little."
"You are r i g h t , " s a i d t h e King.
"Why don't you use t h e normal d i p l o m a t i c channels
for this matter?"
"Because 1 want no documents on t h i s , " s a i d t h e K i n g .
"My proposal i s o r a l . I n t h e event o f an a l l i a n c e , I am
prepared t o r e t u r n X s a r i b r o d and B o s i l g r a d t o B u l g a r i a . "
"May 1 t e l l t h a t t o t h e B u l g a r i a n envoy?" I asked.
A f t e r a pause - "Yes," s a i d Alexander, " u n o f f i c i a l l y . " '
When he r e t u r n e d t o Belgrade, l o d o r o v went s t r a i g h t t o t h e
B u l g a r i a n L e g a t i o n and t o l d K i o s s e i v a n o v , then t h e B u l g a r i a n
envoy, o f h i s t a l k w i t h Alexander and asked him t o advise S o f i a ,
i n t h e s t r i c t e s t c o n f i d e n c e , o f the Yugoslav p r o p o s a l . K i o s s e i -
vanov promised t o do so, d e c l a r i n g t h a t he b e l i e v e d deeply i n
a fiulgaro-Yugoslav a l l i a n c e . Todorov a l s o t o l d Penchev who,
i n t u r n r e f e r r e d i t t o Mushanov. Penchev d i d n o t h o l d o u t much
chance o f success. " I t ' s no use," he t o l d Todorov; "That man
(Mushanov) r e f u s e s t o take a n y t h i n g s e r i o u s l y . "
A f t e r a l l t h e events o f t h e summer, t h e F o u r t h Balkan Conf-
•xo
erence was somewhat o f an a n t i - c l i m a x . The Balkan Pact, proposed
36. Todorov, op. c i t . , pp. 252-53. This; o f f e r t o r e t u r n
T s a r i b r o d and B o s i l g r a d was confirmed i n t h e New York Times.
October 1 1 , 1934, p. 3. 37. I b i d . . Loc c i t .
38. For proceedings, see IVerne Conference balkanique (Salonique
5-12 novembre 1933) Documents o f f i c i e l s . Athens 1934. For a sum-
mary, see Kerner and Howard, op. c i t . . p p . 97-113 And P a d e l f o r d ,
op. c i t . . pp. 78-89.
 (149)

a t the l a s t Conference 39 had now been taken up by the g o v e r n -

ments themselves and the whole q u e s t i o n o f Balkan c o - o p e r a t i o n
and u n i t y had become a m a t t e r f o r statesmen r a t h e r t h a n f o r
the independent i n i t i a t i v e o f Conference d e l e g a t e s . Scheduled

to meet i n Belgrade i n September 1933t i t had been postponed

40
u n t i l Hovember and t h e venue changed t o S a l o n i k a . The
B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n had n o t mellowed s i n c e t h e l a s t Conference
and M. Sakazov d e c l a r e d t h a t h i s d e l e g a t i o n had o n l y r e t u r n e d
on the c o n d i t i o n t h a t a l l d i f f e r e n c e s which p r e v e n t
41
rapprochement among the Balkan peoples be examined." Following
the now customary r e - s t a t e m e n t o f t h e B u l g a r i a n p o s i t i o n , he
touched upon Mushanov's Rustchuk p r o p o s a l s , s t a t i n g h i s govern-;
ment's p r e f e r e n c e f o r b i l a t e r a l p a c t s because " i n c e r t a i n r e s p e c t s ,
a l l the Balkan s t a t e s are n o t e q u a l . So l o n g as t h i s i s t r u e ,
42
we cannot adhere t o t h e Balkan Pact."
The ye.ar o f 1933 was more t h a n u s u a l l y f r e e from t e r r o r i s t
a c t i v i t y b u t , i n the l a t e summer and autumn, the Yugoslav
p a t r o l s r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e y had f r u s t r a t e d f i f t e e n a t t e m p t s t o
cross the f r o n t i e r . There was a bomb a t t a c k on t h e O r i e n t Express,
two i n c i d e n t s o f bombs i n c a f e s a t Gevgheli and r a i l w a y t r a c k
blown up. Over the f r o n t i e r a t T s a r i b r o d , a b e l l t o l l e d daily
to remind " B u l g a r i a n s beyond the f r o n t i e r t h a t the day o f t h e i r
43
freedom approaches."
So, d e s p i t e B o r i s ' s l i m i t e d e f f o r t s t o secure a r a p p r o c h e -
ment, i t was c l e a r t h a t the I t a l o p h i l e s and IMRO sympathizers
s t i l l occupied p o s i t i o n s o f power. Swire suggests t h a t B o r i s
knew t h a t M u s s o l i n i ' s A b y s s i n i a n plans p r e c l u d e d any m i l i t a r y
44
v e n t u r e i n the Balkans. Thus h i s p o l i c y was designed t o t h w a r t
39. For t h e d e t a i l s of the advance d r a f t o f t h e Balkan Pact
adopted a t the T h i r d Conference, see P a d e l f o r d , op. c i t . . Appen-
dix 1, pp. 155-65. 40. Kerner and Howard, op. c i t . . p. 95.
41. I b i d . . p. 97. 43. Swire, op. c i t . . pp. 273-5.
42. I b i d . , p. 101. 44. I b i d . , loc. c i t .
 (150)
•i

the Pact w h i l s t f o r e s t a l l i n g a B u l g a r i a n r e v o l t (such as the

Zveno group might organize a g a i n s t the p r o - I t a l i a n s ) by
personally leading a r e c o n c i l i a t o r y policy w i t h Bulgaria's
neighbours. However, he was c a r e f u l t o keep f r i e n s h i p f o r
Y u g o s l a v i a w i t h i n the bounds of " c o r r e c t " r e l a t i o n s .
S t i l l a c t i n g w i t h i n the bounds of c o r r e c t r e l a t i o n s , B o r i s
v i s i t e d Belgrade on December 10, 1 9 3 3 , accompanied by h i s Queen
and Mushanov. At a banquet g i v e n f o r him d u r i n g h i s three-day
s t a t e v i s i t , Alexander, g i v i n g the t o a s t , d e c l a r e d :
" I t i s o n l y a p o l i c y of peace and consolidation of
the e x i s t i n g s i t u a t i o n which can t r u l y ensure the complete
s e c u r i t y and b e t t e r f u t u r e f o r our peoples."
B o r i s , i n h i s r e p l y , endorsed the " p o l i c y of peace" but s i g n i f -
45
i c a n t l y o m i t t e d any r e f e r e n c e t o the " e x i s t i n g s i t u a t i o n " .
A f t e r the v i s i t was over, Todorov asked the Yugoslav King how
the encounter had gone. Alexander r e p l i e d t h a t " w h i l e the
46
meeting was c o r d i a l , no agreement had been reached,"
So t h e r e was d i s a p p o i n t m e n t i n Belgrade. I n Rome, t o o , there
was concern. Not because B u l g a r i a had r e j e c t e d the chance of
j o i n i n g a Balkan a l l i a n c e - t h i s was predictable - but because
B o r i s ' s v i s i t t o Belgrade( and a subsequent v i s i t t o Rumania
i n January 1 9 3 4 ) might herald a long-term re-alignment i n h i s
f o r e i g n p o l i c y . But i t was now patently clear that Bulgaria -
a t l e a s t under Mushanov's government - had chosen the p a t h of
i s o l a t i o n . I n February 1 9 3 4 , the I t a l i a n Press p u b l i c l y i n f o r m e d
the B u l g a r i a n people t h a t they " c o u l d count on c o n t i n u e d I t a l i a n
47 *
support." Late i n 1 9 3 3 , M u s s o l i n i p e r m i t t e d Dr. P a v e l i c t o
send two Ustase t e r r o r i s t s t o k i l l King Alexander w h i l s t he
was i n Zagreb. The conspirators were so overwhelmed by the
reception accorded t o the tfing and Queen, t h a t they made no move.
45. L'echo de Belgrade. December 2 0 , 1933. Quoted by Geshkoff,
op. c i t . , p. 211.Cf. a l s o Kerner and Howard, op. c i t . , pp. 123-4.
46. Todorov, op. c i t . . p. 253.
47. S t a v r i a n o s , op. c i t . . p. 237.
 (151)

L a t e r , the p l o t was d i s c o v e r e d and t h e y were a r r e s t e d . When

Alexander heard o f i t , he commented: " I t ' s c l e a r t h a t Mussol-
"48
i n i wants t o k i l l me and w i l l stop a t n o t h i n g . There c o u l d
s c a r c e l y have been a more t r a g i c a l l y p r o p h e t i c u t t e r a n c e .
49
the Balkan. Pact, which was drawn up i n Belgrade and
signed f i v e days l a t e r i n Athens on February 9t 1934, provided
for a mutual guarantee o f f r o n t i e r s by the f o u r s i g n a t o r i e s -
Greece, -Turkey, Rumania and Y u g o s l a v i a . The Pact was n o t
i n t e n d e d as an o f f e n s i v e weapon but m e r e l y as an i n s t r u m e n t o f
c o l l e c t i v e s e c u r i t y f o r the Balkan s t a t e s , upon which a more
s t a b l e and u n i t a r y f e d e r a t i o n c o u l d be b u i l t . Two p o i n t s stood
out; one was t h a t the s i g n a t o r i e s would s e t t l e t h e i r d i f f e r e n c e s
d i p l o m a t i c a l l y , and the o t h e r was the assumption t h a t Balkan
f r o n t i e r s would remain unchanged. This r u l e d o u t any chance o f
t r e a t y r e v i s i o n and was one o f the t h r e e o b j e c t i o n s w h i c h B u l g -
a r i a r a i s e d a g a i n s t the t r e a t y . The o t h e r two were the p r o v i s i o n
of clauses r e l a t i n g t o non-aggression ( i r r e l e v a n t , t h e y b e l i e v e d ,
because the Balkan s t a t e s had signed the B r i a n d - K e l l o g Pact o f
August 1928) and the agreement whereby d i s p u t e s would go before
the Permanent C o n c i l i a t o r y Balkan Committee, whose i m p a r t i a l i t y
50
B u l g a r i a doubted. I n an o f f i c i a l Bulgarian publication, i t
was s t a t e d :
"(We) accept, i n p r i n c i p l e , the Balkan Pact under
the r e s e r v a t i o n t h a t , t o B u l g a r i a , w i l l be recognized the
r i g h t o f e q u a l i t y i n her r e l a t i o n s w i t h the remaining
Balkan s t a t e s and t h a t the clauses f o r the m i n o r i t i e s ,
p r o v i d e d by the t r e a t i e s , be a p p l i e d i n r e s p e c t o f the
49. S t a v r i a n o s , op. c i t . . pp. 239-41. Also P a d e l f o r d , op. c i t .
pp. 90-137 and 186-87* D e t a i l s o f diplomacy c u l m i n a t i n g i n the
Balkan Entente are g i v e n i n Geshkoff, op. c i t . . pp. 203-22 and
Kerner and Howard, op. c i t . . pp. 116-38.
50. B u l g a r i a n N a t i o n a l Group, B u l g a r i a and the Balkan Problems
S o f i a , 1934, pp. 43-53.
 (152)

51
Bulgarian m i n o r i t i e s ; "
and added t h a t o n l y when c l a u s e s , g u a r a n t e e i n g the B u l g a r i a n
m i n o r i t i e s a complete j u d i c i a l , moral and c u l t u r a l protection,.
were r e c o g n i z e d , c o u l d B u l g a r i a become an element f o r peace
52
and c u l t u r a l c o - o p e r a t i o n .
On the eve o f the i n i t i a l l i n g o f the Pact, the f o u r
Balkan s t a t e s sent i d e n t i c a l l e t t e r s t o K i o s s e i v a n o v , p r o p o s i n g
53
a non-aggression pact w i t h each o f the f o u r s i g n a t o r i e s . But
no o f f i c i a l r e p l y was ever r e c e i v e d t o these l e t t e r s and Mushanov,
speaking t o the F o r e i g n A f f a i r s Committee o f the Sobranje, s a i d
t h a t B u l g a r i a c o u l d never adhere t o the Pact because i t v i o l a t e d
54
the p r o v i s i o n s o f A r t i c l e 19 o f the League Covenant.
But the spark o f hope t h a t some rapprochement might be
achieved never d i e d . E a r l y i n A p r i l 1934, J e v t i c , Yugoslavia's
F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r had a p r i v a t e meeting w i t h Mushanov who was
passing t h r o u g h Belgrade. Mushanov had met Barthou, the French
F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r , and promised him t h a t , a l t h o u g h B u l g a r i a would
never s i g n the Pact, e v e r y t h i n g would be done t o b r i n g about
55
the establishment of f r i e n d l y r e l a t i o n s ' w i t h Yugoslavia. Later
i n the month, J e v t i c c a l l e d i n a t S o f i a , on h i s r e t u r n from
Ankara, and t o l d the j o u r n a l i s t s t h a t " a l l q u e s t i o n s between
Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a can be s e t t l e d . For t h i s purpose, o n l y
56 *
g o o d w i l l i s necessary." On May 7, J e v t i c made an o f f i c i a l
v i s i t t o S o f i a " t o have c o n v e r s a t i o n s r e l a t i v e t o the s e t t l e m e n t
57
of Y u g o s l a v - B u l g a r i a n d i f f e r e n c e s . " * ^ I n the event, o n l y minor
items such as passport c o n t r o l s were d i s c u s s e d and J e v t i c ' s
51. I b i d . . pp. 41-42. 53. P i p i n e l i s , op. c i t . . p. 6.
52. I b i d , , p. 55. 54. Kerner and Howard, op. c i t . p.
55. I b i d . , pp. 138-39. Cf. a l s o ti.D.. I I , no. 291. King
B o r i s t o von Neurath, B e r l i n , February 28, 1934. Boris o u t l i n i n g
his views on the Balkan Pact, s t a t e d h i s d e s i r e t o " a v o i d the
i m p r e s s i o n t h a t B u l g a r i a wanted t o remain the e t e r n a l trouble-
maker u a li Inrb eithe
g r a d56. dc .o ,n cBalkans"
il lo ic .a t ic oi nt and
. w i t hexpressed s l a vhIi biai.sd .w .i l ll io nc g. nc eis ts . t o e f f e c t a
Y u g o 57*
 (153)

renewed proposal o f a non-aggression pact was i g n o r e d .

N e v e r t h e l e s s , g r e a t e f f o r t s were made t o p r e s e n t a f a v o u r a b l e
i m p r e s s i o n . S t r e e t s were decked w i t h f l a g s and a s p e c i a l r e c -
e p t i o n h e l d . However, d u r i n g the r e c e p t i o n , the e l e c t r i c i t y
was c u t and the banquet plunged i n t o darkness f o r 45 m i n u t e s .
A l t h o u g h the power f a i l u r e was blamed on an i t i n e r a n t c a t , i t
seems t h a t i t was due t o some s m a l l measure o f human i n t e r v e n t i o n
f o r the c u t o c c u r r e d p u n c t u a l l y a t the s t r o k e o f m i d n i g h t .
J e v t i c assured Swire t h a t i f r e l a t i o n s improved, IMRO would
disappear.

I t s end was near. Ever s i n c e February 1, when M i h a i l o v

t h r e a t e n e d t o resume " t h e campaign f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f Mace-
d o n i a i n bondage, i n the o n l y p o s s i b l e way", t h e r e had been a
number of f r o n t i e r i n c i d e n t s and s e v e r a l t e r r o r i s t s were shot
59
by Yugoslav patrols. But i t was the swan-song o f the Organiz-
a t i o n . S t o j a n Christowe, who was v i s i t i n g S o f i a a t about the
same time as J e v t i c , had an audience w i t h King B o r i s on May 9s
"1 took occasion t o t o u c h upon the s u b j e c t o f the
rapprochement w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a by merely r e m a r k i n g how
p l e a s a n t i t was t o hear the S l a v speech upon c r o s s i n g
i n t o Y u g o s l a v i a a f t e r t r a v e r s i n g Germany and A u s t r i a . . . . .
B o r i s ' s cheeks and brows almost touched i n f o r m i n g h i s
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s m i l e as he expressed h i s e a r n e s t hope
t h a t soon an u n d e r s t a n d i n g m i g h t be reached w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a .
0
I c o u l d see the w r i t i n g on the w a l l f o r the Macedonians."^
F i v e days l a t e r , Mushanov, who had v i s i t e d B e r l i n e a r l i e r
i n the month and arranged f o r General Goering t o v i s i t Sofia,
o f f e r e d h i s r e s i g n a t i o n , The c o n t i n u i n g wave o f t e r r o r i s m had
caused c o n s i d e r a b l e p o l i t i c a l u n r e s t and the B u l g a r i a n c a p i t a l
was r i f e w i t h rumours and counter-rumours. Mushanov had even
t r i e d t o g e t Todorov t o j o i n the government b u t Todorov demanded
58. Swire, op. c i t . . pp.276-77
59. I b i d . , p. 277.
60. S. Christowe, lieroe3 and Assassins, London, 1935, p. 270.
 (154)

economic reforms and an a l l i a n c e w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a and these

Mushanov v o u l d never a c c e p t . ^ I n response t o a personal
request o f King B o r i s , he s o l d i e r e d on, t r y i n g t o form a nev
c a b i n e t u n t i l , on t h e n i g h t o f Hay 19, 1934, t h e coup d ' e t a t
took p l a c e .
The conp d ' e t a t vas engineered by Kimon Gheorgiev and
Damian Velchev, members o f t h e Zveno group. P a r t i c i p a n t s i n
the 1923 coup, t h e Zvenars had deserted Tsankov because o f t h e
r e i g n o f t e r r o r and h i s p r o - I t a l i a n p a l i c y . They vere opposed
t o IMBO and wanted a rapprochement w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a . One o f t h e
f i r s t a c t s o f the nev government vas t o r e c a l l M. C o n s t a n t i n
2
B a t a l o u , the M i n i s t e r i n P a r i s , and a p p o i n t him F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r ^
This was seen as an encouraging s i g n i n Belgrade and by May 24
a commercial t r e a t y had been signed between t h e two c o u n t r i e s .
The coup d ' e t a t was b l o o d l e s s and the Mayor o f P a r i s , who
was i n S o f i a a t the t i m e , d e s c r i b e d i t as the most " e l e g a n t
• 64
coup d ' e t a t he had ever known. But i t vas an enormous h u m i l i a t -
65
i o n f o r King B o r i s , whom many Zvenars b e l i e v e d r e s p o n s i b l e
f o r the i n t e r n a l u n r e s t and the mismanagement o f t h e c o u n t r y ' s
f o r e i g n p o l i c y . The nev government s e t up an a u t h o r i t a r i a n regime,
suspended t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n , p r o s c r i b e d t h e p o l i t i c a l parties
and outlawed IMRO. Todorov was opposed t o t h i s suppression o f
c i v i c l i b e r t i e s , a t t a c k e d the Zvenars i n h i s newspapers ana was
a g a i n e x p e l l e d from B u l g a r i a . ^ lie r e t u r n e d t o Belgrade.
S h o r t l y a f t e r h i s a r r i v a l , he was r e c e i v e d i n audience by
King Alexander who asked him about r e c e n t developments:
"Can t h e new government be t r u s t e d w i t h r e g a r d t o
an a l l i a n c e ? " he asked.
6 1 . For t h e domestic u n r e s t i n B u l g a r i a p r i o n t o t h e coup
see Swire, op. c i t . , p. 278 and Todorov, p. 255.
62. Kerner and Howard, op. c i t . . p. 139.
63. I b i d . . l o c . c i t . 64. Swire, op. c i t . . p. 282.
65. N i k o l a e v , op. c i t . , pp. 72-74.
66. Todorov, op. c i t . , p. 255.
 (155)

"Completely," I r e p l i e d . "They're honest men.

However, t h e y c a n ' t l a s t v e r y l o n g . "
"Why?" asked t h e K i n g .
"Because they have t h e s u p p o r t o f n e i t h e r t h e K i n g
nor t h e people. Only p a r t o f t h e Army i s w i t h t h e m . I t ' a
p o s s i b l e t o be w i t h t h e K i n g a g a i n s t t h e people o r w i t h
the people and a g a i n s t t h e King b u t n o t a g a i n s t b o t h w h i l s t
the K i n g remains i n power."
Alexander frowned. "What about t h e King's position?
I s h o u l d n ' t l i k e a n y t h i n g t o happen t o him e s p e c i a l l y s i n c e
the Gheorgiev government has announced i t s d e s i r e f o r an
u n d e r s t a n d i n g w i t h us. K i n g B o r i s m i g h t t h i n k me a p a r t y
t o some move a g a i n s t h i m . " ^
Meanwhile, t h e Gheorgiev government was proceeding w i t h
i t s o u t l a w i n g o f IMRO, b o t h f o r t h e sake o f i n t e r n a l peace and
i n order t o create a b e t t e r understanding w i t h Yugoslavia.
C h r i s t o w e , a sympathizer o f IMRO, n o t e d t h a t , whereas i n 1928
i t had been anhonour t o be on i n t i m a t e terms w i t h t h e Macedonians,
now t h e people s n e e r i n g l y r e f e r r e d t o them as " c h i c a g s k i gang.
68
steri". A t t h e . t i m e o f t h e coup, Christowe was i n t h e P e t r i c h
d i s t r i c t and d e s c r i b e d t h e measures t a k e n by t h e new government
to destroy the Organization:
"Immediately upon r e c e i p t o f t h e news o f t h e happen
i n g s i n S o f i a , t h e c o m i t a d j i s went i n t o h i d i n g I
remained t h e r e f o r n e a r l y a month By t h e middle o f
June, when I l e f t , t h e l i t t l e Macedonian "empire" had been
ransacked by t h e Army. IMRO p u t up no r e s i s t a n c e . The Army
made a thorough j o b o f i t . I t hauled o u t from t h e v i l l a g e s
c a r t l o a d s o f r i f l e s , c a r t r i d g e s , machine guns and sub-machine
guns, bombs, r e v o l v e r s , f l i n t l o c k s and even 'buzdugans'
and o t h e r a n c i e n t f i r e a r m s from T u r k i s h t i m e s . From an
•I

o l d g r a v e y a r d , 1 saw t h e t r o o p s c a r t o u t t h r e e loads o f
6
7 . I b i d . . pp. 255-56.
68. Christowe, op. c i t . , p. 266.
 (156)

c a r b i n e s and s e v e r a l c a s e s of c a r t r i d g e s dug out from

69
what v e r e supposed to be graves."
In a l l , 10,938 r i f l e s , 7 , 7 6 7 g r e n a d e s , 47 machine guns
and 7 0 1 , 3 8 8 rounds of ammunition were s e i z e d and 300 terrorists
i n t e r n e d . ^ I n August, a l l members of the B u l g a r i a n National
Committee v e r e i n t e r n e d - the p o l i c e c l a i m i n g p o s s e s s i o n of
compromising documents p r o v i n g 'once a g a i n " t h a t the Committee
w a s ' c o n t r o l l e d by the d i s s o l v e d and illegal organization.*^
There were a number of r e a s o n s why IMHO c o l l a p s e d so
s u d d e n l y and completely. Firstly, the O r g a n i z a t i o n had lost
i t s o r i g i n a l appeal; i n s t e a d of being a patriotic society
working f o r Macedonian autonomy or even f o r a n n e x a t i o n to
B u l g a r i a , i t had become a t e r r o r i s t o r g a n i z a t i o n , causing
more t e r r o r and f e a r w i t h i n B u l g a r i a than abroad. Because
of t h i s , the p r e v i o u s l y m o n o l i t h i c O r g a n i z a t i o n had become
divided into warring f a c t i o n s whose f e u d i n g aroused public
contempt. F o r the f i r s t time s i n c e 1923* B u l g a r i a had a
government w h i c h was d e t e r m i n e d to s u p p r e s s IMRO and r e s t o r e
o r d e r w i t h i n the P e t r i c h department. L i k e a l l b u l l i e s , when
f a c e d w i t h d e t e r m i n e d o p p o s i t i o n , the O r g a n i z a t i o n made no
r e s i s t a n c e and allowed itelf to be c o m p l e t e l y disarmed. So,
w i t h i n t h r e e months, the r e d o u t a b l e IMRO, w h i c h had intimidated
B u l g a r i a n p o l i t i c i a n s and terrorized Yugoslavia for fifteen
years, collapsed without even a whimper, and t h e way was open
for a Yugoslav-Bulgarian rapprochement.
The G h e o r g i e v government n e v e r e n t e r t a i n e d the n o t i o n of
S o u t h S l a v f e d e r a t i o n . N e i t h e r c o u n t r y was ready f o r i t but
f r i e n d s h i p brought the p o s s i b i l i t y n e a r e r . V e l c h e v himself
b e l i e v e d t h a t a rapprochement between the two c o u n t r i e s would
72
c l o s e the Balkans to any i n t r i g u e by the G r e a t Powers. As a
f r i e n d l y g e s t u r e , M. Oimo Kazazov, a n o t h e r 1923 c o n s p i r a t o r and
69. I b i d . , pp. 2 7 3 - 7 5 . 71. Ibid.. loc. c i t .
70. S w i r e , op. cit.. p. 286. 72. I b i d . , p. 295.
 (157)

f o r long the P r e s i d e n t of the Buigaro-Yugoslav A s s o c i a t i o n

73
i n S o f i a , was a p p o i n t e d to Belgrade. On September 1 7 , 1934,
King Alexander and Queen Marie v i s i t e d S o f i a accompanied by
J e v t i c . The Y u g o s l a v K i n g r e c e i v e d a g r e a t welcome. IMRO no
l o n g e r e x i s t e d , s e v e r a l thousand e x t r e m i s t s had been e x p e l l e d
from t h e c i t y and t h e G h e o r g i e v government was eager f o r an
a l l i a n c e . A l e x a n d e r , whose v i s i t had g e n e r a t e d a r e a l enthusiasm,
r e t u r n e d t o B e l g r a d e i n h i g h s p i r i t s . I t was h i s l a s t triumph.
W i t h i n t h r e e weeks he was dead.
Following h i s sucessful v i s i t to Bulgaria, Alexander
travelled to F r a n c e to complete t h e f i n a l l i n k of the a l l i a n c e
f o r w h i c h he had been w o r k i n g . B e f o r e he l e f t B e l g r a d e , he t o l d
Todorov: " I l o o k f o r w a r d t o much good from my t r i p t o P a r i s i n
74
the way of s t a b i l i z i n g t h e European s i t u a t i o n . " On October
9, 1934, shortly after his arrival at Marseilles, Alexander
and t h e F r e n c h F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r , B a r t h o u , who was w i t h him,
were s h o t . F o l l o w i n g h i s a t t a c k , t h e a s s a s s i n s h o t h i m s e l f .
I t h a s been t h e c o n s i d e r e d v i e w o f some w r i t e r s t o a t t r i b -
ute the a s s a s s i n a t i o n of Alexander and B a r t h o u t o t h e I t a l i a n
y
and Hungarian governments' s p o n s o r s h i p of t h e U s t a s e o r g a n i z a t -
i o n . T h i s v i e w i s i n d i s p u t a b l e but i t would be u n j u s t t o
75
exonerate B u l g a r i a . I n 1 9 3 2 , "Freedom o r Death"., t h e o f f i c i a l
p u b l i c a t i o n of IMRO, d e c l a r e d t h a t A l e x a n d e r was " a b l o o d t h i r s t y
76
a s s a s s i n whose d e a t h was n o t f a r o f f . " Besides, the a c t u a l
a s s a s s i n was a B u l g a r i a n .
Kalemen, t h e f i r s t name o f t h e a s s a s s i n t o be p u b l i s h e d ,
was i n f a c t a c o v e r name f o r V l a d o Chernozemsky, w h i c h was i t s e l f
77
an a l i a s f o r h i s r e a l name - V e l i k o D i m i t r o v . Since h i s t o r i a n s
7 3 . LondreB, op. c i t . pp. 2 3 6 - 3 7 . 7 4 . Todorov, op. c i t . . p. 2 5 7 .
75- C f . L o r d Avon, The Eden Memoirs; F a c i n g t h e D i c t a t o r s ,
London, 1 9 6 2 , pp. 1 0 8 - 1 1 . L o r d Avon d i s c u s s e s I t a l i a n and Hung-
a r i a n r e s p o n s i b i l i t y b u t makes no mention o f B u l g a r i a a t a l l .
7 6 . S w i r e , op. c i t . , p. 2 8 6 .
77* I b i d . . PP« 3 3 - 3 7 .
 (158)

have n o r m a l l y r e f e r r e d to him a s Chernozemsky, i t v i l l be

convenient to continue t h e i r p r a c t i c e . He v a s born i n 1899
and had been an agent o f the B u l g a r i a n War O f f i c e . During the
F i r s t World War, he had s e r v e d t h e B u l g a r i a n s e x t r e m e l y w e l l
during t h e i r occupation of S o u t h e r n S e r b i a and when he fled
to S o f i a a t the end of the war, he came under the i n f l u e n c e
78
of M i h a i l o v . I n September 1924, he murdered Oimov, a Communist
deputy, and i n December 1930, he k i l l e d T o m a l e v s k i , a v e t e r a n
79
s u p p o r t e r o f t h e Macedonian O r g a n i z a t i o n . For these offences,
Chernozemsky was s e n t e n c e d t o d e a t h y e t , e a c h time, i t was h i s
alias t h a t d i e d and he was r e l e a s e d . Todorov f e e l s t h a t f o r
Chernozemsky to have been r e l e a s e d , he must have found p r o t e c t -
ion i n some p o w e r f u l official q u a r t e r i n B u l g a r i a and he states
t h a t he h a s i t on t h e a u t h o r i t y of a h i g h o f f i c i a l i n the Zveno
p o l i c e f o r c e t h a t the two r e l e a s e s were made on t h e p e r s o n a l
o r d e r s of K i n g B o r i s . Now t h i s seems q u e s t i o n a b l e , particularly
i f we c o n s i d e r the s o u r c e of the i n f o r m a t i o n , but i t i s a f a c t
t h a t a f t e r h i s second r e l e a s e , Chernozemsky became K i n g B o r i s ' s
80
chauffeur f o r a short while. Todorov s t a t e s t h a t when, on
J u l y 15, 1932, he l e f t B u l g a r i a t o work w i t h Dr. P a v e l i e and
the U s t a s e , he must have had the c o n s e n t of King B o r i s . And,
81 •
if so, B o r i s must have had some i d e a o f h i s i n t e n t i o n s .
This accusation i s interesting, f o r the peace makers a t
Geneva ( a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y S i r Anthony E d e n ) were a n x i o u s t o
p r e v e n t a war between Y u g o s l a v i a and I t a l y - H u n g a r y . B u l g a r i a ,
because o f h e r p r o - Y u g o s l a v Zveno government, was a l m o s t totally
v
a b s o l v e d o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y and t h e U s t a s e , w i t h t h e i r training
camps a t Yanka P u s t a and B o r g o t a r o , were r e g a r d e d a s t h e bete
78. C h r i s t o w e , op. c i t . . p. 218. 79. I b i d . . pp. 217-8.
80. Todorov, op. c i t . , pp. 261-62. One of h i s nicknames was
"Vlado t h e C h a u f f e u r " . 81. I b i d . , l o c . c i t .
82. Eden Memoirs, op. c i t . pp. 108-120.
 (159)

82
noire of t h e a f f a i r . However, t h e connection's between t h e
U s t a s e and IMRO, between I t a l y and t h e Mushanov government,
and between I t a l y - H u n g a r y and Dr. F a v e l i c l e a d one t o b e l i e v e
t h a t t h e r e were aome i n B u l g a r i a who were by no means exempt
8*3
from r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n . Certainly, King
Boris took advantage o f A l e x a n d e r ' s d e a t h . W i t h i n s i x months,
the G h e o r g i e v government was overthrown ( a r o y a l nominee becom-
i n g Prime M i n i s t e r ) , t h e o l d b i t t e r n e s s r e t u r n e d and a huge
memorial s e r v i c e was h e l d i n S o f i a f o r Chernozemsky. The s e r v i c e
8
was a t t e n d e d by 500 o f h i s a d m i r e r s . *
It a p p e a r s t h a t Y u g o s l a v i a was c o g n i z a n t o f t h e background
of t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n , f o r J e v t i c t o l d S w i r e t h a t V e l c h e v ' s coup
d ' e t a t had undoubtedly a v e r t e d a European w a r :
"Had G h e o r g i e v ' s government n o t s u p p r e s s e d t h e t e r r o r i s t s
in Bulgaria b e f o r e A l e x a n d e r ' s d e a t h , n o t h i n g would have
restrained t h e i n f u r i a t e d Y u g o s l a v army from marching on
8
Sofia i n retribution." ^
C l e a r l y , t h e o l d c a u s e o f enmity had been removed; but what o f
the future? L a i r d A r c h e r , an u n o f f i c i a l A m e r i c a n observer i n the
v
B a l k a n s , spoke t o a S e r b i a n o f f i c e r a t H i s :
"Be t o l d me t h a t t h e Army i s c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e a s s a s s -
i n a t i o n was a r r a n g e d by Germany because the Conference which
the filing was on h i s way t o a t t e n d , would have f o r g e d a r.ing
"86
of s t e e l about t h e growing power of t h e R e i c h .
Whether Germany was o r was n o t i n v o l v e d i n the a s s a s s i n a t i o n
i s an e x t r e m e l y complex q u e s t i o n but t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e S e r b i a n
o f f i c e r was i n d i c a t i v e o f what t h e n e x t s t a g e i n Y u g o s l a v - B u l g -
a r i a n r e l a t i o n s was t o be. Once A l e x a n d e r had been assassinated,
B u l g a r i a n i s o l a t i o n i s m r e t u r n e d and German i n f l u e n c e reigned
supreme.
83. P a v e l i c ' s a g e n t i n t h e U.S.A. p u b l i c l y p r o p h e s i e d t h e K i n g ' s
d e a t h 2 days before t h e e v e n t } S w i r e , op. c i t . , p. 2 9 1 .
84. I b i d . , p. 292. 8 5 . I b i d . , p. 37.
86. L . A r c h e r , B a l k a n J o u r n a l . New York, 1 9 4 4 , p. 1 6 .
 (160)

C h a n t e r 8.

The I n f l u e n c e of Germany
 (161)

I n the d e a t h of K i n g A l e x a n d e r , the B a l k a n s l o s t a r u l e r
of s t r o n g c h a r a c t e r and a s t a t e s m a n o f g r e a t a b i l i t y . Alexander
had s e e n the need f o r B a l k a n s o l i d a r i t y , n o t o n l y a s an o b s t a c l e
to German e x p a n s i o n * but a l s o a s the key to the f u t u r e well-
being of the p e o p l e s of the p e n i n s u l a . A l t h o u g h he had been
one of the major a r c h i t e c t s of the B a l k a n P a c t , he would have
p r e f e r r e d to s e c u r e a much c l o s e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g w i t h B u l g a r i a ,
whose i s o l a t i o n r e p r e s e n t e d a dangerous vacuum a t the v e r y
h e a r t of B a l k a n a f f a i r s . To t h i s end, he had been p r e p a r e d to
make s u b s t a n t i a l c o n c e s s i o n s i n c l u d i n g some o f the territorial
g a i n s a c q u i r e d by h i s c o u n t r y a t the T r e a t y of N e u i l l y . I n t h e
f i n a l months of h i s l i f e , A l e x a n d e r j e o p a r d i z e d the whole
f u t u r e o f B a l k a n s o l i d a r i t y by f o r c i n g the E n t e n t e powers to
2
postpone the F i f t h B a l k a n C o n f e r e n c e indefinitely whilst he
t r i e d to s e c u r e a s t r o n g e r p e r s o n a l r a p p o r t w i t h K i n g Boris.
But h i s e f f o r t s were i n v a i n .
P e t e r , A l e x a n d e r ' s son and h e i r , was still a minor and
the d i r e c t i o n of Y u g o s l a v a f f a i r s p a s s e d i n t o the hands o f a
Regency, headed by the l a t e K i n g ' s c o u s i n , P r i n c e P a u l . P r i n c e
P a u l , r e g a r d i n g h i m s e l f a s a t r u s t e e of the Crown u n t i l the
K i n g came of age,'' d i d n o t f e e l a b l e to make any territorial
c o n c e s s i o n s to B u l g a r i a a l t h o u g h he was c o n v i n c e d of the
1. The attempted German coup i n A u s t r i a , w h i c h l e d to the
d e a t h of Dr. D o l l f u s s , took p l a c e on J u l y 2 5 , 1934.
2. R . J . K e r n e r and M.N.. Howard, The B a l k a n C o n f e r e n c e s .and
the B a l k a n E n t e n t e 1930-35, B e r k e l e y , C a l i f o r n i a , 1936, pp.
134-8 and 157. 3> Documents on German F o r e i g n P o l i c y 1918-45.
S e r i e s U, London, 1 9 4 9 , c c . ( h e r e a f t e r r e f e r r e d to a s G.D). V I , no
673.
 (162)

importance o f i n c l u d i n g B u l g a r i a i n any movement f o r B a l k a n

4
u n i t y . F u r t h e r m o r e , he had g r e a t doubts about K i n g B o r i s ' s
5
s i n c e r i t y and r e g a r d e d him a s q u i t e u n t r u s t w o r t h y . Prince
P a u l , t h e r e f o r e , made no f r e s h i n i t i a t i v e s to i n c r e a s e South
S l a v ami$y and K i n g B o r i s , f o r h i s p a r t , f e l t , no d e s i r e o r
o b l i g a t i o n to c o n t i n u e w i t h the p o l i c y of rapprochement which
A l e x a n d e r had promoted d u r i n g the p r e v i o u s y e a r .
K i n g B o r i s , i t was c l e a r , was h o s t i l e to any closer
u n d e r s t a n d i n g w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a . D u r i n g the v i s i t of the Y u g o s l a v
S o k o l s to S o f i a i n J u l y 1935 - a quite u n p o l i t i c a l occasion
w h i c h a r o u s e d g r e a t p u b l i c enthusiasm- in. the c a p i t a l - K i n g
B o r i s a v o i d e d the ceremonies a l t o g e t h e r , a l t h o u g h he was the
head of the e q u i v a l e n t B u l g a r i a n movement. The scenes which
a t t e n d e d the v i s i t showed t h a t a t a p o p u l a r l e v e l t h e r e was a
g r e a t warmth o£ f e e l i n g between the two South S l a v p e o p l e s ;
but the K i n g w i s h e d f r a t e r n i z a t i o n to be r e s t r a i n e d and the
d a i l y p a p e r s gave a p a l e and d i l u t e d a c c o u n t of -the e v e n t . ^
The l e a d e r s of the p r o - Y u g o s l a v movement i n B u l g a r i a
were the Zveno government w h i c h had been i n power s i n c e the
coup d ' e t a t of Hay 1934. G h e o r g i e v and V e l c h e v were opposed
to any k i n d of f e d e r a t i o n but were w h o l e h e a r t e d supporters
of i n c r e a s e d f r i e n d s h i p between the two countries. This was
emphasized by the Y u g o s l a v P r a v d a w h i c h wrote t h a t the Yugo-
slav spirit, f o r so l o n g s u p p r e s s e d , was now " r a i s i n g to f i r s t
7
p l a c e Yugo-Slav n a t i o n a l i t y i n s t e a d of B u l g a r i a n n a t i o n a l i s m . "
Once A l e x a n d e r was dead, t h i s f e a t u r e of the Zveno government
proved i n t o l e r a b l e to K i n g B o r i s , lie had n e v e r l i k e d Gheorgiev
and V e l c h e v and, s i n c e the l a t t e r was c l e a r l y determined to
4. Documents on B r i t i s h F o r e i g n P o l i c y . 1919-39. T h i r d
S e r i e s , London, 1949cc ( h e r e a f t e r r e f e r r e d to as B.D.). V I ,
ao. 5 3 4 . 5. I b i d . , no. 393.
6 . J . S w i r e , B u l g a r i a n C o n s p i r a c y , London, 1939* pp... 23-24.
7 . I b i d . , p. 293.
8. I b i d . , pp. 297-302.
 (163)

g
curb and reduce royal power, the Bulgarian King decided
to seek the d e s t r u c t i o n of the Zvenars and r e p l a c e them with
a premier and policy o f h i s own choice.
Even before the assassination of King Alexander upon
the streets of M a r s e i l l e s , the f u t u r e of the pro-Yugoslav
Z v e n o g o v e r n m e n t was i n jeopardy. In Belgrade, S w i r e was told
on good a u t h o r i t y t h a t when K i n g A l e x a n d e r visited Sofia in
September 1934, King Boris pointed out Velchev during a
reception and w h i s p e r e d "Here comes o u r Apis" - referring to
the illustrious Colonel Dragutin D i m i t r i j e v i c who had been
Q
executed a t S a l o n i k a i n 1917• On the n e x t day, Boris suddenly
asked Alexander!
"Mow d i d y o u got r i d of your Apis?"
Alexander r e p l i e d that not he but a responsible
g o v e r n m e n t bad r o p r o s a e d Diroitrijovic and his friends.
Aloxandor nftorwards told his frionds: "King Uoris
u s It oil me for a formula w h o r o b y lie c o u l d g o t r i d of
V o l o h u v . V o l o h u v had hottor beware 1"*^
On J a n u a r y iI2, 1933, n royal coup d ' e t a t o c c u r rod in
Hulfjrfiria and tho (jovurtimotit o f tihoorjriov and V o l c h o v was
aupplantod by that of a royal nominee, lionornl Z l a t o v . Many
faotora o o n t r l uutori to thin coup but tho moat prominent
rouuona f o r tlio ohungo w e r e t h o Z v o n o p o l i c y of f r i o n d a h i p
with Yugoslavia and tho eo-callod "republican scuru" which hud
9. Uimitrijovic ( A p i a ) was the orgunizor of tho 1903
Regicide and tho g u i d i n g light buhind tho Ujodlnjonjo ill Smrt
(Union o r U o a t h ) uiovoment. Known t o l u t o r generations an the
" b l a c k Hand", t h e movement waa responsible f o r the doath of
Franz Fordinand a t S a r a j e v o and was suspected of intrigues
ugaiust Prince Aloxunder and the S e r b i a n govorument-in-exile
in lyi6. Dinii t r i j e v i c died p r o t e s t i n g h i s innocence. At a
re-hearing of the trial i n l953i he was h e l d to have boen
unjustly executed.
10. Swire, op. cit.. p. 296.
 (164)

been r a i s e d by U h e o r g i e v ' s p l a n to model the new Bulgarian

c o n s t i t u t i o n on P o r t u g e s e lines, t a k i n g power from the King
and g i v i n g i t t e a m i n i s t e r i a l c o u n c i l . * A l t h o u g h i t was
c l e a r t h a t a r o y a l d i c t a t o r s h i p had been e s t a b l i s h e d , the
r e s t o r a t i o n of r o y a l power i n government and foreign policy
was not i m m e d i a t e l y a p p a r e n t . Nor was t h e r e any overnight
change i n B u l g a r i a n p o l i c y towards Y u g o s l a v i a . I n a carefully
prepared r e p o r t d e s c r i b i n g the background t o the coup, broadcast
by the r a d i o s e r v i c e s of both c o u n t r i e s on F e b r u a r y 24, Zlatev
12
made f a v o u r a b l e r e f e r e n c e s to "our brother Yugoslav nation."
But G e n e r a l Z l a t e v d i d not remain long i n o f f i c e . On
A p r i l 18, 1935, he was d i s m i s s e d by K i n g B o r i s and h i s p l a c e
was taken by A n d r e i Toshev, a s e p t u a g e n a r i a n and formerly one
of K i n g F e r d i n a n d ' s c l o s e s t a d v i s e r s , lie was known to be pro-
German i n o u t l o o k and p r i o r to the o u t b r e a k of the F i r s t World
War, he had been B u l g a r i a n M i n i s t e r i n V i e n n a . S i n c e 1918, he
had been c l o s e l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h the N a t i o n a l Committee and
had proved to be one o f the most i n t r a n s i g e n t members of the
13
B u l g a r i a n d e l e g a t i o n a t the B a l k a n C o n f e r e n c e s . His appoint-
ment came a t a time when P r o f e s s o r Tsankov - now l e a d e r on* the
nascent B u l g a r i a n N a t i o n a l S o c i a l i s t P a r t y - was issuing fiery
proclamations and t h r e a t e n i n g to o v e r t h r o w the Z l a t e v g o v e r n -
14
ment w i t h a v i e w to t a k i n g power h i m s e l f . The c h o i c e of Toshev
was c l e a r l y a blow t o a l l hopes of a rapprochement between
the two c o u n t r i e s f o r , i n 1932, he had w r i t t e n a v i o l e n t l y
15
a n t i - Y u g o s l a v book i n E n g l i s h and h i s p o l i c y i n e v i t a b l y
11. K. Todorov, B a l k a n F i r e b r a n d . The A u t o b i o g r a p h y of a
R e b e l . S o l d i e r and S t a t e s m a n . C h i c a g o , 1 9 4 3 , p. 264.
12. S w i r e , op. c i t . . p. 303*
13. I b i d . . pp. 3 0 6 - 0 7 . C f . a l s o Todorov, op. c i t . . p. 265.
14. I b i d . , pp. 304-05.
15. A. Toshev, The B u l g a r i a n - S e r b i a n D i s p u t e , S o f i a , 1932.
 (165)

f a v o u r e d a pro-German o r i e n t a t i o n . H i s F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r was
16
K i o s s e i v a n o v , f o r m e r l y B u l g a r i a n envoy i n B e l g r a d e .
No sooner had the new government t a k e n o f f i c e than
Goering a r r i v e d from Germany f o r a t h r e e day stay. His visit,
lasting from May 25-28 1935 was n o m i n a l l y p a r t of the honeymoon
which followed h i s marriage t o Emmy Sonnemann i n A p r i l , but
s i n c e he was accompanied by P r i n c e P h i l i p of Hesse and a
number of h i g h - r a n k i n g o f f i c i a l s , i t was clearly a visit of
some s i g n i f i c a n c e . D u r i n g h i s s t a y , G o e r i n g had long t a l k s w i t h
King B o r i s , h i s brother, C y r i l , and the new Prime M i n i s t e r .
I n the c o u r s e of t h e s e d i s c u s s i o n s - conducted i n the p r i v a c y
of the r o y a l h u n t i n g lodge - G o e r i n g made a c a t e g o r i c a l
d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t "Germany would n e v e r demand B u l g a r i a ' s p a r t -
17
i c i p a t i o n i n any war w h a t s o e v e r . " I n exchange f o r t h i s ,
B u l g a r i a s t a t e d h e r w i l l i n g n e s s to o r d e r arms from Germany
and i n June 1 9 5 5 , Dr. S c h a c h t , P r e s i d e n t of the Reichsbank,
v i s i t e d S o f i a to d i s c u s s f u t u r e economic r e l a t i o n s between
t h e i r two countries.
The growth of economic c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h Germany l e d to
a d e c l i n e of I t a l i a n i n f l u e n c e i n B u l g a r i a . I t was n o t i c e d
t h a t B u l g a r i a j o i n e d w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a and the o t h e r Balkan
18
s t a t e s i n a p p l y i n g the League s a n c t i o n s a g a i n s t I t a l y . (What
was not i m m e d i a t e l y d i s c o v e r e d was t h a t Hungary bought up the
s a n c t i o n e d e x p o r t s and r e s o l d them to I t a l y ) . O v e r the
whole p e n i n s u l a , the e x p o r t - i m p o r t r e s t r i c t i o n s upon t r a d e
w i t h I t a l y p r e s e n t e d an open i n v i t a t i o n to commercial interests
in B e r l i n . The Balkan n a t i o n s , possessing s i m i l a r products, sold
16. B i s appointment to B e l g r a d e was p r i o r to the coup of
May 1 9 3 4 , when he was recalled.
17. N.P. N I k o l a e v , L a d e s t i n e e t r a g i q u e d'un r o i , U p p s a l a ,
1952, p. I 6 5 . See a l s o pp. 80-81.
18. L . A r c h e r , B a l k a n J o u r n a l , New York, 1944, p. 28.
19. S w i r e , op. cit., p. 329.
 (166)
20
l i t t l e to each o t h e r and the W e s t e r n c o u n t r i e s had no g r e a t
need f o r Y u g o s l a v or B u l g a r i a n e x p o r t s . C o n s e q u e n t l y , the
market v a s v i d e open f o r Germany, who proceeded to t a k e a
l a r g e p e r c e n t a g e of Y u g o s l a v e x p o r t s ( m a i n l y c e r e a l s and w h e a t )
i n exchange f o r a h i g h quota of German i m p o r t s ( c h e m i c a l p r o d -
u c t s , m a c h i n e r y and m e d i c a l s u p p l i e s ) . By 1936, a l m o s t 50$ of
Y u g o s l a v i a ' s e x t e r n a l commerce was w i t h Germany. B u l g a r i a , too,

a l t h o u g h a much poorer country, soon found t h a t some 42$ of

21
h e r e x t e r n a l t r a d e was going the same way. By the b e g i n n i n g
22
of 1938, t h i s p e r c e n t a g e had r i s e n to 60$ .
The appointment of Toshev as Prime M i n i s t e r was followed
by i n t e r n a l changes w i t h i n B u l g a r i a i t s e l f . I n S o f i a , the h o u s e s
of t h o s e known to be " a n t i - M i h a i l o s i s t " were s e a r c h e d and many
of M i h a i l o v ' s s u p p o r t e r s were s e t f r e e . The P e t r i c h department,
d i s m a n t l e d i n June 1934, was a l l o w e d to r e c o v e r i t s former
s t a t u s and Volkov r e t u r n e d to B u l g a r i a from I t a l y and was
o f f i c i a l l y r e c e i v e d by K i n g B o r i s . I n the meantime, t h e r e was
a purge of V e l c h e v ' s f o l l o w e r s and a S u p r e m i s t Macedonian, Simon
23
Hadev, was s e n t to be B u l g a r i a n M i n i s t e r i n London. On June
29, King B o r i s passed a decree-law, banning a l l " p o l i t i c a l
p a r t i e s , groups, c u r r e n t s , movements, c i r c l e s and cells."
V e l c h e v , who was rumoured to be p l a n n i n g a p o l i t i c a l alliance
between the L i b e r a l and A g r a r i a n p a r t i e s , was a d v i s e d to l e a v e
the c o u n t r y and d e p a r t e d f o r B e l g r a d e w i t h h i s government's
c o n s e n t . W h i l s t abroad, he was a g u e s t of C o l o n e l P a n i c , the
V i c e - P r e s i d e n t of-the Bulgaro-Yugoslav a s s o c i a t i o n and a close
20. K e r n e r and Howard, op. c i t . . p. 2 3 , g i v e the f o l l o w i n g
rough e s t i m a t e s o f f B a l k a n trade:
Inter-Balkan t o C e n t r a l Europe To W. Europe.
Bulgaria. 12$ 45.6$ 30js>
Yugoslavia. 8$ 56fc 2b.8>
21. M.Padev, E s c a p e from the B a l k a n s , London, 1 9 4 3 i pp. 97-8.
22. G J ) . , V, no. 167.
2 3 . S w i r e , op. c i t . . p. 309.
 (167)

24
f r i e n d of Dr, Mac'ek, the C r o a t i a n leader.
These a c t i o n s i n B u l g a r i a provoked growing unrest.
E l e c t i o n s w h i c h were due to be h e l d , were postponed till
" e a r l y next y e a r " and t h e r e was mounting d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n with
the Prime M i n i s t e r . D u r i n g September, G e n e r a l Zaimov, I n s p e c t o r
of A r t i l l e r y and P r e s i d e n t of the M i l i t a r y League, began to
negotiate f o r the f o r m a t i o n of a p o p u l a r N a t i o n a l Bloc
representing a l l moderate p o l i t i c a l e l e m e n t s , w i t h a v i e w to
forming a g e n u i n e l y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e government. But, because of
the June d e c r e e - l a w banning a l l p o l i t i c a l activities, Zaimov'
found h i m s e l f in a d i f f i c u l t position, e s p e c i a l l y since there
was a p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t the M i l i t a r y League i t s e l f would be
d i v i d e d on the i s s u e . By the end of September, the s i t u a t i o n
had s u f f i c i e n t l y d e t e r i o r a t e d w i t h the r e s u l t t h a t V e l c h e v ' s
f r i e n d s urged him to r e t u r n , h o p i n g t h i s would u n i t e the League
and g i v e i t a chance of s u c c e s s . The i n v i t a t i o n coincided with
renewed t a l k of r e p u b l i c a n i s m and Toshev l e t i t be known t h a t
he was t h i n k i n g of a s k i n g the Y u g o s l a v government to i n t e r n
25
Velchev i n t h e i r country. W i t h i n B u l g a r i a , m a r t i a l law was
p r o c l a i m e d and a l l army l e a v e was cancelled.
On October 2, V e l c h e v r e t u r n e d to B u l g a r i a and was arrested
at S l i v n i t s a . His capture was accompanied by w i d e s p r e a d a r r e s t s
- the o f f i c i a l f i g u r e b e i n g put a t 2 1 5 . I t was widely reported
t h a t V e l c h e v had collaborated with Kosta Todorov and members
o f t h e Y u g o s l a v government and had drawn up applot which
i n v o l v e d p l a n s f o r the murder of K i n g B o r i s , Queen I o a n n a ,
the government m i n i s t e r s and a number of o f f i c e r s and leading
c i v i l i a n s . One of t h o s e a r r e s t e d a t t h i s time was told that
" V e l c h e v has c r o s s e d the f r o n t i e r w i t h K o s t a Todorov and
50,000 Serbian dinars." The i m p l i c a t i o n of c o m p l i c i t y w i t h
V e l c h e v i n s u c h a p l o t so angered the Y u g o s l a v government t h a t

24. Ibid., pp. 310-11

25. I b i d . . pp. 3 1 4 - 1 5 . C f . w i t h N i k o l a e v , op. c i t . . pp. 81-2
f o r the r o y a l i s t viewpoint. 26. I b i d . . p. 316.
 (168)

the B u l g a r i a n government, was o b l i g e d t o deny t h e a l l e g a t i o n .

A Western d i p l o m a t o b s e r v e d t o S w i r e : "Toahev w i s h e s t o r e v e r t
27
to t h e o l d p o l i c y o f t h e M i h a i l o v i s t s t o whom he belonged."
The t r i a l o f V e l c h e v , w h i c h l a s t e d two months, began i n
S o f i a on December 18, 1935• The p r o c e e d i n g s were h e l d 'in camera*
and among t h e p r o s e c u t i o n and d e f e n c e w i t n e s s e s were to be
found many l e a d i n g B u l g a r i a n f i g u r e s - i n c l u d i n g Tsankov,
Z l a t e v and G h e o r g i e v . With t h e e x c e p t i o n o f a p i e c e o f h e a r s a y
from one w i t n e s s , t h a t V e l c h e v had wanted a n " I n t e g r a l Y u g o s l a v i a
28
under K i n g P e t e r " - a s t a t e m e n t w h i c h amounted t o no more
than a p e r s o n a l o p i n i o n - no e v i d e n c e w h a t s o e v e r was p u b l i s h e d
to prove t h e g u i l t of t h e a c c u s e d o r t o c o n f i r m t h e e x i s t e n c e
of an a n t i - r o y a l i s t c o n s p i r a c y h a t c h e d by V e l c h e v i n B e l g r a d e .
T h i s c o n n e c t i o n w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a and V e l c h e v ' s well-known
d e s i r e t o e s t a b l i s h bet.ter r e l a t i o n s between t h e two c o u n t r i e s ,
made t h e outcome of h i s t r i a l a d e l i c a t e , d i p l o m a t i c problem.
For, a l t h o u g h t h e German government, K i n g B o r i s and Toshev
were a l l a n x i o u s t o g e t r i d o f V e l c h e v , i t was f e a r e d t h a t t h e
removal o f so prominent a f i g u r e would s e r i o u s l y endanger t h e
p o l i c y of b i l a t e r a l a m i t y between Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a , by
w h i c h Germany hoped t o undermine B a l k a n s o l i d a r i t y i n t h e
p e n i n s u l a . However, t h e problem was e a s i l y s o l v e d . S t o j a d i n o v i c ,
the Prime M i n i s t e r o f Y u g o s l a v i a , who was e q u a l l y interested
i n promoting b e t t e r r e l a t i o n s w i t h Germany, s u p p r e s s e d a l l
d e t a i l s of the t r i a l and i t s p r o c e e d i n g s i n t h e Y u g o s l a v news-
papers. Following t h i s encouraging s i g n , K i n g B o r i s p a i d an
29
unexpected three-day v i s i t to Belgrade and r e a c h e d an u n d e r -
s t a n d i n g w i t h S t o j a d i n o v i c t h a t even i f V e l c h e v were condemned
to d e a t h , t h e rapprochement w h i c h Germany w i s h e d t o s e e between
the two kingdoms would c o n t i n u e . Three days l a t e r , on F e b r u a r y
2 7 . I b i d . , p. 314.
28. I b i d . . p. 3 2 2 . T h i s h e a r s a y was p r e s e n t e d by K o j o u k h a r o v
(deputy l e a d e r o f t h e B u l g a r i a n N a t i o n a l S o c i a l i s t Party).
29. F e b r u a r y 16-19* 1936.
 (169)

22, 1936, V e l c h e v was s e n t e n c e d to d e a t h by hanging, a

v e r d i c t w h i c h was postponed a f t e r v i g o r o u s o p p o s i t i o n i n
E n g l a n d , Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a i t s e l f . On March 20, the
B u l g a r i a n P u b l i c P r o s e c u t o r a d m i t t e d t h a t t h e r e had been
grave i r r e g u l a r i t i e s a t t h e t r i a l hut f o u r days l a t e r , King
B o r i s confirmed the v e r d i c t and s a i d t h a t V e l c h e v would be
e x e c u t e d w i t h i n t w e n t y - f o u r h o u r s . H i s announcement evoked
widespread d i s a p p r o v a l and, on March 28, " f o r r e a s o n s o f state",
' 30
the s e n t e n c e was commuted to one of l i f e - l o n g imprisonment.
One r e s u l t of the s e r i o u s p o l i t i c a l crisis w h i c h had surrounded
V e l c h e v ' a a r r e s t and t r i a l was the r e s i g n a t i o n of Toshev on
November 2 3 , 1 9 3 5 . H i s s u c c e s s o r was K i o s s e i v a n o v who, like
his p r e d e c e s s o r , was a r o y a l nominee. B a s k o l n i k o v , the S o v i e t
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e i n B u l g a r i a , d e s c r i b e d him as " a s o f t pillow
31
on w h i c h K i n g B o r i s f i n d s i t c o n v e n i e n t to s l e e p . " ^ When he
became Prime M i n i s t e r , K i o s s e i v a n o v r e t a i n e d the p o r t f o l i o f o r
f o r e i g n a f f a i r s and remained i n royal favour u n t i l February
1940.
From the time o f the V e l c h e v t r i a l , when the f i r s t inroads
were being made, the scope of German i n f l u e n c e and German
political a c t i v i t y i n B u l g a r i a and Y u g o s l a v i a s w i f t l y i n c r e a s e d .
During a t o u r of A u s t r i a i n 1 9 3 6 , Todorov met one of h i s B u l g -
a r i a n a c q u a i n t a n c e s named S t o y i l o v . He reported that Stoyilov
asked him:
"Are you still i n f a v o u r of an a l l i a n c e between
B u l g a r i a and Y u g o s l a v i a ? "
"As a l w a y s , " Todorov had replied.
" W e l l , " d e c l a r e d S t o y i l o v t r i u m p h a n t l y , "so i s
Germany. Goebbels t o l d me s o . You can c o n t i n u e to work
for the a l l i a n c e and d i r e c t propaganda i n both countries,
32
in B u l g a r i a and Y u g o s l a v i a . "
30. S w i r e , op. cit.. pp. 316-24, d e s c r i b e s the t r i a l and the
e x t e n t of the p u b l i c o u t c r y a g a i n s t V e l c h e v ' s sentence.
31. Todorov, op. cit.. p. 2 7 4 . 32. I b i d . . p. 273.
 (170)

S t o y i l o v even agreed to a r r a n g e f o r Todorov's e x p u l s i o n to

be l i f t e d f o r t h i s p i r p o s e . But Todorov r e f u s e d and when he
r e t u r n e d to Y u g o s l a v i a , he t r a v e l l e d around the country
d e l i v e r i n g a l e c t u r e , " H i t l e r and the S l a v s " . He continued
doinh. t h i s u n t i l S t o j a d i n o v i c forbade him tc conduct
to any
further p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t y i n Y u g o s l a v i a . 33
Dr. M i l a n S t o j a d i n o v i c , whom K i n g B o r i s r e g a r d e d as
34
"the a b l e s t s t a t e s m a n i n Y u g o s l a v i a " , was Prime M i n i s t e r
from June 1935 u n t i l F e b r u a r y 1939• He had c l o s e f i n a n c i a l
35
t i e s w i t h Germany and responded warmly to the German initiat-
i v e f o r a rapprochement. S t o j a d i n o v i c r e a l i z e d t h a t Y u g o s l a v i a ' s
c h i e f danger was I t a l y and f e l t t h a t a r e s u m p t i o n of Italian
i n t r i g u e i n the B a l k a n s upon the c o n c l u s i o n of h o s t i l i t i e s in
A b y s s i n i a was a v e r y r e a l p o s s i b i l i t y . But he was a l s o aware
t h a t the B a l k a n E n t e n t e made no provision for Yugoslavia's
d e f e n c e i n the e v e n t of an I t a l i a n a t t a c k . He believed that
Y u g o s l a v i a had to make o t h e r arrangements and for this reason
he welcomed the s u p p o r t of Germany and was w i l l i n g to s e e k a
c l o s e r understanding w i t h B u l g a r i a . I n e v i t a b l y , the power of
the E n t e n t e was weakened, and the New Y o r k Times noted the
d i m i n i s h i n g v a l u e of the 1934 P a c t :
" Y u g o s l a v i a ' s i n t e r e s t i n the P a c t i n the future
will be s m a l l , f o r the r e s e r v a t i o n s now made, abandon
h e r to I t a l i a n a g g r e s s i o n . As the P a c t s t a n d s , i t i s
l i t t l e more than an a l l i a n c e a g a i n s t B u l g a r i a . The. move-
ment f o r a rapprochement between Y u g o s l a v i a and Bulgaria
i s c o n s t a n t l y growing i n t h i s c o u n t r y . " ( i . e . Y u g o s l a v i a ) ^
33. Ibid.. loc. c i t .
34. G.D.. V I , no. 673.
35* Todorov, op. cit.. p. 2 7 1 . Before h i s Premiership, Stoj"
a d i n o v i c had been a banker i n B e l g r a d e and a l s o M i n i s t e r of
F i n a n c e . I n both t h e s e r o l e s , he had acquired wide-ranging
international connections.
36. New York Times. May 7» 1936.
 -(171)

Dr. S t o j a d i n o v i c r e c o g n i z e d the f a i l i n g s of the P a c t and,

a t the p r i c e of s a c r i f i c i n g B a l k a n s o l i d a r i t y and i n the
f a c e of s t r o n g o p p o s i t i o n , abandoned the t r a d i t i o n a l pro-
F r e n c h p o l i c y w h i c h had been pursued by King A l e x a n d e r and
d e c i d e d to come to terms w i t h B u l g a r i a - and I J t a l y . ^

I n December 1936, S t o j a d i n o v i c informed the B a l k a n Entente

t h a t h i s c o u n t r y was going to s i g n a s e p a r a t e p a c t w i t h Bulg-
a r i a . H i s d e c i s i o n was a m a j o r blow to the E n t e n t e f o r the
t e x t of the 1934 P a c t s t a t e d t h a t none of t h e signatories
s h o u l d open n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h o t h e r n a t i o n s w i t h o u t the know-
l e d g e and c o n s e n t of t h e i r co-signatories. Stojadinovic•s
p l a n evoked a l i v e l y o p p o s i t i o n from the o t h e r t h r e e states
but s u c h was the weakness of the E n t e n t e t h a t they c o u l d do
nothing a t a l l to stop him.
On J a n u a r y 2 4 , 1937, a P a c t of " E t e r n a l F r i e n d s h i p and
I n v i o l a b l e Peace" was s i g n e d between Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a
i n B e l g r a d e . The terms of the t r e a t y - s u r e l y one of the shortest
e v e r made - r a n t h u s :
"Article 1. There shall be i n v i o l a b l e peace and
s i n c e r e and e t e r n a l f r i e n d s h i p between the Yugoslav
Kingdom and the B u l g a r i a n Kingdom.
Article 2. The p r e s e n t t r e a t y s h a l l be ratified
and the i n s t r u m e n t s of r a t i f i c a t i o n exchanged as soon
39
as possible."
S i r Edward B o y l e , commenting on the P a c t , observed:
37. L . S . S t a v r i a n o s , B a l k a n F e d e r a t i o n . A H i s t o r y of the
Movement towards B a l k a n U n i t y i n Modern Times, Northampton,
Mass., 1944, p. 246.
38. P. P i p i n e l i s , C a i t i f f B u l g a r i a . London, 1944, p. 4.
39. Royal I n s t i t u t e of I n t e r n a t i o n a l A f f a i r s , South E a s t e r n
E u r o p e . A P o l i t i c a l and Economic S u r v e y , London, 1 9 3 9 » p« 40.
The i n s t r u m e n t s of r a t i f i c a t i o n were exchanged a t the B u l g a r i a n
l e g a t i o n on the f o l l o w i n g day.
 (172)

" I n the t r e a t y t h e r e i s no mention o f Macedonia,

or of what Dr. S t o j a d i n o v i c has c a l l e d ' B u l g a r i a n m i n o r i t -
ies' But because t h e q u e s t i o n i s n o t r e f e r r e d t o i n

the T r e a t y , i t would be r i d i c u l o u s t o i n f e r t h a t i t was

n o t v e r y much i n t h e minds o f t h e n e g o t i a t o r s on e i t h e r
side As t o Macedonia, the Press, l i k e t h e T r e a t y
40
itself, remains s i l e n t . "
There can be no doubt t h a t , whatever i t s f a i l i n g s , t h e
Pact o f January 1937 was popular and was warmly welcomed i n
both Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a . One w r i t e r d e c l a r e d t h a t "even
h o s p i t a b l e Belgrade surpassed i t s e l f i n t h e welcome i t gave
41
t o the B u l g a r i a n Premier," and another hoped t h a t i t m i g h t
"open a new c h a p t e r n o t merely f o r the two powers
p r i m a r i l y concerned b u t f o r a l l the Balkan peoples. I n
b o t h c o u n t r i e s t h e T r e a t y has been r e c e i v e d w i t h immense
enthusiasm, though i t i s r i g h t t o remember t h a t i n no
Balkan s t a t e i s t h e r e a t p r e s e n t f r e e e x p r e s s i o n o f
o p i n i o n . For a l l t h a t , nobody can read the r e p o r t s o f t h e
ceremony which a t t e n d e d the s i g n a t u r e of the t r e a t y and
the scenes i n the s t r e e t s , both i n Belgrade and S o f i a ,
w i t h o u t being convinced t h a t the t r e a t y has behind i t i n
42
both c o u n t r i e s an enormous mass o f p o p u l a r a p p r o v a l . "
Whatever the p o p u l a r i t y accorded t o the t r e a t y , the c o s t was
c o n s i d e r a b l e . Not o n l y d i d i t mark the f i r s t fundemental rift
i n the Balkan Entente but i t a l s o broke the b a r r i e r o f c o l l e c t i v e
43
s e c u r i t y i n t h e Balkans. I t ignored the c r u c i a l question of
B u l g a r i a ' s f r o n t i e r s and i g n o r e d her r e l a t i o n s h i p t o the Balkan
E n t e n t e . T h i s meant t h a t w h i l e Y u g o s l a v i a expressed a w i l l i n g n e s s
t o l i v e p e a c e f u l l y w i t h B u l g a r i a , King B o r i s ' s government could
40. S i r Edward Boyle,"Towards Balkan U n i t y J Contemporary
Review CLI ( A p r i l 1937), pp. 406-7.
4 1 . H..D.Harrison, The Soul o f Y u g o s l a v i a , London, 1941, p. 242.
42. Boyle, op. c i t . . p. 405.
43. GQD., V, no. 158.
 (173)

c o n t i n u e t o work f o r an o v e r t h r o w o f the s t a t u s quo and retain

t h e i r r e v i s i o n i s t hopes. Above a l l , i t represented a great
success f o r German diplomacy, under whose aegis i t had been
44
it \
initiated. As such, i t was warmly welcomed by Germany,Hungary
and the p r o - A x i s p r e s s . 45
46
Having s e v e r e l y weakened the power o f the E n t e n t e , the
Germans c o n c e n t r a t e d t h e i r main p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t y i n the
Balkans upon B u l g a r i a . Todorov, who was o f f i c i a l l y permitted
t o r e t u r n t o B u l g a r i a i n December 1936, met S t o y i l o v i n S o f i a
e a r l y i n 1937• He asked hints
"Are the Germans spending a l o t o f money i n B u l g a r i a ? "
"Enormous sums," r e p l i e d S t o y i l o v . " N e a r l y a l l t h e
l a r g e newspapers are i n t h e i r hands. Zora. U t r o and
Dnevnik g e t t h e i r n e w s p r i n t f r e e from Germany and s e v e r a l
m i l l i o n l e v a a year go t o the managers of those papers
f o r t h e i r p e r s o n a l expenses. German agents are i n every
47
p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n , paid according t o t h e i r importance."
Todorov l a t e r d i s c o v e r e d t h a t the c o s t o f m a i n t a i n i n g the
German propaganda campaign came from the payment f o r B u l g a r i a n
i m p o r t s from Germany, 10% o f each payment being p a i d i n l o c a l
c u r r e n c y t o a German agency i n S o f i a . As has been n o t e d , the
v a l u e o f Bulgaro-German t r a d e s t e a d i l y i n c r e a s e d i n the p e r i o d
1935-39 and the funds a t the d i s p o s a l o f t h e propaganda agency
48
amounted t o some 150-200 m i l l i o n l e v a a y e a r .
D u r i n g the p e r i o d f o l l o w i n g the c o n c l u s i o n o f the Yugoslav-
B u l g a r i a n Pact, g r e a t emphasis was p l a c e d upon B u l g a r i a ' s
d e s i r e f o r peace and her d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o remain n e u t r a l . A
44. Royal I n s t i t u t e o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l A f f a i r s , op. c i t . , l o c . c i t .
45* P i p i n e l i s , op. c i t . , p. 5.
4 6 . The power o f the Entente was f u r t h e r weakened by the
I t a l o - Y u g o s l a v Pact o f F r i e n d s h i p which was s i g n e d on March
25, 1937.
47. Todorov, op. c i t . , pp. 2 7 5 - 7 6 .
48. I b i d . . l o c . c i t . ( £6-8 m i l l i o n s a t 1938-9 v a l u e s ) .
 (174)

p i c t u r e of t h i s p e r i o d i s g i v e n by L a i r d Archer who reported

from S o f i a t h a t t h e r e vas
"not much f e e l i n g o f approaching v a r here. I
understand t h a t the 'land army* by which B u l g a r i a has
kept up the t r a i n i n g of her y o u t h i n s u b s t i t u t e f o r
1
the former c o n s c r i p t i o n f o r b i d d e n by the 'peace t r e a t y ,
i s d r i l l i n g a l l over the c o u n t r y , u s i n g spades and
p i t c h f o r k s f o r weapons. The M i n i s t e r o f War i s negotiat-
49
i n g w i t h H i t l e r f o r German arnaments."
However, Swire's experience of Bulgaria's m i l i t a r y p o s i t i o n was
somewhat d i f f e r e n t . S h o r t l y b e f o r e h i s e x p u l s i o n from B u l g a r i a ,
he was awoken by 40 tanks r u m b l i n g t h r o u g h the s t r e e t s o f S o f i a
by n i g h t - t h i s a l t h o u g h B u l g a r i a was n o t supposed t o possess
50
any tanks1 I n June 1937, Baron von N e u r a t h , the then German
F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r , v i s i t e d S o f i a and assured the B u l g a r i a n
government " t h a t Germany would r e s p e c t B u l g a r i a ' s l e g i t i m a t e
51
d e s i r e s , i n whatever circumstances presented themselves."
T h i s assurance was repeated by Goering t o Gounev, the B u l g a r i a n
f i n a n c i a l agent i n B e r l i n , i n October 1937* when the latter
t o l d Goering t h a t h i s c o u n t r y i n t e n d e d t o remain n e u t r a l
52
i n the event o f any f u t u r e conflict.
And y e t the q u e s t i o n must be asked: "How genuine was this
n e u t r a l i t y ? " King B o r i s , who e x e r t e d a permanent i n f l u e n c e on
the d i r e c t i o n o f B u l g a r i a n f o r e i g n p o l i c y , t o l d C l o d i u s , the
Deputy D i r e c t o r o f t h e German Economic P o l i c y Department, t h a t :
"he knew t h a t B u l g a r i a must always remain a t
Germany's s i d e and t h a t B u l g a r i a ' s n a t i o n a l hopes c o u l d
o n l y be f u l f i l l e d , i f indeed a t a l l , w i t h the a i d o f
Germany and the Fuhrer. He would a l s o n o t f o r g e t t h a t
the l i b e r a t i o n o f B u l g a r i a from the m i l i t a r y shackles
49* L. Archer, Balkan J o u r n a l . New York, 1944, p. 5 1 .
50. Swire, op. c i t . . p. 308.
51. N i k o l a e v , op. c i t . . p. 165.
52. I b i d . - l o c . c i t .
t
 (175)

o f the T r e a t y o f N e u i l l y would n o t have been p o s s i b l e

* 53
w i t h o u t the successes achieved by the Fuhrer "
There can be no doubt t h a t t h i s c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h Germany
was m o t i v a t e d s i m p l y by expediency. I t was a p o l i c y o f greedy
54
opportunism. The Germans knew t h i s and took advantage o f it.
A l a t e r w r i t e r , f o r two years S o f i a correspondent o f "The Times",
summed up the a t t i t u d e o f the B u l g a r i a n King i n a more s u c c i n t
and humourous f a s h i o n :
" B o r i s i s i n no way p r o - B r i t i s h . N e i t h e r has he
ever been pro-German i n any sense b u t t a c t i c a l l y . And
when h i s hopes of r e t a i n i n g h i s t h r o n e depend on it,
he w i l l again pose as p r o - B r i t i s h . He: has always been
55
and o n l y been ' p r o - B o r i s ' ! "
I t was i n t h i s s p i r i t t h a t B u l g a r i a conducted her pre-war p o l i c y
o f n e u t r a l i t y . On h i s r e t u r n from a v i s i t t o London i n November
1937f he c a l l e d i n t o see a f r i e n d i n S w i t z e r l a n d who recalled
that
" t h e King was p a l e , t h i n , t i r e d and v e r y nervous.
He t o l d me o f the c o n v e r s a t i o n s he had had w i t h the
E n g l i s h and French p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s , lie had made an a l l - o u t
e f f o r t t o persuade them o f B u l g a r i a ' s good i n t e n t i o n s , ,
of t h e i r simple d e s i r e t o l i v e a t peace, i n a s i n c e r e
n e u t r a l i t y , w i t h o u t a t t a c h i n g themselves t o any Axis
(alliance).
" I n h i s j o u r n e y s t h r o u g h Europe, the King o f B u l g a r i a
d i d n o t n e g l e c t Germany} indeed he c o u l d n o t n e g l e c t it.
Assuredly, he n o u r i s h e d n o t the s l i g h t e s t sympathy f o r
H i t l e r , but. he was too i n t e l l i g e n t n o t t o see t h a t the
Reich was r a p i d l y becoming a power w i t h which one had to
reckon, which c o u l d f u r n i s h , i n the near f u t u r e , a support
and source o f h e l p t o B u l g a r i a , about which the Western
53. GjJD., V I , no. 673.
54. G^)., V, no. 274.
55. Padev, op. c i t . . pp. 75-76.
 (176)

statesmen cared l i t t l e , a l t h o u g h they showed themselves

56
f a v o u r a b l e towards i t s King."
But a l t h o u g h B o r i s may have " n o u r i s h e d n o t the slightest
sympathy f o r l i i t l e r " , t h e r e appears t o be ample j u s t i f i c a t i o n
for b e l i e v i n g t h a t t h e r e was a d i r e c t c o m p l i c i t y between the
two men. Todorov r e p o r t e d t h a t King B o r i s p a i d s e v e r a l v i s i t s
to B e r l i n on the p r e t e x t o f v i s i t i n g h i s f a t h e r , ex-King
Ferdinand, but on each occasion had met H i t l e r q u i e t l y , ' w i t h o u t
pomp o r o f f i c i a l n o t i c e . Ten days before the Ans'ch'luss, B o r i s
t r a n s f e r r e d h i s f a v o u r i t e m i n i s t e r , Parvan Draganov, from
Vienna t o B e r l i n , r e p l a c i n g him w i t h Peter Neikov, a d i p l o m a t
he was known t o d i s l i k e h e a r t i l y . "Toanyone who knew the King's
c h a r a c t e r , " s t a t e d Todorov, " t h i s was evidence t h a t B o r i s was
57
forewarned o f A u s t r i a ' s impending annexation." I t i s also
s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t B o r i s was i n B e r l i n on September 24, 1938
eg
d u r i n g the Munich n e g o t i a t i o n s over Czechoslovakia and again
i n March 1939i j u s t before the rump s t a t e was incorporated into
5 9
the T h i r d R e i c h .
During the s p r i n g o f 1938, the B u l g a r i a n government e n t e r e d
i n t o armament n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h Germany. On February 1, C l o d i u s
r e p o r t e d t h a t the King had p r i v a t e l y informed Goering o f h i s
government's i n t e n t i o n t o embark upon a l a r g e arms programme as
soon as p o s s i b l e . ^ A l t h o u g h the m i l i t a r y clauses o f N e u i l l y
were s t i l l i n e x i s t e n c e , t h e B u l g a r i a n government sought the
immediate d e l i v e r y o f a number o f heavy weapons. The cost of
t h i s re-armament was beyond B u l g a r i a ' s immediate resources and
much o f the n e g o t i a t i o n s c e n t r e d upon how l o n g i t would be before
56. N i k o l a e v , op. c i t . , pp. 82-84.
57. Todorov, op. c i t . . p. 288.
58. GJ)., V I , no. 320. W h i l s t i n B e r l i n , he had t a l k s w i t h
Bibpentrop. 59. G.D. V, no. 312.
60. I b i d . , no. I 6 7 . B u l g a r i a hoped f o r a programme c o s t i n g
£100 m i l l i o n KM ( £&£ m i l l i o n s a t 1938-9 v a l u e s ) w i t h repayment
over 10-15 years.
 (177)

the c r e d i t c o u l d be r e p a i d . The German agencies i n t e r e s t e d i n

the economic aspect o f t h e t r a n s a c t i o n , as w e l l as Goering
h i m s e l f , f e l t t h a t a t r a n s a c t i o n o f t h i s scale was o u t o f . t h e
q u e s t i o n on p u r e l y f i n a n c i a l grounds*** b u t C l o d i u s declared
t h a t " i t would be p o l i t i c a l l y i n d e f e n s i b l e t o a l l o w t h e n e g o t -
i a t i o n s t o c o l l a p s e . " ^ ^ On. March 12, on t h e eve o f t h e Anschluss,
a s e c r e t arms p r o t o c o l between Germany and B u l g a r i a was signed
fit
3
in Berlin. I n t h i s p r o t o c o l , signed as German t r o o p s were
c r o s s i n g i n t o A u s t r i a , t h e Germans agreed t o p r o v i d e Bulgaria
y. 64
w i t h war m a t e r i e l t o t h e v a l u e o f 30 m i l l i o n RM i n exchange
for which they r e c e i v e d s u b s t a n t i a l m i n i n g concessions i n
Bulgaria. ,^
By t h e end o f May 1938, Rumelin, t h e German M i n i s t e r i n
S o f i a , was able t o r e p o r t : " B u l g a r i a ' s a t t i t u d e can be considered
e n t i r e l y f r i e n d l y towards us." I n h i s memorandum, he n o t e d t h a t
i n t h e May c r i s i s over Czechoslovakia, Germany's; p o l i t i c a l
ascendancy had awakened s t r o n g sympathies and a d m i r a t i o n . He
a l s o b e l i e v e d t h a t German m i l i t a r y s t r e n g t h had l e f t a deep
i m p r e s s i o n upon B u l g a r i a and t h a t t h i s i n t u r n had r e v i v e d hopes
65
o f t r e a t y r e v i s i o n i n t h e Balkans.
A l t h o u g h a t t h i s time r e l a t i o n s between t h e two South Slav
s t a t e s remained g o o d , ^ - w i t h o f f i c i a l speeches d e s c r i b i n g t h e i r
67
f r i e n d s h i p as " c o r d i a l and eager" and B o r i s s t a t i n g t h a t t h e r e
8
was every reason f o r s u p p o r t i n g S t o j a d i n o v i c , ^ - the other
Balkan s t a t e s were becoming alarmed by t h e example Germany was
s e t t i n g i n C e n t r a l Europe. They f e a r e d t h a t once f o r c e was seen
61. I b i d . . l o c . cit.
62. G.D., V, no. 175.
6 3 . I b i d . , no. 181.
64. £2£ m i l l i o n s ( a t 1938-9 v a l u e s ) .
65. G.D., V, no. 206.
66. I b i d . , no. 162.
6 7 . P i p i n e l i s , op. c i t . , p. 7.
68. G.D.. V, no. 210.
 (178)

t o be the p r e l u d e t o t r e a t y r e v i s i o n , B u l g a r i a would embark

69
upon a s i m i l a r p o l i c y . T h i s l e d t o t a l k s between B u l g a r i a
and the Balkan E n t e n t e . F o l l o w i n g t h e s e , General Metaxas as
P r e s i d e n t o f the Entente C o u n c i l signed a T r e a t y o f F r i e n d s h i p
and Non-aggression w i t h B u l g a r i a a t S a l o n i k a , on J u l y 31»
1938. I n the S a l o n i k a Pact, B u l g a r i a promised n o t t o change
her e x i s t i n g boundaries by f o r c e but t o submit a l l d i s p u t e s
w i t h her neighbours t o a r b i t r a t i o n and a j u d i c i a l s e t t l e m e n t .
I n exchange f o r t h i s promise, the Entente Powers agreed t h a t
B u l g a r i a should be a l l o w e d t o re-arm and decided t h a t the clauses
o f the Convention o f Lausanne p r o v i d i n g f o r the d e - m i l i t a r i z a t i o n
70 *
o f B u l g a r i a ' s f r o n t i e r s should l a p s e . S t o j a d i n o v i c , who had
been the f i r s t t o weaken the Balkan Entente by h i s Yugoslav-
B u l g a r i a n T r e a t y o f 1937, claimed t h a t the S a l o n i k a Pact was
i n f a c t h i s own p e r s o n a l a c h i e v e m e n t . ^
The Munich c r i s i s and the b l o o d l e s s p a r t i t i o n o f Czecho-
s l o v a k i a had a profound e f f e c t upon the Balkan s t a t e s . S i r
Anthony Eden has observed t h a t the argument f o r Chamberlain's
Munich p o l i c y " r e s t s on the dangerous assumptions t h a t demands
f o r s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n , whatever t h e i r source, should o v e r r i d e
accepted i n t e r n a t i o n a l boundaries and t h a t the t h r e a t of f o r c e
72
should excuse a f a i l u r e t o f u l f i l i n t e r n a t i o n a l engagements."
The p o l i c y o f French and B r i t i s h l e a d e r s a t Munich gave a
c a r t e blanche t o a l l those o t h e r s t a t e s w i t h irredentist
a m b i t i o n s . I n B u l g a r i a , the pro-German enthusiasm aroused by
the May c r i s i s r e t u r n e d , and w i t h i t , a vigorous r e v i v a l i n
69. S t a v r i a n o s , op. c i t . . p. 249. At about t h i s t i m e , L i t v i n o v ,
the S o v i e t F o r e i g n Commissar, urged B u l g a r i a t o j o i n the
Balkan E n t e n t e . H i s s u g g e s t i o n evoked no response, Cf. G.D.,
V, no. 206.
70. Documents on I n t e r n a t i o n a l A f f a i r s . Pre-war S e r i e s I .
London, 1938, pp. 287-88. 71. G. P.. V, no. 216.
72. E a r l o f Avon, The Eden Memoirs; The Reckoning. London,
1965. p. 30.
 (179)

r e v i s i o n i s t a g i t a t i o n . I n S o f i a , t h e r e were w i l d rumours o f
immediate t e r r i t o r i a l concessions t o induce B u l g a r i a t o
73
e n t e r t h e Balkan E n t e n t e , and even K i o s s e i v a n o v ' s policy
74
o f moderation and n e u t r a l i t y came under heavy a t t a c k . On
October 3 1 , 1 9 3 8 , t h e Foreign M i n i s t e r s o f t h e two c o u n t r i e s
met a t Nis t o d i s c u s s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f f r o n t i e r changes
but t h e Yugoslavs were n o t , a t t h a t moment, prepared t o make
75
the s l i g h t e s t concession.
Four days l a t e r , Draganov, now B u l g a r i a n M i n i s t e r i n
B e r l i n , brought up t h e q u e s t i o n o f " B u l g a r i a n a s p i r a t i o n s i n
the Dobrudja and a l s o v i s - a - v i s Yugoslavia." A l t h o u g h he
s t a t e d t h a t h i s government was " i n t e n t o n l y upon r e c e i v i n g
adequate p r o t e c t i o n f o r her m i n o r i t i e s " , Draganov went on t o
speculate about t h e most opportune moment t o p u t f o r w a r d
B u l g a r i a ' s r e v i s i o n i s t c l a i m s . Weizs&cker, t h e German S t a t e
S e c r e t a r y t o whom he spoke, remarked t h a t t h e season f o r war
was now over f o r t h a t y e a r . Draganov p r o m p t l y d e c l a r e d that,
d e s p i t e t h e contagious e f f e c t s o f t h e Czechoslovak i n c i d e n t ,
his c o u n t r y had no i n t e n t i o n o f f o r c i n g h e r r e v i s i o n i s t claims
but was merely w i s h i n g t o t a l k over t h e problem w i t h h e r f r i e n d s ? ^
73. S i r Edward Boyle, " B u l g a r i a 1939", Contemporary Beview,
CLV ( A p r i l 1 9 3 9 ) pp. 4 1 3 - 4 .
74. New York Times. November 29, 1938. The rumours and t h r e a t
to Kiosseivanov's p o s i t i o n c o i n c i d e d w i t h r e v i s i o n i s t speculation
i n t h e S o f i a Press. Cf. GJ)., V, no. 2 5 1 .
7 5 . During t h e summer, t h e r e had been a g r e a t demand f o r a
r e t u r n t o a democratic c o n s t i t u t i o n . As i n B u l g a r i a , e l e c t i o n s
were due and i n t h e Yugoslav e l e c t i o n s o f December 1 9 3 8 , Stoj-
a d i n o v i c ' s p a r t y , t h e J.R.Z., secured a narrow v i c t o r y , g a i n i n g
54.4J& o f t h e p o l l . S e r b i a n d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n f i g u r e d p r o m i n e n t l y
i n the e l e c t i o n .
7 6 . Memorandum by Weizsacker, November 3 , 1 9 3 8 . G.D.. V, no. 2 4 0 .
77. I b i d . . loc. c i t .
 (180)

Draganov's c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h Weizsacker, coming so soon a f t e r t h e

Munich Agreement, makes i t c l e a r t h a t B u l g a r i a hoped t o p r o f i t
from Germany's d i p l o m a t i c v i c t o r y , and secure German s u p p o r t
t o r e s o l v e h e r ovn " l e g i t i m a t e g r i e v a n c e s . " I t i s s i g n i f i c a n t
these demands v e r e repeated by Draganov on September 1 1 , 1939*
March 2 3 , 1940 and June 18, 1940 - on each occasion when t h e
78
German d i p l o m a t i c and m i l i t a r y p o s i t i o n seemed s t r o n g .
Thus- t h e Munich autumn drew t o a c l o s e . German i n f l u e n c e ,
which a t the time o f King Alexander's death had been n e g l i g i b l e ,
was now a l l - p e r v a d i n g . Y u g o s l a v i a , under t h e i n c r e a s i n g l y d o u b t f u l
l e a d e r s h i p o f S t o j a d i n o v i c , no l o n g e r looked t o t h e Western
democracies f o r guidance and f o l l o w e d an ever more pro-Axis
p o l i c y . B u l g a r i a , sensing t h a t t h e i n i t i a t i v e now l a y w i t h H i t l e r ,
c o n f i d e n t l y looked f o r w a r d t o t e r r i t o r i a l changes which would
d e s t r o y t h e i n i q u i t i e s o f H e u i l l y . Europe w a i t e d . The Balkans
w a i t e d . And Y u g o s l a v - B u l g a r i a n r e l a t i o n s , which f o r f i v e years
had enjoyed an uneasy peace, hovered u n c e r t a i n l y upon events
which were n o t o f t h e i r own making.
78. Cf. Memorandum by Weizsacker, June 18, 1940. G.D.. I X ,
no. 478.
 (181)

Chapter 9.

The D e s t r u c t i o n of R e l a t i o n s .
 (182)

E a r l y i n 1939» t h e r e were p o l i t i c a l changes i n Y u g o s l a v i a .

S t o j a d i n o v i c , who had done so much t o b r i n g h i s c o u n t r y c l o s e r
t o I t a l y and Germany b u t who was suspected o f designs a g a i n s t
the Crown, was dismissed and h i s place t a k e n by t h e former
M i n i s t e r of Social S e c u r i t y - D r a g i l a Cvetkovic.* Stojadinovic•s
d i s m i s s a l n a t u r a l l y came as a g r e a t d i s a p p o i n t m e n t t o H i t l e r ,
2 *
M u s s o l i n i - and King B o r i s . But C i n c a r - M a r k o v i c , who became
the new F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r , had been Y u g o s l a v i a ' s ambassador i n
B e r l i n s i n c e H i t l e r came t o power and was on good terms w i t h
most o f t h e German l e a d e r s . Upon h i s appointment, he hastened
t o assure Yugoslavia's neighbours t h a t a l t h o u g h t h e r e had been
a change o f Prime M i n i s t e r , t h e r e would be no change i n h i s
country's f o r e i g n policy.
Throughout the w i n t e r months o f l 9 3 8 - 3 9 t t h e r e had been
n e g o t i a t i o n s between Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a w i t h a view t o
a c h i e v i n g a genuine border s e t t l e m e n t , b u t t h e d i s c u s s i o n s
came t o n o t h i n g and K i o s s e i v a n o v l o s t p r e s t i g e a t home, p a r t i c -
u l a r l y s i n c e he had been t o Y u g o s l a v i a t w i c e b u t t h e former
Yugoslav Prime M i n i s t e r had never made h i s " f r e q u e n t l y announced
return v i s i t to S o f i a . T h u s t h e r e was complete stalemate.

1. The choice o f C v e t k o v i c was determined by i n t e r n a l c o n s i d -

e r a t i o n s . He was i n f a v o u r o f a s o l u t i o n t o the p r o t r a c t e d
Serb-Croat problem and was i n c l o s e c o n t a c t w i t h Dr. Macek,
the Croat l e a d e r .
2. Documents on German F o r e i g n P o l i c y , 1918-45, S e r i e s D,
London l949cc(Her.eafter r e f e r r e d t o as G.D.). V I , no. 673. Cf
a l s o , Ciano's D i a r i e s . 1939-43. London, 1947» pp. 22-24.
3. G.D., V, no. 274.
 (183)

F o l l o w i n g the I t a l i a n a t t a c k on A l b a n i a i n A p r i l 1939, the

B r i t i s h government made a s e r i o u s a t t e m p t t o c o n s t r u c t a Balkan
bloc capable o f r e s i s t i n g f u r t h e r A x i s i n t r u s i o n s . The British
M i n i s t e r , S i r Hugh Knatchbull-Hugeseen, urged the T u r k i s h
government t o b r i n g B u l g a r i a i n t o t h e Balkan E n t e n t e . He b e l i e v e d
t h a t t h e y c o u l d do t h i s by g e t t i n g Rumania t o r e c o n s i d e r the
Dobrudja q u e s t i o n . A l t h o u g h t h i s appeal h e l d some promise,
Gafencu, the Rumanian F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r , would do no more 'than
c o n s u l t w i t h Belgrade. I f Y u g o s l a v i a r e f u s e d to- g i v e up
t e r r i t o r y t o B u l g a r i a , he p o i n t e d o u t , t h e r e would be little
v a l u e i n Rumania's doing so alone. Rumania's i n q u i r i e s met with
little success. During Gafencu's v i s i t t o London.from A p r i l 23-6,
he r e p o r t e d t h a t P r i n c e Paul had s t a t e d t h a t " B u l g a r i a - was
unsafe." lie had a l s o added t h a t he saw no reason t o change h i s
o p i n i o n o f King B o r i s ' s l a c k o f s i n c e r i t y and was astonished
t h a t H i s Majesty's Government should p i n t h e i r f a i t h on King
5
B o r i s a f t e r t h e i r experience o f 1 9 1 4 . The B r i t i s h government
took no f r e s h i n i t i a t i v e b u t , l a t e i n 1939» Mr. Rendel, the
B r i t i s h M i n i s t e r i n S o f i a , suggested a Balkan N e u t r a l i t y Pact.
But h i s s u g g e s t i o n met w i t h l i t t l e response.^
F o l l o w i n g the events o f A p r i l 1939f t h e r e was renewed
a g i t a t i o n f o r t r e a t y r e v i s i o n i n B u l g a r i a . I n a r e p o r t t o the
F o r e i g n A f f a i r s Committee o f the Sobranje, K i o s s e i v a n o v , f o r
the f i r s t t i m e , d e c l a r e d openly and unambiguously t h a t B u l g a r i a
a s p i r e d t o the r e s t o r a t i o n o f the f r o n t i e r s o f 1913* T h i s
d e c l a r a t i o n was repeated a l i t t l e l a t e r i n even more cogent
7
form i n an i n t e r v i e w g i v e n by Kiosseivanov t o the " P a r i s - S o i r " .
A t the same t i m e , t h e r e were f r e s h pleas t o Germany t o s u p p o r t
4. Documents on B r i t i s h . F o r e i g n P o l i c y . 1 9 1 9 - 3 9 . T h i r d S e r i e s ,
London, 19$9cc ( h e r e a f t e r r e f e r r e d t o as B.D.). V, nos. 62, 63,
278 and 2 9 7 . 5. I b i d . . no. 285.
6. S i r George Rendel, The Sword and the O l i v e . R e c o l l e c t i o n s
of Diplomacy and the F o r e i g n S e r v i c e 1 9 1 3 - 5 4 . London, 1957» pp I65-6.
7 . P. P i p i n e l i s , Such are the B u l g a r s , London, 1942, p. 5.
 (184)

B u l g a r i a n n a t i o n a l demands and the former German M i n i s t e r ,

Hume1in, was r e p l a c e d by von K i c h t h o f e n .
9
The cause o f t h i s resurgence i n B u l g a r i a n hopes was
undoubtedly the s e c r e t Bulgarian-German arms p r o t o c o l which
was signed i n B e r l i n on A p r i l 2 1 , 1939* During the previous
autumn, the B u l g a r i a n government had made i t c l e a r t h a t t h e y
would l i k e t o purchase f u r t h e r w a r - m a t e r i e l - m a i n l y ammunition -
c o s t i n g some 45 m i l l i o n RM.^ The A p r i l p r o t o c o l agreed t o t h i s l *
On June 24 1939, another s e c r e t p r o t o c o l , r e g u l a t i n g the supply
o f a i r c r a f t and o f ex-Czechoslovak (and e x - A u s t r i a n ) munitions
t o B u l g a r i a , was signed by Draganov and C l o d i u s i n B e r l i n . The
c o s t o f t h i s p r o t o c o l ( t h e t h i r d s i n c e May 1938) was 39 m i l l i o n
12
RM. By now, the g r a n t i n g o f c r e d i t had ceased t o be dependent
13
upon B u l g a r i a ' s a b i l i t y t o pay, a l t h o u g h Germany r e c e i v e d v a l -
uable m i n e r a l concessions from the c o u n t r y . I t was a political
q u e s t i o n and the d e l i v e r y o f s u p p l i e s was h e l d t o be c o n d i t i o n a l
upon " B u l g a r i a n o t w a v e r i n g b u t u n e q u i v o c a l l y d e f i n i n g her
p o s i t i o n v i s - a - v i s the A x i s powers."
At t h i s t i m e , Y u g o s l a v i a was a l s o o b t a i n i n g arms from
Germany and a m i n a t u r e arms-race was b u i l d i n g up i n the p e n i n -
15 *
sula. Cincar-Markovic had a meeting w i t h H i t l e r arid R i b b e n t r o p
on A p r i l 26 and was promised generous t r e a t m e n t i n the q u e s t i o n
1
o f arms s u p p l i e s . * * However, the Germans took t h e i r time over
the n e g o t i a t i o n s , and c r e d i t and d e l i v e r y were a l s o made cond-
8. GjJ)., V I , no. 67.
9. I b i d . . nos. 320 and 415.
10. £3"? m i l l i o n s ( a t 1938-9 v a l u e s ) . For autumn proposals see
G.D.. V, no. 250.
11. GJ)., V I , no. 243.
12. £3t m i l l i o n s ( a t 1938-9 v a l u e s ) . I b i d . . no. 566. Clodius
was the deputy D i r e c t o r o f the Economic P o l i c y Department o f
the German F o r e i g n M i n i s t r y . See supra p. 174.
13. G±D., v, no. 250. 15. I b i d . , no. 245.
14. GJ)., V I , no.476. 16. I b i d . . no. 271.
 (185)

17
i t i o n a l upon Yugoslavia's p o l i t i c a l attitude.
E a r l y i n June, P r i n c e Paul v i s i t e d B e r l i n , where i t was
suggested t h a t he should withdraw h i s c o u n t r y from t h e Balkan
18
Pact. This s u g g e s t i o n preceded a month o f determined A x i s d i p -
19
lomacy t o wean Y u g o s l a v i a from t h e Balkan E n t e n t e . This
pressure d i d n o t achieve t h e d e s i r e d r e s u l t s . Yugoslavia
c o n t i n u e d t o adhere t o t h e Pact and i n s i s t e d t h a t h e r membership
of t h e Entente p r o v i d e d t h e best guarantee f o r her independence
20
and n e u t r a l i t y and was a f a c t o r f o r peace in- the Balkans.
On J u l y 4, Cincar-Markovic and Kiosseivanov met i n filed
t o d i s c u s s f u t u r e r e l a t i o n s between t h e i r two c o u n t r i e s , i n
view o f t h e c o n t i n u e d e x i s t e n c e o f t h e Balkan Pact and what
would happen i f i t came t o an end. Kiosseivanov l a t e r told
l l i c h t h o f e n , t h e new German M i n i s t e r , that
"Yugoslavia had e x p l a i n e d her r e f u s a l t o denounce
the Balkan Pact by s a y i n g t h a t i t was b e t t e r t o be i n
t h a n o u t o f t h e Pact i n o r d e r t o keep watch on, and, i f
need be, d i r e c t i t s development."
The Bled d i s c u s s i o n s a l s o touched on t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f a j o i n t
p o l i c y o f n e u t r a l i t y i n t h e event o f p r e s s u r e , by e i t h e r t h e
A x i s bloc o r t h e Western democracies. They a l s o c o n s i d e r e d
how l o n g t h e two c o u n t r i e s c o u l d m a i n t a i n t h e i r n e u t r a l i t y
a g a i n s t o u t s i d e p r e s s u r e . The two men expressed t h e hope t h a t
i f t h e two c o u n t r i e s were o b l i g e d t o g i v e way, they would both
e n t e r t h e war upon t h e same s i d e . Kiosseivanov d e c l a r e d t h a t
B u l g a r i a would e n t e r t h e war upon t h e s i d e chosen by Y u g o s l a v i a .
I n c o n c l u s i o n , they a l s o discussed t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f f u r t h e r
p o l i t i c a l , economic and m i l i t a r y c o - o p e r a t i o n between them -
1 7 . I b i d . , no. 279.
18. The s t a t e v i s i t l a s t e d from June 1 - 5 , 1939. I b i d . , no. 6 7 5 .
19* £f. Weizsacker t o Heeren, M i n i s t e r i n Belgrade, J u l y 1 ,
1939, i b i d . , no. 598.
2 0 . I b i d . . no. 6 3 7 .
2 1 . I b i d . . no. 689.
 (186)
22
even t o the p o i n t o f a m i l i t a r y a l l i a n c e . I n the words o f
the communique:
"The two s t a t e s agreed on a p o l i c y o f economic
c o - o p e r a t i o n and agreed t h a t a p o l i c y o f independence
and n e u t r a l i t y served b o t h t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e two
c o u n t r i e s and peace i n the Balkans and t h a t i t was necess-
ary t h a t b o t h governments c o n t i n u e a p o l i c y o f good
2*5
and f r i e n d l y r e l a t i o n s toward a l l t h e i r n e i g h b o u r s . "
The. s i n c e r i t y o f t h e B u l g a r i a n Prime M i n i s t e r a t these
t a l k s i s open t o grave doubt f o r when he saw H i t l e r on t h e
following day:
"Kiosseivanov c o r r o b o r a t e d the Fuhrer's v i e w t h a t
B u l g a r i a would n o t accept i n d e f i n i t e l y t h e i n j u s t i c e s o f
the Peace T r e a t i e s . But B u l g a r i a was weak, and w i t h o u t
24
f o r c e o r the t h r e a t o f f o r c e , n o t h i n g c o u l d be achieved,"
I n the course o f these d i s c u s s i o n s , Kiosseivanov demanded the
immediate l o a n o f 2,000 machine guns, the prompt d e l i v e r y o f
30-40 tanks which had belonged t o Czechoslovakia and a c o n s i d -
e r a b l e r e d u c t i o n i n t h e p e r i o d b e f o r e which B u l g a r i a would g e t
25
the a r t i l l e r y which she had o r d e r e d . On h i s r e t u r n from
B e r l i n on J u l y 9, K i o s s e i v a n o v again v i s i t e d Bled, t h i s time
to see P r i n c e P a u l . When one examines K i o s s e i v a n o v ' s a t t i t u d e
i n B l e d and h i s a t t i t u d e i n B e r l i n , and t h e apparent i n c o n s i s -
tency between them, i t i B d i f f i c u l t t o escape the c o n c l u s i o n
t h a t t h e B u l g a r i a n Prime M i n i s t e r was a man, who was conscious
22. J.B. Uoptner, Y u g o s l a v i a i n C r i s i s , 1954-41, Columbia,
1962, p. 163, quotes Documenti o J u g o s l a v i j e , P a r i s , 1956,
no. 8. The i t a l i c s are mine.
23. Hoptner, op. c i t . . l o c . c i t . . quotes P o l i t i k a (Belgrade),
J u l y 11, 1939.
24. GjJ>., V I , no. 617.
25. I b i d . , no. 659* I n a d d i t i o n t o Kiosseivanov's demands
and a t the Fuhrer's s p e c i a l w i s h , B u l g a r i a was a l s o g i v e n some
of the most modern German h o w i t z e r s . I b i d . . no.618.
 (187)

t h a t he was f o l l o w i n g two c o n t r a r y p o l i c i e s - one motivated

by the t r a d i t i o n a l B u l g a r i a n d e s i r e f o r t r e a t y r e v i s i o n and
the o t h e r f o r an amicable s e t t l e m e n t w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a . This*
for him, was a r e a l dilemma.
The same cannot be s a i d f o r King B o r i s . As a t the time
of the Anschluss, the Munich Agreement and the f i n a l annexation
of Czechoslovakia i n March, King B o r i s appears t o have had
p r i o r knowledge o f H i t l e r ' s a t t a c k on Poland on September 1 ,
1939. Speaking t o N i k o l a e v on August 28, he s a i d :
"Our s i t u a t i o n i s such t h a t i t does n o t depend upon
us t o determine our conduct i n the course o f events, which
Are going t o f o l l o w . O u r aim w i l l be t o h o l d o u r s e l v e s on
the s i d e l i n e s o f the c o n f l i c t and i f p o s s i b l e t o p r o f i t
from i t by i m p r o v i n g our v e r y bad s i t u a t i o n . But being
moderate i n our a s p i r a t i o n s , we must t h i n k f i r s t o f a l l ,
how t o 'pass the b r i d g e guarded by t h e D e v i l ' - t h a t i s
2
to say, how t o safeguard our neutrality." ^
A l t h o u g h B u l g a r i a ' s s y m p a t h i e s were m a i n l y d i r e c t e d towards I t a l y
and Germany, n e u t r a l i t y was the o n l y course which B o r i s c o u l d
adopt a t t h a t t i m e . Only two days b e f o r e , he had r e c e i v e d a
r e p o r t t h a t N e v i l l e Henderson, the B r i t i s h Ambassador i n B e r l i n ,
had t o l d Madame Draganov, the w i f e o f the B u l g a r i a n M i n i s t e r ,
t h a t i f B u l g a r i a repeated the mistake she had made i n the
27
World War, she would be a n n i h i l a t e d . Besides, t h e r e was no
f u l l agreement i n S o f i a i t s e l f . King B o r i s was reported to
have d e c l a r e d :
"My g e n e r a l s are Germanophiles, my d i p l o m a t s , A n g l o -
p h i l e s ; the Queen i s I t a l o p h i l e and my people Russophile;
28
I alone am n e u t r a l i n B u l g a r i a . "
26. N. P. N i k o l a e v , La destine'e t r a g i que d 'an r o t , Uppsala,
1952, p. 166. The r e f e r e n c e t o 'the b r i d g e guarded by the D e v i l '
i s from an o l d Russian p r o v e r b .
27. G.D.. V I I , no. 314.
28. N i k o l a e v , op. c i t . . p. 169.
 (188)

U n l i k e Y u g o s l a v i a , which d e c l a r e d her s t r i c t but benevolent

2Q
n e u t r a l i t y on September 1, B u l g a r i a w a i t e d u n t i l September
30
18 before committing h e r s e l f to. a s i m i l a r p o l i c y . On the
p r e v i o u s day, Russian t r o o p s had e n t e r e d Poland from the East
and were moving t o the demarcation l i n e agreed t o i n the
s e c r e t annexe t o the Russo-German Non-Aggression Pact. I n
B u l g a r i a n eyes, H i t l e r had triumphed once.again; Poland was
d e f e a t e d and France and B r i t a i n , d e s p i t e t h e i r d e c l a r a t i o n o f
war, had n o t r a i s e d a f i n g e r t o h e l p .
The p o l i c y which p r e v a i l e d i n the Balkans i n these difficult
times was n o t j u s t n e u t r a l i t y , but armed n e u t r a l i t y . Y u g o s l a v i a ' s
m i l i t a r y machine, b u i l t up bp King Alexander, was in fairly
good shape but B u l g a r i a , which had p e r f o r c e been r e s t r i c t e d
up t o the time o f the S a l o n i k a Pact, was now making g r e a t e f f o r t s
t o achieve p a r i t y w i t h her Balkan neighbours. Throughout 1939»
the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f new aerodromes was c a r r i e d out on an
e x t r a o r d i n a r y l a r g e s c a l e , i n obvious d i s p r o p o r t i o n t o the
p o t e n t i a l i t i e s o f B u l g a r i a n a v i a t i o n . " ' * The equipping of these
a i r f i e l d s w i t h German machines was pushed f o r w a r d i n a v i g o r o u s
manner and the budget o f the B u l g a r i a n A i r M i n i s t r y i n c r e a s e d
w i t h a s t o n i s h i n g r a p i d i t y f o r so poor a c o u n t r y . During
August, telegrams passed back and f o r t h between S o f i a and
B e r l i n , and B u l g a r i a made u r g e n t demands f o r the despatch o f
33
J
1,000 heavy and 300 l i g h t machine guns. The t r a n s p o r t a t i o n
o f these weapons and o t h e r m u n i t i o n s agreod t o under the
June 2k p r o t o c o l , encountered d i f f i c u l t i e s . On August 26, the
29. GjJJ., V I I , no. 532. 30. GJ;., V l l l , no. 92.
31. P i p i n o l i s , op. c i t . , p.7.
32. 1'. P i p i n o l i s , C a i t i f f B u l g a r i a , London, 1944, p. 12.
Tho budgot f o r the B u l g a r i a n A i r M i n i s t r y was as follows:-
1936 - 78 m i l l i o n l e v a ( £3 m i l l i o n s )
1939 - 304 " " ( £12 m i l l i o n s )
1940 - 397 " " (C15& m i l l i o n s )
33. Gf. G^.. V l l , uos. 1, 11 and 78.
 (189)

Bulgarian General S t a f f l e a r n t t h a t the Yugoslav government had

d e t a i n e d two ammunition t r a i n s bound f o r B u l g a r i a and t h e i r
34
r e l e a s e v a s o n l y a c h i e v e d o n l y by p r e s s u r e from B e r l i n . ^ A
fortnight later, t h e r e were r e p o r t s t h a t t h e war m a t e r i e l t r a n s -
ported t h r o u g h Y u g o s l a v i a had been s a b o t a g e d en r o u t e , and K i n g
B o r i s i n t e r v e n e d to suggest t h a t f u t u r e arms consignments
35
should be r e - r o u t e d t h r o u g h Rumania. The B u l g a r i a n K i n g was
i n a p a r t i c u l a r l y s t r o n g p o s i t i o n a t t h a t moment, f o r R u s s i a
had proposed a mutual a s s i s t a n c e p a c t ( o r f a i l i n g t h a t a non-
a g g r e s s i o n p a c t ) between t h e i r two c o u n t r i e s , and K i n g B o r i s
was a b l e t o s a y t h a t i f t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s i n t r a n s p o r t i n g arms
to B u l g a r i a were n o t overcome, h i s government would be compelled
to o b t a i n s u p p l i e s from R u s s i a . Such a s t e p was n o t l i k e l y t o
commend i t s e l f in Berlin.^
B u l g a r i a ' s neighbours, a s e v e r , v i e w e d t h e s e developments'
w i t h a l a r m and t h e i r a l a r m l e d to a sudden r e v i v a l i n the
i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e B a l k a n E n t e n t e . On September 1 9 f Cincar-Markovi
and G a f e n c u met t o d i s c u s s ways o f r e - i n f o r c i n g t h e E n t e n t e and
t o work o u t a s o l u t i o n t o t h e B u l g a r i a n problem. I n t h e s e
eleventh-hour d i s c u s s i o n s , t h e y drew up t h r e e c o n d i t i o n s t o
g o v e r n B u l g a r i a ' s t e r r i t o r i a l claims.:
1 ) B u l g a r i a must f i r s t become p a r t o f t h e B a l k a n
Entente and assume a l l t h e commitments and r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s
of a member s t a t e .
2 ) E a c h member s t a t e of t h e E n t e n t e must c o n t r i b u t e
t e r r i t o r y t o t h e B a l k a n community, w i t h w h i c h t o s a t i s f y
B u l g a r i a ' s demands.
3) The B u l g a r i a n government must p u t down a l l a g i t a t o r
who would i n c r e a s e t e n s i o n s among t h e s t a t e s o f t h e E n t e n t e ?
The f o u r s t a t e s d i d n o t g e t down t o s p e c i f i c p o i n t s - i n t h e
34. I b i d . . no. 314. 36. T b i d . . no. 2 4 7 .
35. G.D.. V I I I , no. 229. 37. I b i d . , no. 229.
38. G. Gafencu, P r e l u d e t o t h e R u s s i a n Campaign, London,
1945, p. 260.
 (190)

q u e s t i o n of t e r r i t o r i a l changes - u n t i l F e b r u a r y 1940,
when the C o u n c i l of the B a l k a n E n t e n t e met i n B e l g r a d e . There
t h e y d e c i d e d to s u p p o r t a p o l i c y o f p e a c e , to remain on good
terms v i t h t h e i r n e i g h b o u r s , to c o n c l u d e agreements w i t h the
r e m a i n i n g B a l k a n c o u n t r i e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y commercial agreements,
39
and to e x t e n d the l i f e o f t h e P a c t f o r s e v e n more y e a r s .
A f t e r the; d e b i l i t a t i n g p o l i c y o f the: p r e v i o u s f o u r y e a r s ,
t h i s was an e n c o u r a g i n g development. The- B u l g a r i a n government
was k e p t a c q u a i n t e d w i t h the d e c i s i o n s of t h e E n t e n t e C o u n c i l
and a l s o w i t h the p r o p o s a l to g r a n t them t e r r i t o r i a l c o n c e s s i o n s .
K i o s s e i v a n o v , who a l t h o u g h a r o y a l nominee and d e e p l y committed
t o h i s c o u n t r y ' s pro-German p o l i c y , had n e v e r e n t i r e l y rejected
the p o s s i b i l i t y of f r i e n d s h i p w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a . He realized that
if the B a l k a n c o u n t r i e s were to r e t a i n t h e i r independence, t h e y
40
must p r e s e n t a u n i t e d and f r i e n d l y f r o n t . To t h i s end, he took
advantage o f the t h i r d a n n i v e r s a r y of t h e Y u g o s l a v - B u l g a r i a n
41
P a c t to make renewed d e c l a r a t i o n s o f f r i e n d s h i p and peace.
T u r k i s h l e a d e r s v i s i t e d S o f i a i n J a n u a r y 1940 and t h r o u g h them,
and through c h a n n e l s i n B e l g r a d e , he made i t clear that even
a t t h i s l a t e j u n c t u r e , B u l g a r i a was p r e p a r e d to drop h e r p o l i c y
42
of i s o l a t i o n and work f o r B a l k a n s o l i d a r i t y . On F e b r u a r y 14,
K i o s s e i v a n o v had an a u d i e n c e w i t h h i s K i n g and - i n g r e a t
spirits, i t i s reported - outlined h i s plans for Balkan
c o - o p e r a t i o n . On t h e f o l l o w i n g day, under t h e p r e t e x t o f a
p u r e l y d o m e s t i c i s s u e , he was d i s m i s s e d from o f f i c e and hopes
43
of B a l k a n s o l i d a r i t y r e c e d e d once more.
39. l l o p t n e r , op. c l t . . p. 165, quotes P o l i t i k a . (Belgrade)
F e b r u a r y 5» 1940.
40. M. Padev, E s c a p e from t h e B a l k a n s . London, 1943, pp. 76-77.
41. G.D.. V I I I , no. 564.
42. P. P i p i n e l i s , C a i t i f f B u l g a r i a . London, 1944, p. 5.
4 3 . Padev, op. c i t . . l o c . c i t . The d o m e s t i c i s s u e was the
d i s m i s s a l o f the u n p o p u l a r M i n i s t e r o f the I n t e r i o r on t h e
p r e v i o u s day. On F e b r u a r y 14, K i o s s e i v a n o v p r e s e n t e d t h e K i n g
w i t h a pro-forma r e s i g n a t i o n and s u b m i t t e d a new l i s t o f m i n i s t e r s .
 (191)

The r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r K i o s s e i v a n o v ' s d i s m i s s a l and

the c o l l a p s e o f a n e v and i m a g i n a t i v e p o l i c y must be l a i d
s q u a r e l y upon K i n g B o r i s . A w r i t e r s y m p a t h e t i c to the King,
s t a t e d t h a t the causes of the d i s m i s s a l "are s t i l l obscure",
s i n c e no r e a s o n v a s e v e r g i v e n , e i t h e r i n t h e S o b r a n j e o r i n
44
the S o f i a P r e s s . But i t seems q u i t e c l e a r t h a t t h e Prime
M i n i s t e r ' s p o l i c y c l a s h e d w i t h the views o f K i n g B o r i s , who
wished t o have no d e a l i n g s w i t h any member o f t h e E n t e n t e .
K i o s s e i v a n o v had been an a b l e exponent o f r o y a l p o l i c y f o r
f i v e y e a r s and w h i l s t he was c o n t e n t t o be t h e i n s t r u m e n t o f
r o y a l power, he had been defended i n h i s p o s i t i o n - e v e n i n
45
t h e f a c e o f German d i s a p p r o v a l . B u t t h e moment he began t o
q u e s t i o n t h i s p o l i c y and v e n t u r e upon a course- c o n t r a r y t o
t h a t o f t h e K i n g , he was p r o m p t l y d i s m i s s e d . The e v e n t shows
t h a t K i n g B o r i s had no r e a l d e s i r e f o r t e r r i t o r i a l concessions,
p a r t i c u l a r l y i f t h i s i n v o l v e d membership o f t h e B a l k a n Entente.
K i n g B o r i s was i n t e n t upon a n e u t r a l p o l i c y t h a t s h o u l d become
a pro-German p o l i c y a t t h e most f a v o u r a b l e o p p o r t u n i t y . Then
and o n l y t h e n would B u l g a r i a ' s " l e g i t i m a t e g r i e v a n c e s " be r e s o l -
ved and h e r t e r r i t o r i a l aspirations f u l f i l l e d . I ti s significant
t h a t w h e r e a s K i o s s e i v a n o v had r e t a i n e d c o n t r o l o f f o r e i g n a f f a i r s
during h i s Premiership, the King, after his dismissal, once
more i n t r o d u c e d t h e s e p a r a t e p o B t o f F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r . K i o s s e i -
vanov's s u c c e s s o r was Bogdan F i l o v , a P r o f e s s o r o f A r c h a e o l o g y
46
who had l i t t l e knowledge o r e x p e r i e n c e o f f o r e i g n a f f a i r s .
H i s F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r , I v a n Popov, was c o n t e n t t o be a r o y a l pawn
( continued from t h e p r e v i o u s page).
B o r i s , however, informed him t h a t he would a c c e p t h i s r e s i g n a t i o n
and would i n f u t u r e d i s p e n s e w i t h h i s s e r v i c e s . T h i s was t h e same
technique a s had been u s e d f o r the d i s m i s s a l of S t o j a d i n o v i c i n
Y u g o s l a v i a . K i o s s e i v a n o v became B u l g a r i a n M i n i s t e r i n B e r n e .
44. N i k o l a e v , op. c i t . . p. 225. 45. G.D.. V, no. 2?4.
46. F i l o v was an a u t h o r i t y on B u l g a r i a n a n t i q u i t i e s , i n c l u d i n g
early Biblical manuscripts.
 (192)

and was soon a s s u r i n g the German M i n i s t e r t h a t " B u l g a r i a

47
would c o n t i n u e t o r e s i s t wooing by the Balkan League."
C l o d i u s and R i c h t h o f e n , who had a two-hour meeting w i t h King
B o r i s a f t e r these p o l i t i c a l changes had been made, observed:
" I n B u l g a r i a t o o , developments tend more and more
toward the King alone making d e c i s i o n s , a t any r a t e on m
m a t t e r s o f f o r e i g n p o l i c y ; i t i B i n the l a s t r e s o r t o n l y
h i B o p i n i o n which counts. The: King proceeds from the ass-
umption t h a t now, as ever, B u l g a r i a can r e a l i z e her a s p i r -
a t i o n s o n l y on Germany's s i d e . B u l g a r i a i % however, BO weak
m i l i t a r i l y t h a t she should remain n e u t r a l as long- as- p'ossibl
The d e f e a t o f France and the Russian o c c u p a t i o n o f Bess-
49 - '
arabia both brought f r e s h a n x i e t y t o the Entente powers but
renewed hopes t o the F i l o v government i n S o f i a . L a t e r , on
September 7t Rumania was o b l i g e d t o s u r r e n d e r the Dobrudja t o
50 s
Bulgaria. .Although Cincar-Markovic was alarmed l e s t Germany
should f o r c e h i s c o u n t r y t o make s i m i l a r concessions, King
B o r i s regarded Y u g o s l a v i a ' s p o l i c y as dangerous and ambiguous
and suspected t h a t they were encouraging Russian i n t e r v e n t i o n
i n the Balkans as a c o u n t e r w e i g h t t o German i n f l u e n c e i n B u l g -
51
aria. But whatever the u n c e r t a i n t i e s o f the p e r i o d , B u l g a r i a
d i d n o t h e s i t a t e t o p r o f i t from the m i s f o r t u n e s o f o t h e r s . On
June 18, Draganov presented h i m s e l f a t the German F o r e i g n O f f i c e
w i t h " b l u n t r e v i s i o n i s t demands by h i s government" and expressed
h i s hope t h a t the f a m i l i a r s l i g h t r e c t i f i c a t i o n s o f the Bulgarian
47. Popov t o von R i v h t h o f e n , May 4, 1940. G.D.. I X , no. 198.
48. I b i d . . l o c . c i t . 49. On June 22 and 27 r e s p e c t i v e l y .
50. This was done w i t h i n the framework o f a d i p l o m a t i c agree-
ment, which a l s o i n c l u d e d p o p u l a t i o n t r a n s f e r s . The agreement
was made a t German i n s t i g a t i o n . On September 24, K a l f o v , the
former B u l g a r i a n Foreign M i n i s t e r , t o l d the Sobranje t h a t they
"should n o t r e s t on the l a u r e l s o f Dobrudja" but " s t r u g g l e t o
regain what h i s t o r i c a l l y belongs t o (them); Obviously Mace-
donia. Quoted by P i p i n e l i s , op. c i t . , p. 9. 5 1 . G,D., X, no. 53*
 (193)
52
-Yugoslavian f r o n t i e r would be conceded t o B u l g a r i a . Both
Weizsacker and B i b b e n t r o p c o u n s e l l e d patience and Popov
promised t h a t " B u l g a r i a would a v o i d a n y t h i n g t h a t might d i s t u r b
53
German p o l i c y . "
At a meeting a t Fuschl on J u l y 27, 1940, H i t l e r assured
F i l o v and Popov t h a t Germany would "most e n e r g e t i c a l l y support
the demands o f her B u l g a r i a n companions-in-arms" and promised
t h a t now France had been d e f e a t e d , i n c r e a s i n g stocks o f war
' 54
m a t e r i e l would be a v a i l a b l e and would be s u p p l i e d . Although
a t t h e time o f t h e Fuschl meeting, a j o i n t German-Yugoslav
committee was working t o promote c l o s e r economic t i e s between
55
the two c o u n t r i e s , i t i s c l e a r t h a t H i t l e r had decided t h a t
the time had come t o encourage B u l g a r i a n hopes.
Throughout t h e Bummer, as German p o l i c y seemed everywhere
v i c t o r i o u s and t h e d e f e a t o f B r i t a i n merely a m a t t e r o f t i m e ,
B u l g a r i a abandoned her c a u t i o n . German s p e c i a l i s t s , estimated
t o number 10,000, poured i n t o B u l g a r i a under t h e guise o f
t o u r i s t s and took up key posts i n t h e economic and a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
l i f e o f t h e c o u n t r y . Closer t r a d e l i n k s were e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h
56
Germany and a l a r g e p r o p o r t i o n o f B u l g a r i a ' s a g r i c u l t u r a l
57
produce went t h e r e t o o . A German I n s t i t u t e was s e t up i n S o f i a
and i t s opening was t h e occasion o f a s t r o n g German a t t a c k upon
the T r e a t y o f H e u i l l y . A new and v i g o r o u s propaganda campaign
eg
was launched from S o f i a and provoked anger i n Belgrade. Heeren,
the German M i n i s t e r , r e p o r t e d a d v e r s e l y upon
52. G.D.. I X , no. 478. 54. I b i d . , no. 245.
53. G.D.. X, no. 70. 55. GJ)., I X , no. 442.
56. P i p i n e l i s , op. c i t . . pp.8-9. I n September, M. Zangoroff,
a B u l g a r i a n M i n i s t e r , went t o see Funk, t h e Economics M i n i s t e r ,
i n B e r l i n . L a t e r i n t h e same month, t h e Heichsmark became t h e
o f f i c i a l c l e a r i n g currency i n Bulgaria.
57. "Why B u l g a r i a went over?" New Statesman and N a t i o n . .
XXI, March 8, 1941, pp. 231-3, s t a t e s t h a t by March 1941,
80% o f t h i s produce went t o Germany. 58. G.D.. X I , no. 397.
 (194)

"the p r o v a c a t i v e debate i n t h e Sobranje which i s

causing the o l d , deep d i s t r u s t o f B u l g a r i a t o f l a r e up
once more t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o r e s i s t , i f necessary
by f o r c e o f arms, any t h r e a t from I t a l y and B u l g a r i a t o
v i t a l Yugoslav i n t e r e s t s has i n c r e a s e d t o an e x t r a o r d i n a r y
59
degree among t h e Serbian people and i n t h e Army."
On September 27, 1940, Germany, I t a l y and Japan signed
the T r i p a r t i t e Pact o f p o l i t i c a l , d i p l o m a t i c and m i l i t a r y
c o l l a b o r a t i o n . King B o r i s was i n v i t e d to sign i t but, i n a
p e r s o n a l l e t t e r t o H i t l e r , he s t a t e d t h a t a l t h o u g h he wished
t o be "as u s e f u l as p o s s i b l e t o my c o u n t r y and t o h e r f r i e n d ,
Greater Germany," he f e a r e d t h e r e a c t i o n o f B u l g a r i a ' s neighbours
particularly since h i s kingdom's m i l i t a r y s t a n d i n g was still
v e r y p o o r , ^ However, i n November, B o r i s accompanied by h i s
F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r , Popov, went t o d i s c u s s t h e T r i p a r t i t e Pact
1
w i t h H i t l e r i n Berlin.** No r e c o r d o f t h a t c o n v e r s a t i o n e x i s t s
b u t , t h r e e days l a t e r , King B o r i s t o l d von Papen t h a t
"by h i s q u i e t and u n o b t r u s i v e c o l l a b o r a t i o n up t o
now, he had made t h e B u l g a r i a n people pro-German w i t h o u t
being aware o f i t and w i t h o u t a r o u s i n g t h e o p p o s i t i o n .
That had n o t been p o s s i b l e even d u r i n g t h e World War.
The m i l i t a r y s i t u a t i o n p r o b a b l y would n o t r e q u i r e h i s
official accession t o the T r i p a r t i t e Pact u n t i l n e x t
spring."
59. Yugoslav f e a r s were r a i s e d by t h e I t a l o - G r e e k conflict
which broke o u t on October 28, 1940. I b i d . . l o c . c i t .
60. B o r i s t o H i t l e r , October 22, 1940, GJ3., X I , no. 217.
6 1 . November 18, 1940. Whether B o r i s was summoned t o B e r l i n
o r went o f h i s own v o l i t i o n has been d i s p u t e d . Padev, op. c i t . ,
p. 93, f a v o u r s t h e former; L. Archer, Balkan J o u r n a l . New York,
1944, p. 140, f a v o u r s t h e l a t t e r .
62. B o r i s t o Papen, November 2 1 , 1940, G^D., X I , no. 378.
Von Papen, German M i n i s t e r i n Ankara, was one o f King Boris's
closest friends.
 U95)
• 6i
This view was repeated by t h e B u l g a r i a n M i n i s t e r i n B e r l i n .
He made i t c l e a r t h a t t h e d e l a y was n o t caused by any change
i n h i s government's p o l i c y :
" B u l g a r i a had always stood by Germany and worked
l o n g f o r t h e i d e a o f German-Bulgarian c o l l a b o r a t i o n . T h i s
d e s i r e d i d n o t date from y e s t e r d a y . I n t h i s war. B u l g a r i a
had n o t remained n e u t r a l . Only a few days ago v i s a s were
i s s u e d t o 300 Germans who were commissioned t o c o n s t r u c t
15 a i r o b s e r v a t i o n s t a t i o n s i n B u l g a r i a . For a year now,
t h r e e o r f o u r German r a d i o s t a t i o n s have been o p e r a t i n g
in Bulgaria."^
A l t h o u g h B u l g a r i a h e s i t a t e d t o j o i n the Pact - n o t l e a s t because
of r e c e n t t r o o p c o n c e n t r a t i o n s along t h e B u l g a r i a n f r o n t i e r -
Oraganov was anxious l e s t Germany should come t o some a r r a n g e -
ment w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a , which would e x t i n g u i s h a l l B u l g a r i a ' s
r e v i s i o n i s t hopes i n Macedonia. A f t e r r e m i n d i n g t h e German
l e a d e r s o f t h e Macedonian Question and t h e " 1 ^ m i l l i o n Bulgarians,
who c o u l d n o t s i m p l y be l e f t t h e r e " , he d e c l a r e d t h a t " i f Germany
now a r r i v e d a t an accord w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a , t h i s would undoubtedly
arouse an unpleasant r e a c t i o n i n B u l g a r i a and he was a f r a i d that
f e e l i n g a g a i n s t Germany might ensue." H i t l e r was u n w i l l i n g t o
e n t e r i n t o t h e d e l i c a t e q u e s t i o n o f m i n o r i t y problems and
c l o s e d t h e d i s c u s s i o n , emphasizing t h a t i t was i n B u l g a r i a ' s
65
best i n t e r e s t s t o j o i n t h e T r i p a r t i t e Pact.
Oraganov's f e a r s were n o t a l t o g e t h e r unfounded. German
economic t i e s w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a were c o n s i d e r a b l e and H i t l e r ,
R i b b e n t r o p and Cincar-Markovic had had d i s c u s s i o n s i n B e r l i n
on November 28. I n t h e course o f c o n v e r s a t i o n , t h e Yugoslav
M i n i s t e r had shown h i m s e l f f r i e n d l y towards Germany and agreed
63. Conversation between H i t l e r and Draganov, November 23,
1940. I b i d . , no. 384
64. I b i d . . l o c . c i t . The i t a l i c s are mine.
65. Conversation between H i t l e r and Oraganov, December 3t
1940. I b i d . , no. 438.
 (196)

t h a t " c e r t a i n B u l g a r i a n demands had t o be s a t i s f i e d . " ^ ^

H i t l e r , who was u n w i l l i n g t o accept r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r
renewed B u l g a r i a n r e v i s i o n i s m , p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e well-known
67
B u l g a r i a n demands were i n f a c t being encouraged by Russia.
T h i s was a c l e v e r manoeuvre and H i t l e r ' s v i e w was n o t e n t i r e l y
w i t h o u t f o u n d a t i o n , s i n c e t h e promise o f t h e San Stefano bound-
a r i e s and support f o r a l l demands a g a i n s t Rumania, Greece and
Y u g o s l a v i a had r e c e n t l y been made t o t h e B u l g a r i a n M i n i s t e r
68
i n Moscow. Upon t h e same day. as B o r i s v i s i t e d H i t l e r , Molotov
had t o l d Stamenov t h a t
"the f a t e o f B u l g a r i a was o f h i s t o r i c i n t e r e s t t o
the S o v i e t Government which, i n view o f h i s t o r i c oblig-
- a t i o n s , d e s i r e d a Btrong B u l g a r i a . I n t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e
S o v i e t Government, B u l g a r i a must achieve her n a t i o n a l g o a l s
a g a i n s t Turkey, Y u g o s l a v i a and Greece. The S o v i e t Government
was prepared t o make a v a i l a b l e t o B u l g a r i a any k i n d o f
national assistance.
Thus both Germany and the S o v i a t Union were prepared to destroy
the t e r r i t o r i a l i n t e g r i t y o f Y u g o s l a v i a , p r o v i d i n g t h a t B u l g a r i a
would g i v e her a l l e g i a n c e t o one o r o t h e r o f these two g r e a t
states.
I n S o f i a , the Russian i n i t i a t i v e - f o r i t was t h o u g h t that
the S o v i e t Union was p r o p o s i n g a mutual a s s i s t a n c e p a c t - was
welcomed by a l l those who opposed t h e e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g German
i n f l u e n c e . R e s o l u t i o n s were passed by numerous p o l i t i c a l groups
and many o f t h e d e p u t i e s i n t h e Sobranje handed i n p e t i t i o n s
70
u r g i n g immediate acceptance o f t h e S o v i e t p r o p o s a l s . But
the B u l g a r i a n government r e s i s t e d these Russian blandishments.
They had agreed i n p r i n c i p l e t o adhere t o t h e T r i p a r t i t e Pact^*
66. I b i d . . no. 417. 67. I b i d . , loc. c i t .
68. I b i d . . no. 378* The M i n i s t e r i n Moscow was Stamenov.
69. I b i d . . no. 379. Cf. a l s o l a t e r p r o p o s a l , G.D.. X I I , no. 48.
70. Padev, op. c i t . . pp. 130-31.
7 1 . G.D., X I , no. 430.
 (197)

and A l e x a n d e r Sobolev, the R u s s i a n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , was told

t h a t B u l g a r i a had no d e s i r e t o become i n v o l v e d i n c o n f l i c t s
72
between t h e g r e a t powers.
I n December 1940, German m i l i t a r y v e h i c l e s moved i n t o
B u l g a r i a from Rumania. The " t e c h n i c i a n s " were d r e s s e d i n b l u e
o v e r a l l s and the wagons camouflaged as c i v i l i a n l o r r i e s . Once
i n s i d e B u l g a r i a , the v e h i c l e s moved i n t o the mountains a c r o s s
the f r o n t i e r from Y u g o s l a v i a - o s t e n s i b l y t o o r g a n i z e anti-
7*3
aircraft dispositions t h e r e . O t h e r s t a f f of t h e "Reconnaissance
S t a f f S o f i a " were s e n t by the Wehrmacht. t o p r e p a r e fuel and
s u p p l y d e p o t s , s u r v e y r o a d and o p e r a t i o n a l c o n d i t i o n s and
74
undertake b r i d g e - b u i l d i n g . The Y u g o s l a v r e a c t i o n to t h i s
s t e a d y i n f l u x of " t e c h n i c i a n s " and a d v i s e r s was h o s t i l e . Some
75
145,000 Y u g o s l a v t r o o p s were d e p l o y e d a l o n g the f r o n t i e r and
the customary exchange of g r e e t i n g s between t h e tvo a r m i e s at
76
the New Year d i d not take place.
F u r t h e r d i s c u s s i o n s about B u l g a r i a ' s a d h e s i o n to the
T r i p a r t i t e P a c t were h e l d between H i t l e r and F i l o v a t t h e
Obersalzberg on J a n u a r y 4, 1941. Filov s t i l l showed h i m s e l f
r e l u c t a n t to s i g n the P a c t , even though H i t l e r a s s u r e d him
t h a t t h e r e was now no danger to be f e a r e d from Y u g o s l a v i a , who
•?

was w i l l i n g to e n t e r i n t o c l o s e r c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h the Reich

and would p r o b a b l y s i g n the P a c t too. Such a p r o s p e c t was unpal-
72. N i k o l a e v , op. c i t . . p. I 6 9 . When the R u s s i a n proposals
were p u b l i s h e d by the B u l g a r i a n government i n J a n u a r y 1941,
t h e y had a v a l u a b l e propaganda e f f e c t , s i n c e t h e y deterred
Y u g o s l a v i a and o t h e r B a l k a n s t a t e s from making any approach to the
S o v i e t Union. They a l s o conveyed t h e i m p r e s s i o n that Bulgaria
sought no territorial g a i n s a t t h e expense of h e r n e i g h b o u r s .
73. Padev, op. c i t . , pp. 85-86.
74. G.D., X I , no. 556. I t i n c l u d e s the High Command's "German
M i l i t a r y P r e p a r a t i o n s i n the B a l k a n s " - i s s u e d on December 21, 1940.
76. I b i d . . no. 649.
75. I b i d . . no. 713.
 (198)

a t a b l e t o r o y a l nominees such as F i l o v and Draganov, who

wished t o secure German s u p p o r t f o r B u l g a r i a ' s t e r r i t o r i a l
77
a s p i r a t i o n s i n exchange f o r h e r adhesion t o the Pact. Some
t h r e e weeks l a t e r , the B u l g a r i a n General S t a f f suggested thajb
accession t o the Pact should be postponed t i l l the s t a r t o f
78
m i l i t a r y operations.
On March 1 , 1941, w i t h v e r y l i t t l e h e a r t s e a r c h i n g , B u l g a r i a
signed the T r i p a r t i t e Pact. E a r l y the f o l l o w i n g morning, t h e
German X I I Army crossed the border and moved i n t o p o s i t i o n s
across the f r o n t i e r from Y u g o s l a v i a . The e n t r y o f German t r o o p s
provoked no p u b l i c r e a c t i o n . Y e t an E n g l i s h p e r i o d i c a l commented:
"so f a r as we understand B u l g a r i a n s e n t i m e n t , i t i s
b r o a d l y H u s s o p h i l e ; t h e r e i s no enthusiasm f o r Germany
or f o r Nazi ways o f t h o u g h t save among the o f f i c e r s o f
the Army and a s m a l l s e c t i o n o f the w e a l t h i e r m i d d l e c l a s s
I t i s f a i r l y c e r t a i n t h a t the m i n o r i t y i n t h e Sob-
r a n j e o f one deputy i n seven w h i c h d i d dare t o v o t e
openly a g a i n s t adherence t o t h e A x i s r e p r e s e n t e d a much
79
l a r g e r mass o f the e l e c t o r a t e . "
Encompassed on t h r e e s i d e s by A x i s t r o o p s , the Yugoslav govern-
ment faced a d i p l o m a t i c dilemma. C v e t k o v i c and Cincar-Markovic,
who had v i s i t e d H i t l e r i n Salzburg on February 14, had been
urged t o j o i n the Pact but had t e m p o r i z e d . Now, on March 4 ,
P r i n c e Paul h i m s e l f went t o Berchtesgaden to re-state the
Yugoslav predicament. H i t l e r magnanimously agreed t o waive t h e
m i l i t a r y clauses i n exchange f o r Y u g o s l a v i a ' s d i p l o m a t i c
s u p p o r t . A f t e r l e n g t h y t a l k s w i t h h i s Crown C o u n c i l and d e s p i t e
80 81
appeals by Eden and C h u r c h i l l , the P r i n c e Regent decided t o
77. I b i d . , nos. 594 and 606. 7 8 . I b i d . . no. 704.
7 9 . "Why B u l g a r i a went o v e r " , op. c i t . , p. 2 3 1 .
80. E a r l o f Avon, The Eden Memoirs; The Reckoning, London,
1965, pp. 222-23
81. W.S. C h u r c h i l l , The Second World War. I I I . The Grand
A l l i a n c e , London, 1950, pp. 1 4 1 - 2 .
 (199)

g i v e way. On March 25, 1941, a t Vienna, t o H i t l e r ' s g r e a t

s a t i s f a c t i o n , Y u g o s l a v i a j o i n e d B u l g a r i a as a fellow-member
82
of t h e T r i p a r t i t e Pact. Two days l a t e r , t h e r e o c c u r r e d t h e
famous coup d ' e t a t i n Belgrade.
The o v e r t h r o w o f t h e Regency had been contemplated f o r
some time b u t t h e o f f i c e r s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e coup - B r i g a d i e r -
General Bora M i r k o v i c , Commander o f t h e Yugoslav A i r Force, and
General Dusan Simovic o f t h e General S t a f f - had decided t o w a i t
u n t i l t h e government a c t u a l l y c a p i t u l a t e d t o Germany b e f o r e
making any move. T h e i r c o n s p i r a c y r e f l e c t e d t h e mood o f t h e
Yugoslav people. A bad h a r v e s t , food r a t i o n i n g and i n d u s t r i a l
b i t t e r n e s s had caused widespread u n r e s t d u r i n g 1940. I n October,
v a r i o u s r e s t r i c t i o n s had been p l a c e d on t h e Jewish community
and t h e German economic s t r a n g l e h o l d i n c r e a s e d . D u r i n g t h e
opening months o f 1941 many m i l i t a r y f i g u r e s had been down-graded
or dismissed and t h e p o l i t i c a l m o v i t a t i o n o f a l l t h i s was
p e r f e c t l y c l e a r t o those i n Belgrade. The Yugoslavians are a
proud n a t i o n and t h i s e r o s i o n o f s o v r e i g n t y was k e e n l y f e l t .
When news o f t h e s i g n i n g o f t h e Pact became p u b l i c knowledge,
s t u d e n t s , p e a s a n t s , war v e t e r a n s and r e l i g i o u s l e a d e r s demonstrated
i n t h e s t r e e t s , p e t i t i o n s and p r o t e s t s f l o o d e d t h e r o y a l palace
and s i n i s t e r t h r e a t s o f a s s a s s i n a t i o n appeared on p u b l i c n o t i c e s
on t h e s t r e e t s o f Belgrade. Because i t had wholehearted p u b l i c
s u p p o r t , because i t was c a r e f u l l y planned and executed, by a
h a n d f u l o f e x p e r t s , because i t had m i l i t a r y a p p r o v a l and because
n a t i o n a l honour was a t s t a k e , t h e coup succeeded. The C v e t k o v i c .
government was o v e r t h r o w n , t h e Regency a b o l i s h e d and t h e r e was
83
a widespread o u t b u r s t o f n a t i o n a l exhuberance.
H i t l e r was astounded by t h e news b u t d i d n o t h e s i t a t e t o
act. On t h e same day, March 27, he ordered t h a t Y u g o s l a v i a
82. G_jD., X I I , no. 208.
83. The best account o f t h e coup i s g i v e n by Hopther, op. c i t . .
pp. 221-265.
 (200)

should be destroyed m i l i t a r i l y and a l s o as a n a t i o n a l u n i t .

L a t e r i n t h e day, he saw Draganov and t o l d him t h a t " t h i s
8
had s e t t l e d t h e q u e s t i o n o f Macedonia." ^ L a t e r , i n D i r e c t i v e
No. 26, signed by t h e Fuhrer on A p r i l 3, i t was s t a t e d t h a t
• " B u l g a r i a should g e t back Macedonia and i s
t h e r e f o r e t o be i n t e r e s t e d i n an a t t a c k i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n
but w i t h o u t p a r t i c u l a r pressure being e x e r t e d from t h e
German s i d e . Furthermore, the Bulgarians w i l l be supported
by a German armoured u n i t w h i c h w i l l provider the r e a r cover
85
a g a i n s t Turkey."
The a t t a c k on Y u g o s l a v i a , which was conducted by t h e X I I
Army Command i n S o f i a , began i n t h e e a r l y hours o f A p r i l 6
w i t h a massive German a i r bombardment, o f Belgrade. Strategically,
B u l g a r i a was o f g r e a t importance t o t h e German campaign. W i t h
the b e n e f i t o f such s h o r t supply l i n e s , General L i s t was able
to s t r i k e across c e n t r a l Y u g o s l a v i a from h i s bases i n B u l g a r i a
and e n c i r c l e t h e Yugoslav armies i n t h e n o r t h . On t h e second
day o f t h e a t t a c k , panzer d i v i s i o n s from south-east Bulgaria
reached Skopje, c o n t r o l l i n g t h e Vardar v a l l e y . This advance c u t
the o n l y Yugoslav l i n k s w i t h Greece and blocked t h e southern
l i n e o f r e t r e a t t o S a l o n i k a . I t i s t r u e t h a t even w i t h o u t t h e
advantage o f bases i n B u l g a r i a , t h e Germans, w i t h 31 d i v i s i o n s
and 2 b r i g a d e s , would s t i l l have i n f l i c t e d a heavy d e f e a t on
Yugoslavia, b u t had i t n o t been f o r B u l g a r i a ' s w i l l i n g complic-
ity t o a l l o w German f o r c e s t o occupy and a t t a c k from h e r t e r r i t o r y ,
the Yugoslavs would have been able t o r e s i s t f o r c o n s i d e r a b l y
l o n g e r and perhaps even have been able t o r e t r e a t t o S a l o n i k a ,
p r e s e r v i n g t h e most v a l u a b l e p a r t o f t h e i r army i n t a c t . As i t
was, t h e campaign was b r i e f and on A p r i l 17, 1941, t h e Yugoslav
86
f o r c e s surrendered t o t h e German High Command.
The q u e s t i o n o f whether B u l g a r i a n t r o o p s took p a r t i n t h e
a t t a c k on Y u g o s l a v i a i s s t i l l open t o doubt. Von Papen, t h e
84. I b i d . . no. 216. 85. I b i d . . no. 256.
86. I b i d . . no. 3°4.
 (201)

87
German M i n i s t e r i n Ankara, has s t a t e d t h a t t h e y d i d p a r t i c i p a t e
b u t , i n a speech t o t h e Sobranje on A p r i l 8 and again i n a r e p l y
t o t h e T u r k i s h government on A p r i l 10, i t was o f f i c i a l l y d e c l -
ared t h a t no B u l g a r i a n f o r c e s had taken p a r t i n t h e German

88
operations against Yugoslavia.
I t seems l i k e l y t h a t t h e o f f i c i a l statements were c o r r e c t .
On A p r i l 9. B i c h t h o f e n r e p o r t e d t h a t F i l o v had o f f e r e d him
89
t h r e e B u l g a r i a n d i v i s i o n s t o take p a r t i n t h e campaign b u t ,
90
on A p r i l 1 1 , Draganov was s t i l l d i s c u s s i n g t h e m a t t e r i n B e r l i n ;
R i b b e n t r o p suggested t h a t t h e i r use might be delayed f o r a few
91
days and o f f i c i a l c i r c l e s i n S o f i a , on l e a r n i n g t h i s , suspected
92
t h a t I t a l i a n i n f l u e n c e might be behind t h e d e l a y . The s u s p i c i o n
became a c e r t a i n t y on A p r i l 16, when i t was r e p o r t e d t h a t I t a l i a n
t r o o p s had e n t e r e d O h r i d , The town was regarded i n B u l g a r i a as
a n a t i o n a l s h r i n e and t h e news induced g r e a t b i t t e r n e s s , <<eome
o f t h e p u b l i c blaming King B o r i s and h i s government f o r n o t
93
p r e s s i n g B u l g a r i a ' s claims w i t h s u f f i c i e n t energy. Later i n
the same day, i n response t o a s t a n d i n g i n v i t a t i o n from H i t l e r ,
King B o r i s c o n t a c t e d t h e Gorman F o r e i g n M i n i s t r y and arranged
94
f o r a p r i v a t e d i s c u s s i o n between h i m s e l f and H i t l e r on A p r i l 19*
I n t h e meantime, B u l g a r i a broke o f f d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s w i t h
Yugoslavia ( A p r i l 16), t h e a r m i s t i c e was signed and B u l g a r i a n
87* F. von Papen, Memoirs. London, 1952, p. 473*
88. G.D.. X I I , no. 302. For t h e Turks, t h e q u e s t i o n was o f
more than t e c h n i c a l i n t e r e s t f o r , i f t h e B u l g a r i a n s had a t t a c k e d
Y u g o s l a v i a , t h e Turks were bound by t h e 1934 Pact t o come t o h e r
a i d . The T u r k i s h F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r i s r e p o r t e d t o have s a i d t h a t
a l t h o u g h he was convinced of the s i n c e r i t y of the Bulgarian
statements, he was no l o n g e r sure t h a t t h e y were masters o f t h e
s i t u a t i o n or of t h e i r decisions.
89. I b i d . , no. 312 95. I b i d . , no. 312.
92. I b i d . , no. 357.
90. I b i d . . l o c . c i t . 93. I b i d . . l o c . c i t .
9 1 . I b i d . , no. 302 94. I b i d . , no. 362.
 (202)

t r o o p s v e r e g i v e n p e r m i s s i o n t o occupy Macedonia as f a r as
the P i r o t - V r a n j e - S k o p j e l i n e and from t h e r e down t h e east
96
s i d e o f t h e Vardar t o t h e Greek border.
Mo o f f i c i a l r e c o r d e x i s t s o f King B o r i s ' s t a l k w i t h
97
iiitler on A p r i l 19, b u t von Papen, who was p r e s e n t ,
remembers t h a t " t h e King had come t o p r e s e n t h i s demands t o
OA
y
Hitler." King B o r i s had been c h i e f l y i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e f a t e
of Macedonia and much o f t h e d i s c u s s i o n had c e n t r e d upon c e r t a i n
chromium d e p o s i t s which were t o be found i n t h e Ohrid district.
I t appears t h a t w h i l s t B u l g a r i a was i n t e r e s t e d i n O h r i d for-
purposes o f n a t i o n a l expansion, I t a l y - o r r a t h e r , Count Ciano -
99
had a f i n a n c i a l investment a t s t a k e . The m a t t e r was s e t t l e d
t h r e e days l a t e r i n Vienna, when Ciano and B i b b e n t r o p met t o
100
a p p r o p o r t i o n o u t t h e s p o i l s t o each o f t h e i n t e r e s t e d parties.
The h a g g l i n g over t h e e x t e n t o f B u l g a r i a ' s g a i n s continued
1 0 1
f o r some t i m e . C l o d i u s , who saw B o r i s a f t e r h i s r e t u r n from
Hitler, reported!
" I n a c o n v e r s a t i o n l a s t i n g two hours, t h e King
v e r y c a n d i d l y presented h i s p o s i t i o n r e g a r d i n g a l l p o l i t i c a l
and t e r r i t o r i a l q u e s t i o n s a r i s i n g from t h e c o l l a p s e o f Yugo-
slavia I would l i k e t o emphasize t h a t t h e King i s
p r i m a r i l y concerned w i t h t h e q u e s t i o n o f d e t e r m i n i n g
the f r o n t i e r between A l b a n i a and B u l g a r i a n Macedonia. He
i s anxious t h a t O h r i d , Struga, G o s t i v a r and above a l l ,
Tetovo should go t o B u l g a r i a f o r ethnographic and geo-
g r a p h i c reasons."
W i t h i n two days, Germany had s t a t e d her w i l l i n g m e s s t o accede
96. I b i d . , no. 367.
97. No r e c o r d e x i s t s o f any o f t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n s between
H i t l e r and King B o r i s .
98. von Papen, op. c i t . . l o c . c i t . 99. I b i d . . l o c . c i t .
100. GJ>., X I I , no. 385. 101. I b i d . , nos. 367 and
385. 102. C l o d i u s and R i d h t h o f e n t o F o r e i g n M i n i s t r y ,
A p r i l 24, 1941, i b i d . , no. 393.
 (203)
1 0
t o B o r i s ' B w i s h e s . ' F u r t h e r d i s c u s s i o n s c e n t r e d upon
the n o r t h e r n boundary t o the south-eas t o f N i l . the r e g i o n
104
around B i t o l j and B u l g a r i a n c l a i m s i n Western Thrace. In
t h i s c o n n e c t i o n , and by way o f c o n t r a s t , i t i s w o r t h remembering
t h a t i n J u l y 1939» King B o r i s had t o l d C l o d i u s t h a t he d i d n o t
i n t e n d t o p u t f o r w a r d any t e r r i t o r i a l c l a i m s a g a i n s t Yugoslavia
1 0
i n the f u t u r e . * *
How t h e n had the change taken place? On November 19, 1941,
F i l o v t o l d the Sobranje o f the way i n w h i c h B u l g a r i a had
achieved her g o a l :
"The p o l i c y o f peace and n e u t r a l i t y w h i c h has been
f o l l o w e d s i n c e the outbreak o f war has been d i c t a t e d by
our n a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t s and accords w i t h the i n t e r e s t s
o f the A x i s powers. B u l g a r i a i s o n l y a s m a l l power, y e t
her p l a n o f a c t i o n has undoubtedly t h w a r t e d the p l a n o f
a Balkan b l o c w h i c h was much discussed a t one t i m e . I t
was because o f B u l g a r i a ' s f i r m p o l i c y t h a t t h i s b l o c never
m a t e r i a l i z e d and the p r o j e c t o f c o n c e n t r a t i n g 100 divisions
t o f i g h t t h e Germans was f o i l e d . These events emphasize
t h a t B u l g a r i a pursued t h i s p o l i c y i n o r d e r t o be i n
1
hasmony w i t h the A x i s p o w e r s . " ^
Mushanov, the former Prime M i n i s t e r , r e l a t e d t h i s f i n a l episode
o f Y u g o s l a v - B u l g a r i a n r e l a t i o n s i n the i n t e r - w a r years t o the
broader canvas o f B u l g a r i a n p o l i c y , i n a speech he d e l i v e r e d
t o the Sobranje. I n r e p l y t o the address from the t h r o n e , he
recalled that
" B u l g a r i a had n o t f o r g o t t e n A r t i c l e 19 o f the T r e a t y
( o f N e u i l l y ) , nor had she agreed t o accept t h e boundaries
s t i p u l a t e d t h e r e i n - a s e t t l e m e n t so e a g e r l y d e s i r e d by
103. R i b b e n t r o p t o C l o d i u s , A p r i l 26, 1941, i b i d . , no. 405.
104. Ribbentrop t o C l o d i u s , May 4, 1941, i b i d . , nos. 450 and 534.
105. Memorandum by C l o d i u s on c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h King Boris,
J u l y 1 1 , 1939, GJ>., V I , no. 673.
106. Zora. November 20, 1941.
 (204)

the L i t t l e E n t e n t e and the B a l k a n E n t e n t e . Today, the

B u l g a r i a n people r e j o i c e d a t the a n n e x a t i o n of the e n s l a v e d
Bulgarian t e r r i t o r i e s ; t h i s had been a c h i e v e d through the
h e l p g i v e n by the g r e a t German p e o p l e , and a s a r e s u l t of
the r e v i s i o n a r y p o l i c y w h i c h B u l g a r i a had a l w a y s pursued.
T h a t p a r t of the K i n g ' s s p e e c h w h i c h gave e x p r e s s i o n to
the p e o p l e ' s g r a t i t u d e towards the N a t i o n w h i c h had shed
its blood f o r t h e i r l i b e r a t i o n , sprang from the h e a r t of
107
a people w i t n e s s i n g the end of an injustice."
As has been shown - even i n the p e r i o d 1939-41 - t h e r e was
ample o p p o r t u n i t y f o r t h i s " i n j u s t i c e " to be remedied. Y u g o s l a v i a
and the o t h e r B a l k a n s t a t e s were w i l l i n g ' to concede l a n d w h i c h
B u l g a r i a b e l i e v e d to be r i g h t f u l l y h e r s , the o n l y p r e c o n d i t i o n
being t h a t B u l g a r i a s h o u l d j o i n the B a l k a n E n t e n t e , where h e r
i n t e r e s t s and f u t u r e l a y . The f a c t t h a t B u l g a r i a chose to
r e m a i n i s o l a t e d and worked a c t i v e l y to d e s t r o y the Y u g o s l a v
s t a t e , p l a c e s the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r the d e s t r u c t i o n of r e l a t i o n s
s q u a r e l y upon the S o f i a government and, most p a r t i c u l a r l y , upon
the B u l g a r i a n K i n g . I t i s perhaps h a r d l y s u r p r i s i n g that, after
the d e s t r u c t i o n of Y u g o s l a v i a , B u l g a r i a n propaganda s h o u l d
d e s c r i b e K i n g B o r i s as " t h e g r a n i t e f o u n d a t i o n s t o n e of the
108
B a l k a n New Order." Few c o u l d have had a more l e g i t i m a t e
r i g h t to s u c h a c l a i m *
107. Z o r a , November, 15, 1941.
108. Padev, op. c i t . , p.73.
 (205)

Chapter 10.

Conclusion,
 (206)

I t would be s a t i s f y i n g to end t h i s s t u d y of Y u g o s l a v -
B u l g a r i a n r e l a t i o n s upon a note of c o n s o l i d a t i o n and hope;
to show t h a t a second w o r l d war and Communist d i c t a t o r s h i p
had s u c c e e d e d where the T r e a t y of N e u i l l y and monarchy had
f a i l e d . But, unfortunately, t h i s cannot be done. S i n c e 1941,
r e l a t i o n s between the two c o u n t r i e s have c o n t i n u e d to reflect
the p a t t e r n of the i n t e r - w a r y e a r s . The p e r s o n a l i t i e s are
d i f f e r e n t ; the m o t i v e s a r e d i f f e r e n t ; but the problem has
remained the same.
From 1941 to 1944, Bulgaria administered the annexed
r e g i o n of Macedonia and a l s o occupied those a r e a s of S e r b i a
w h i c h had been agreed w i t h German l e a d e r s . The r e t u r n of the
Bulgarians to Macedonia was at f i r s t greeted with enthusiasm^
but t h i s s w i f t l y gave way to d i s a p p o i n t m e n t . M i c h a e l Padev,
a former c o r r e s p o n d e n t f o r "The Times" i n S o f i a , v i s i t e d
Macedonia i l l e g a l l y i n June 1941;
"Once we reached Macedonia, what s t r u c k us most was
the ease and z e s t w i t h w h i c h the Macedonian underground
b a t t l e d a g a i n s t the B u l g a r i a n o c c u p y i n g a u t h o r i t i e s . There
was a c u r f e w i n Skopje from s e v e n i n the e v e n i n g . We stayed
t h e r e a week and not a n i g h t went by w i t h o u t fighting in
the s t r e e t s . I t was the same i n B i t o l j w h i c h the Bulgarian
n a t i o n a l i s t s c l a i m as 'the most B u l g a r i a n of a l l Macedonian
towns.' We found the people t h e r e as a n t i - B u l g a r i a n as
t h e y a r e everywhere i n Macedonia. They had organized several
groups w h i c h a t i n t e r v a l s r e t i r e d i n t o the mountains f o r

1. It. Seton-Watson, The E a s t European R e v o l u t i o n . London,

1950, p. 123.
 (207)

1
' t r a i n i n g . They were e x t r e m e l y veil organized and i n
c o n t a c t w i t h a l l the g u e r i l l a s i n Y u g o s l a v i a , Bulgaria
and G r e e c e . I n J u l y 1941, w h i l e we were i n S k o p j e , the.
Bulgarian' Court M a r t i a l sentenced to death twenty-six
s o l d i e r s from t h e B u l g a r i a n army o f o c c u p a t i o n who had
2
g i v e n t h e i r arms and ammunition t o t h e s e guerillas."
The number o f B u l g a r i a n t r o o p s employed i n t h e former a r e a
of Y u g o s l a v i a grew a s t h e s c a l e o f war i n c r e a s e d and German
t r o o p s were t r a n s f e r r e d t o o t h e r f r o n t s . 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 men were
a v a i l a b l e and d u r i n g t h e b i g campaigns a g a i n s t t h e Y u g o s l a v
p a r t i s a n s , twenty B u l g a r i a n d i v i s i o n s were used i n an a t t e m p t
to c r u s h resistance.
Despite the obvious advantages, p a r t i s a n a c t i v i t y in
Macedonia was a cause o f d i s a g r e e m e n t between t h e Y u g o s l a v
and B u l g a r i a n Communist p a r t i e s . The argument was q u i t e simple;
w h i c h p a r t y s h o u l d have r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e p a r t i s a n s i n
Macedonia? The Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s had o r d e r e d the S e c r e t a r y of
the Macedonian p a r t y to provoke a g e n e r a l u p r i s i n g a g a i n s t t h e
i n v a d e r s - i e . t h e B u l g a r i a n s - but t h e C e n t r a l Committee o f
the B u l g a r i a n p a r t y m a i n t a i n e d t h a t s i n c e Macedonia was now
p a r t o f B u l g a r i a , t h e d i r e c t i o n o f p a r t i s a n a c t i v i t y s h o u l d be
5
under t h e i r l e a d e r s h i p . The m a t t e r was r e f e r r e d t o Moscow.
Initially, the Kremlin favoured t h e B u l g a r i a n c l a i m but once
the Y u g o s l a v p a r t i s a n s had a c h i e v e d such s t r i k i n g s u c c e s s e s i n
the r e s t o f t h e i r c o u n t r y , t h e R u s s i a n s e n t r u s t e d Macedonia
to them. L a t e i n 1942, Vukmanovic, one o f T i t o ' s c h i e f
c o l l e a g u e s , went t o Macedonia and, overcoming t h e f r i c t i o n and
r e s e n t m e n t w h i c h had been c a u s e d , took command o f m i l i t a r y and
p o l i t i c a l operations.
2 . M. Padev, E s c a p e from t h e B a l k a n B . London, 1943,- p. 164.
3 . F . Maclean, D i s p u t e d B a r r i c a d e . London, 1957» p. 248.
4. V. D e d i j e r , T i t o S p e a k s . London, 1 9 5 3 , p. 1 7 1 *
5 . M. D j i l a s , Conversations w i t h S t a l i n . London, 1 9 6 2 , pp 3 6 -
6. S. C l i s s o l d , W h i r l w i n d , London, 1949, p. 1 3 5 . £f a l s o
£. B a r k e r , Macedonia, London, 1 9 5 0 , pp. 8 3 - 1 0 9 .
 (208)

These d i f f e r e n c e s o v e r Macedonia l e d many communists t o

think t h a t t h e s i m p l e s t post-war s o l u t i o n would be a f e d e r a l
South S l a v s t a t e i n w h i c h Macedonia.would be an autonomous
u n i t . These i d e a had been c a n v a s s e d many t i m e s b e f o r e , but t h e
Communists b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e i r common i d e o l o g y would overcome
many o f t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s e n c o u n t e r e d by t h e pre-war politicians.
Dr. Smodlaka, f o r e i g n commissar f o r t h e N a t i o n a l Liberation
Front, said:
"Our first aim would be t o f r e e f e d e r a l Yugoslavia.
But t h a t i s n o t enough t o e n s u r e peace i n t h e B a l k a n s . We
must have a B a l k a n f e d e r a t i o n , and t h e f i r s t s t e p would be
a u n i o n o f B u l g a r i a and Y u g o s l a v i a . . . . . 1 b e l i e v e that
the b e s t s o l u t i o n t o t h e problem would be t o g i v e Macedonia
full autonomy w i t h i n t h e f e d e r a l s t a t e . T h i s would end
7
the Y u g o s l a v - B u l g a r i a n dispute."
His s e n t i m e n t i s echoed by a n o t h e r w r i t e r :
"They ( t h e N a t i o n a l Liberation Front) t a l k of b r i n g -
ing Bulgaria into a South-Slavic federation, depending on
the w i l l of the Bulgarian p e o p l e . They know t h a t f o r a l o n g
time many B u l g a r i a n s have c o n s i d e r e d themselves Yugoslavs
The idea of a s t i l l wider Balkan federation or
c o n f e d e r a t i o n o r u n i o n i n t r i g u e s a g r e a t many B a l k a n i t e s .
I t might b e g i n w i t h G r e e c e and Y u g o s l a v i a , then take i n
Albania, Bulgaria ( i f n o t a l r e a d y i n a new South-Slavic
c o m b i n a t i o n ) and p r o b a b l y Rumania."
I n London, t h e Y u g o s l a v i a n r o y a l g o v e r n m e n t - i n - e k i l e was a l s o
looking ahead t o post-war d e v e l o p m e n t s . On J a n u a r y 15, 1942,
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e Greek and Y u g o s l a v g o v e r n m e n t s - i n - e x i l e
signed an agreement c o n c e r n i n g t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o f a B a l k a n
7. L . S . S t a v r i a n o s , B a l k a n F e d e r a t i o n : A H i s t o r y of the
Movement towards B a l k a n U n i t y i n Modern Times, Northampton,
Mass., 1944, p. 272.
8. L . Adamic', My N a t i v e Land, London, 1944, pp. 446-47.
 (209)
a
union. They saw the agreement a s
"the foundation f o r the g r e a t c o n s t r u o t i v e work
w h i c h a w a i t s G r e e c e and Y u g o s l a v i a a f t e r the war. The
Agreement i s made so t h a t o t h e r B a l k a n s t a t e s can coll-
a b o r a t e w i t h G r e e c e and Y u g o s l a v i a i n t h i s c o n s t r u c t i v e
, .,10
work."
S i n c e the r o y a l Y u g o s l a v government had " n e i t h e r people, nor
army, nor t e r r i t o r y " , n o t h i n g came of t h e i r i n i t i a t i v e but
it i s s i g n i f i c a n t f o r i t shows t h a t d u r i n g the war the general
t r e n d of p o l i t i c a l e v e n t s was towards the f o u n d a t i o n of a
Balkan union.
Events i n B u l g a r i a speeded the p r o c e s s . U n l i k e their
Yugoslav counterparts, Dimitrov and t h e l e a d e r s of the Bulgarian
Communist P a r t y remained i n Moscow t h r o u g h o u t the war, so
c o n t a c t between the l e a d e r s h i p and the a c t u a l r e s i s t a n c e remained
remote. N e v e r t h e l e s s , a " F a t h e r l a n d F r o n t " , embracing the Zveno
group and the A g r a r i a n and Communist p a r t i e s , was s e t up and
13
in its first broadcast, put out on J u l y 17* 1942, the Front
s t a t e d i t s i n t e n t i o n o f d e s t r o y i n g the B u l g a r i a n a l l i a n c e with
Germany and promised " i m m e d i a t e l y to w i t h d r a w the Bulgarian
troops s e n t to c r u s h t h e s t r u g g l e of t h e b r o t h e r l y S e r b i a n
14
p e o p l e a g a i n s t the German and I t a l i a n i n v a s i o n . "
The first B u l g a r i a n p a r t i s a n s were formed i n J u l y 1941,
but i t was not u n t i l 1943 t h a t good and u s e f u l r e l a t i o n s were
9. Y u g o s l a v I n f o r m a t i o n Department, Y u g o s l a v i a a t War: Yugoslav
Documents No. 2, A C o l l e c t i o n o f O f f i c i a l Statements, London,
1942, no. X I I , pp. 22-25.
10. I b i d . , no. X I I I , pp. 26-27.
11. D e d i j e r , op. cit.. p. 223.
12. Padev, op. c a t . , p. 72 0

13* From Moscow where the C h r i s t o Botev Broadcasting station

was s i t u a t e d .
14. S.G. E v a n s , A S h o r t H i s t o r y of B u l g a r i a , London, 1960,
pp.178-79. The use of the word " S e r b i a n " i s i n t e r e s t i n g .
 (210)

established between them, and t h e Y u g o s l a v p a r t i s a n s . Evidence

shows t h a t t h e s c a l e and a c h i e v e m e n t s o f t h e B u l g a r i a n resist-
ance were s l i g h t when compared w i t h t h e o v e r t war w h i c h was
15
being waged between T i t o and t h e Germans i n Y u g o s l a v i a . The
Bulgarian P a r t i s a n movement n e v e r became a h i g h l y organized
national o r m i l i t a r y f o r c e . I t numbered l e s s t h a n 20,000 and
was split into small groups w h i c h undertook l o c a l attacks,
mostly against Bulgarian pro-Nazi a u t h o r i t i e s . ^ ^ N e v e r t h e l e s s ,
i n so f a r a s t h e y were h o l d i n g down enemy f o r c e s , t h e y were o f
v a l u e t o t h e A l l i e d war e f f o r t and l i a i s o n was e s t a b l i s h e d with
17
them i n t h e summer of 1943. The e x t e n t of Yugoslav a i d to the
Bulgarian p a r t i s a n movement and t h e i r c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h Tito's
f o r c e s h a s been o u t l i n e d by an o f f i c i a l Y u g o s l a v report;
"The L i b e r a t i o n Movement o f t h e Y u g o s l a v p e o p l e s
e n a b l e d and f u l l y c o n t r i b u t e d to the formation of Bulgarian
p a r t i s a n b a t t a l i o n s , detachments and b r i g a d e s on Y u g o s l a v
t e r r i t o r y . I n the l i b e r a t e d t e r r i t o r y o f S e r b i a and Mace-
donia the following Bulgarian p a r t i s a n detachments were
formed: t h e G e o r g i D i m i t r o v B r i g a d e and t h e C h r i s t o Botev
B a t t a l i o n . I t i s w e l l known t h a t t h e s e B u l g a r i a n partisan
u n i t s , formed on Y u g o s l a v t e r r i t o r y , p l a y e d a s i g n i f i c a n t
r o l e i n t h e development o f p a r t i s a n detachments i n B u l g a r i a
b e f o r e t h e end o f t h e w a r . The l e a d e r s h i p of the N a t i o n a l
L i b e r a t i o n Movement o f t h e p e o p l e s o f Y u g o s l a v i a offered
full political and m a t e r i a l a i d and s u p p o r t to the Bulg-
18
a r i a n p a r t i s a n detachments."
15. I b i d . . pp. 180-81, f o r s t a t i s t i c s o f r e s i s t a n c e action.
16. H. McNeil, How d i d t h e S a t t e l i t e s happen?. London, 1952,p 21
1 7 . F . Thompson, There i s a s p i r i t i n E u r o p e . London, 1947*
gives i n s i g h t to the Bulgarian p a r t i s a n movement. Major Thompson,
the B r i t i s h l i a i s o n o f f i c e r , d i e d i n Bulgaria.
18. Y u g o s l a v M i n i s t r y o f F o r e i g n A f f a i r s , The White Book on
A g g r e s s i v e A c t i v i t i e s by t h e Governments o f t h e USSR, P o l a n d .
C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , Hungary, Rumania, B u l g a r i a , and A l b a n i a towards
Y u g o s l a v i a . B e l g r a d e , 1951, pp. 153-54.
 (211)

I n Yugoslavia, the t i d e of m i l i t a r y e v e n t s had brought

supreme c o n t r o l over t h e d e s t i n y of Y u g o s l a v i a to T i t o and
the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n Movement. On November 29* 1 9 4 3 i t h e
second A.V„M.O,J. Assembly a t J a j c e s e t up a p r o v i s i o n a l
government, promised t h e c r e a t i o n of a f e d e r a l Y u g o s l a v i a
and f o r b a d e the r e t u r n of King P e t e r and t h e r o y a l government.
The r e s o l u t i o n s of the J a j c e Assembly were a c c e p t e d by S u b a s i c ,
the r o y a l Prime M i n i s t e r , i n an agreement s i g n e d w i t h T i t o on
June 1 6 , 1944.

I n B u l g a r i a t o o , the power o f the monarchy had weakened.

K i n g B o r i s , who had r e t a i n e d f u l l c o n t r o l of B u l g a r i a n p o l i c y
d e s p i t e powerful German i n f l u e n c e , d i e d on August 28, 1943,
e l e v e n d a y s a f t e r r e t u r n i n g from a stormy m e e t i n g w i t h Hitler.
I t h a s been s u g g e s t e d t h a t the K i n g , s e e i n g the war t u r n i n g
a g a i n s t Germany, had d e c i d e d , like Italy, t o come to an agree-
19
ment w i t h the A l l i e s . H i s death left a power vacuum i n Bulg-
a r i a w h i c h h i s s u c c e s s o r , Crown P r i n c e Simeon, s t i l l a minor,
was u n a b l e to f i l l . A Regency l e d by the l a t e K i n g ' s brother,
C y r i l , was s e t up. The F i l o v government f e l l i n May 1944 and
v a s r e p l a c e d by a new a d m i n i s t r a t i o n under B a g r i a n o v , a former
A g r a r i a n . On August 2 2 , 1944, i t was announced t h a t a l l B u l g a r i a n
t r o o p s would be w i t h d r a w n from S e r b i a n t e r r i t o r y and on t h e
f o l l o w i n g day, B u l g a r i a d e c l a r e d t h a t she had " o f f i c i a l l y
* 20
withdrawn from t h e war." On September 2 , t h e Regency s e t up
•

a new government l e d by the r i g h t - w i n g p o l i t i c i a n , M u r a v i e v .

It. represented t h o s e p a r t i e s who opposed the pro-German p o l i c y
but were u n w i l l i n g t o renounce t h e i r c o u n t r y ' s g a i n s i n Macedonia
1 9 . N.P. K i k o l a e v , L a d e s t i n e e t r a g i q u e d'un r o i . U p p s a l a ,
1952, p. 186, would seem t o i n d i c a t e t h a t a change o f p o l i t i c a l
o r i e n t a t i o n was imminent a t t h e time o f B o r i s ' s d e a t h . For the
connection between t h e two, s e e i b i d . . pp. 93-5 and I 8 6 - 9 6 . Cf.
a l s o Padev, op. c i t . , pp. 77-78 and F . von Papen, Memoirs.
London, 1952, pp. 501-2.
20. M.Padev, D i m i t r o v w a s t e s no b u l l e t s . London, 1948, pp. 34-
 (212)

The f o r m a t i o n of t h i s government l e d the S o v i e t Union to

d e c l a r e war on B u l g a r i a on September 5, Four days l a t e r , in
a coup d ' e t a t timed to c o i n c i d e w i t h the a r r i v a l of the Red Army,
the F a t h e r l a n d Front s e i z e d power, Kimon G h e o r g i e v once more
became Prime M i n i s t e r and an a r m i s t i c e was signed between
B u l g a r i a and the A l l i e s on October 28, 1944. A c c o r d i n g to the
p o s t - w a r government i n B e l g r a d e :
"The Y u g o s l a v government a l l o w e d and rendered possible
a c e r t a i n amount of p a r t i c i p a t i o n by the B u l g a r i a n Army
i n the f i n a l operations a g a i n s t the German t r o o p s i n
Yugoslavia, despite the heavy wounds i n f l i c t e d by the
21
Bulgarian F a s c i s t invaders of Y u g o s l a v territory."
Through i t s d i r e c t i o n of m i l i t a r y o p e r a t i o n s and i t s
d o m i n a t i n g i n f l u e n c e i n the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n Front, the
Communist P a r t y was soon i n f u l l c o n t r o l of Y u g o s l a v i a . Marshal
T i t o , who was Prime M i n i s t e r of the new republic, outlined
Yugoslavia's future p o l i c y w i t h B u l g a r i a i n a speech a t
Mladenovac on J u l y 9, 1945:
"Yugoslavia has c l o s e , comradely r e l a t i o n s of kinship
with B u l g a r i a . Those b a r r i e r s w h i c h were c r e a t e d , not by
the B u l g a r i a n peasantry or w o r k e r s , n o t by Y u g o s l a v w o r k e r s
or p e a s a n t s , but by Y u g o s l a v and Bulgarian reactionaries
and f o r e i g n i m p e r i a l i s t s , a r e down. The fence i s down.
Today, Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a a r e on the r o a d towards
complete u n i t y a g a i n s t any who may d a r e to a s s a i l their
22
l i b e r t y and independence."
T h i s v i e w was echoed by K o l a r o v , one of the l e a d i n g Communists
and Dimitrov's successor, on November 2 9 , 1945. L a t e r i n h i s
speech, Kolarov. d e c l a r e d :
"The Bulgarian p e o p l e s i n c e r e l y welcome the formation
21. Y u g o s l a v White Book, op. c i t . , p. 154.
22. Y u g o s l a v Embassy O f f i c e , Review of P o l i c y . Speech by
by M a r s h a l T i t o . B e l g r a d e , 1945.
 (213)

of the Macedonian f e d e r a l u n i t w i t h i n the frontiers

23
o f the D e m o c r a t i c F e d e r a l Y u g o s l a v i a . "
On October 9, 1946, the B u l g a r i a n V i c e - P r e m i e r also admitted
t h a t Macedonia was no l o n g e r a s o u r c e of f r i c t i o n between
the two countries:
" T i t o ' s Y u g o s l a v i a and the B u l g a r i a of the F a t h e r l a n d
Front are ready to s u p p o r t w i t h a l l t h e i r might the
u n i o n of the Macedonian people i n . i t s own people's
r e p u b l i c of Macedonia w i t h i n the framework of the
24
F e d e r a l People's R e p u b l i c of Y u g o s l a v i a . "
A f t e r t h e war, to prove t h a t t h e r e was now no ill-will between
the two c o u n t r i e s , Y u g o s l a v i a undertook a whole s e r i e s of
measures to " n o r m a l i z e " h e r r e l a t i o n s w i t h B u l g a r i a . R e p a r a t i o n
c l a i m s to the v a l u e of 25: m i l l i o n d o l l a r s f o r damage done by
the B u l g a r i a n Army on Y u g o s l a v t e r r i t o r y were w a i v e d , as was
a c l a i m f o r r e s t i t u t i o n o f p a r t of t h e goods w h i c h B u l g a r i a n
25
t r o o p s had removed to t h e i r c o u n t r y . Both t h e s e generous a c t s
were acknowledged by the B u l g a r i a n government, i n the S o b r a n j e ,
2 6
on August 2 5 , 1947.
Such a c t i o n s l e d to a speedy rapprochement and t h e r e were
hopes of some k i n d of c o n f e d e r a t i o n between the two countries.
The q u e s t i o n of B a l k a n f e d e r a t i o n and i n p a r t i c u l a r of a
f e d e r a t i v e u n i o n between Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a had been
under d i s c u s s i o n s i n c e November 1944 when K a r d e l j , one of the
l e a d i n g f i g u r e s i n the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t , went to
27
S o f i a to t a l k i t o v e r w i t h B u l g a r i a n l e a d e r s . At that time,
although both p a r t i e s were agreed t h a t i t was in principle
d e s i r a b l e , no p r o g r e s s had been p o s s i b l e . T h i s was due to two
f a c t o r s . One was the u n f a v o u r a b l e a t t i t u d e of the W e s t e r n Allies,
the o t h e r , the d i f f i c u l t y of d e c i d i n g on what terms f e d e r a t i o n
23. Y u g o s l a v White Book, op. cit.. p. 158.
24. Ibid.. loc. c i t . 25. D e d i j e r , op. c i t . . p. 313.
26. Yugoslav White Book, op. cit., pp. 155-56.
27. D e d i j e r , op. c i t . , loc. c i t .
 (214)

should take p l a c e . The B u l g a r i a n s w i s h e d f o r a u n i o n between

the two c o u n t r i e s on e q u a l terms, w h i l s t t h e Y u g o s l a v a t t i t u d e ,
as summarized by D e d i j e r , was a s f o l l o w s . They m a i n t a i n e d that
"Yugoslavia c o n s i s t s of s i x separate r e p u b l i c s which
a r e e q u a l members o f t h e Y u g o s l a v f e d e r a t i o n ; t h a t some
of t h e s e r e p u b l i c s , l i k e S e r b i a and Montenegro f o r example,
had been independent s t a t e s l o n g b e f o r e B u l g a r i a and t h a t
a federation could only be c r e a t e d i f B u l g a r i a became one
28
of t h e s e v e n South S l a v s t a t e s i n t h e new f e d e r a t i o n . "
Nevertheless, t h i s d i f f e r e n c e of opinion was r e g a r d e d as a
m a t t e r o f p r a c t i c a l d e t a i l and n o t a genuine o b s t a c l e to the
federative idea.
From 1945-7i R u s s i a n i n t e r e s t i n E a s t e r n Europe was s t i l l
p r i m a r i l y s t r a t e g i c and economic. As l o n g a s t h e s e countries
could be c o n t r o l l e d by teams o f S o v i e t a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and e x p e r t s
and t h e Red Army m a i n t a i n i t s d o m i n a t i n g m i l i t a r y p o s i t i o n i n
the area, the i d e o l o g i c a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s remained o f minor
i m p o r t a n c e . B u t by 1947t t h e r e was a movement among Communist
l e a d e r s towards a f e d e r a l o r q u a s i - f e d e r a l bloc between their
c o u n t r i e s w h i c h was l i a b l e to present Soviet R u s s i a with the
fait accompli of a Balkan o r E a s t European kind of t h i r d force:.
I n June 1 9 4 7 , T i t o s a i d i n p u b l i c f o r the f i r s t time -
and, s i g n i f i c a n t l y enough, t o W e s t e r n c o r r e s p o n d e n t s - t h a t
the " f r e e B a l k a n p e o p l e s " s h o u l d form " a s t r o n g m o n o l i t h i c
29
entity." A t t h e end o f J u l y , a B u l g a r i a n delegation, l e d by
Dimitrov, v i s i t e d Yugoslavia and had a t o p - l e v e l conference
with Yugoslav l e a d e r s a t Bled. At the Conference, the d r a f t
t e x t o f a t r e a t y between t h e two c o u n t r i e s was approved and
s e v e r a l agreements g o v e r n i n g customs f a c i l i t i e s and economic
c o - o p e r a t i o n were s i g n e d . A t the end o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e , D i m i t r o v
s a i d : "We a r e happy t o note t h a t a l l q u e s t i o n s were s e t t l e d i n
28. I b i d . , p. 314.
2 9 . G. I o n e s c u , The Break-up o f t h e S o v i e t E m p i r e i n E a s t e r n
E u r o p e . London, I 9 6 5 , p. 3 0 .
 (215)

30
full unanimity between t h e two government d e l e g a t i o n s . "
A Yugoslav government d e l e g a t i o n headed by M a r s h a l T i t o , paid
a return v i s i t to B u l g a r i a i n November 1947. The visit waa
made the o c c a s i o n f o r the s i g n i n g of t h e T r e a t y w h i c h had
been approved a t the B l e d Conference.
The T r e a t y of F r i e n d s h i p , C o - o p e r a t i o n and Mutual Assist-
ance, s i g n e d on November 27, 1947, p l e d g e d the two countries
to " c o - o p e r a t e c l o s e l y and f u l l y f o r the b e n e f i t of both c o u n t -
r i e s on a l l q u e s t i o n s r e l a t i n g to the f u t u r e of t h e i r peoples
and t h e i r mutual r e l a t i o n s . " ^ ^ A t the time, the R u s s i a n s had no
o b j e c t i o n to the T r e a t y . B e f o r e i t was signed, a draft copy
had been s e n t to Moscow. The o n l y p o i n t w h i c h the R u s s i a n s had
questioned c o n c e r n e d the d u r a t i o n of the T r e a t y . They suggested
t h a t the time l i m i t should be twenty y e a r s and n o t "for ever"
32
as had been o r i g i n a l l y proposed. There i s no r e a s o n t o doubt
the s i n c e r i t y o f B u l g a r i a n l e a d e r s a t t h i s t i m e . D i m i t r o v was
speaking the t r u t h when he c a l l e d t h e Treaty
" a s i n c e r e e x p r e s s i o n of the s o v e r e i g n w i l l of our
peoples to l i v e i n peace and brotherly: r e l a t i o n s , to help
e a c h o t h e r i n a f r a t e r n a l manner, to work t o g e t h e r side
by s i d e f o r p r o s p e r i t y , to defend o u r s e l v e s together
a g a i n s t a l l enemies, to work t o g e t h e r i n the stabilization
of a l a s t i n g peace i n the B a l k a n s , i n South-East Europe
33
and the whole w o r l d . "
T i t o h i m s e l f t o l d the crowds i n S o f i a t h a t "we s h a l l e s t a b l i s h
c o - o p e r a t i o n so g e n e r a l and so c l o s e t h a t the q u e s t i o n of
34
federation w i l l be a mere f o r m a l i t y . " ^ A fortnight later,
Koetov, then B u l g a r i a n V i c e - P r e m i e r , who was l a t e r to be killed
d u r i n g the S t a l i n i s t purge, s a i d c o n f i d e n t l y t h a t e v e n t s would
30. Yugoslav White Book, op. cit.. loc. c i t .
31. Ibid., loc. c i t . 32. D e d i j e r , OP. c i t . . p. 328.
33. Y u g o s l a v White Book, op. cit., loc.c i t .
34. Maclean, op. c i t . , p. 360
 (216)

l e a d " i n t h e n e a r f u t u r e t o a u n i o n of a l l South S l a v s and

35
to t h e c r e a t i o n o f a common S l a v country."
S t a l i n r e g a r d e d t h e s e moves w i t h some a l a r m . On J a n u a r y
28, 1948, P r a v d a p u b l i s h e d a scathing condemnation of t h e whole
i d e a . The paper d e c l a r e d : "These c o u n t r i e s need no questionable
36
or f a b r i c a t e d f e d e r a t i o n o r c o n f e d e r a t i o n o r customs u n i o n "
and, soon a f t e r , t e l e g r a m s were s e n t t o S o f i a and B e l g r a d e
37
ordering t h a t t h e y promptly send d e l e g a t i o n s t o Moscow.
A c c o r d i n g to D j i l a s , one o f t h e Y u g o s l a v r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s who
was present, t h e two d e l e g a t i o n s met S t a l i n i n a b i t t e r and
stormy e n c o u n t e r a t t h e K r e m l i n on F e b r u a r y 10. E a r l y i n t h e
meeting, Molotov i s r e p o r t e d t o have s t a t e d t h a t t h e Y u g o s l a v -
Bulgarian T r e a t y had been s i g n e d n o t o n l y w i t h o u t t h e knowledge
of, but c o n t r a r y to t h e w i s h e s o f , the S o v i e t Government, who
w i s h e d B u l g a r i a to make no p o l i t i c a l a l l i a n c e s before a d e f i n i t i v e
TO
peace t r e a t y had been s i g n e d . L a t e r , S t a l i n ' s a i d t h a t he had
n o t h i n g a g a i n s t a f e d e r a t i o n between Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a -
39
i n f a c t they could c r e a t e one i m m e d i a t e l y . The atmosphere
of the meeting and t h e h a r s h a t t i t u d e of the H u s s i a n leader
mad? a bad i m p r e s s i o n upon t h e Y u g o s l a v delegation:
"When t h e Y u g o s l a v d e l e g a t e s went back to t h e i r
Embassy, t h e i r unanimous o p i n i o n was t h a t S t a l i n had
demanded an immediate f e d e r a t i o n between Y u g o s l a v i a and
B u l g a r i a i n o r d e r to break up the u n i t y o f Y u g o s l a v i a .
Therefore the Yugoslav delegates came t o t h e c o n c l u s i o n
40
t h a t they s h o u l d n o t h u r r y the f e d e r a t i o n w i t h Bulgaria."
A month l a t e r , Molotov and S t a l i n began to a t t a c k t h e Y u g o s l a v
l e a d e r s i n a s e r i e s of l e t t e r s . D e d i j e r h a s s a i d that:
"the threat of T i t o ' s popularity coupled w i t h t h e
prospect o f a South S l a v f e d e r a t i o n , t o a l l i n t e n t s and
purposes independent of t h e S o v i e t Union and f r e e from the
35. Ionescu, op. c i t . . loc. c i t . 38« D j i l a s , op. c i t . . p. 157«
3 6 . D e d i j e r , op. c i t . . pp. 323—4. 3 9 . Ibid., p. I 6 0 .
37. 1 bid.. l o c . c i t . 40. D e d i j e r , op. c i t . . p. 3 3 2 .
 (217)

d i r e c t i o n of the K r e m l i n , were the major f a c t o r s i n

41
p r e c i p i t a t i n g the 1948 c r i s i s with the S o v i e t Union."
Un June 28, 1948, Y u g o s l a v i a was e x p e l l e d from the "family
of f r a t e r n a l Communist p a r t i e s . " T h i s excommunication s h a t t e r e d
the most r e c e n t hopes of a s e t t l e m e n t between the two countries.
A l t h o u g h the B u l g a r i a n government h a s t e n e d to s a y t h a t the
Cominform r e s o l u t i o n would i n no way a f f e c t the f r i e n d l y r e l a t i o n s
between them, c o n t a c t between them d e t e r i o r a t e d and, after a
few months, a B u l g a r i a n spokesman on f o r e i g n a f f a i r s was forced
to admit t h a t i t was i m p o s s i b l e to s e p a r a t e p a r t y i s s u e s from
42
those of the S t a t e . The e x p u l s i o n a l s o h e r a l d e d the r e t u r n
43
of the armed c o m i t a d j i s and the r e c u r r e n c e of f r o n t i e r i n c i d e n t s
44 45
r e m i n i s c e n t of pre-war d a y s . Y u g o s l a v o f f i c i a l s were e x p e l l e d ,
and t h e r e were r e p o r t s of a t t a c k s a g a i n s t Y u g o s l a v c i t i z e n s
46
ii nn BB uu ll gg aa rrii a . The Y u g o s l a v a u t h o r i t i e s saw t h i s new B u l g a r i a n
policy as
"an a t t e m p t to break the ground f o r the forcible
detachment of the P e o p l e s ' Republic of Macedonia from
Yugoslavia, w h i c h i s an e x p r e s s i o n of the G r e a t e r Bulgarian
p o l i c y of the p r e s e n t Bulgarian s t a t e and Party leaders.
The latter will not and do n o t want to, r e c o n c i l e t h e m s e l v e s
to the f a c t t h a t the overwhelming m a j o r i t y of the Macedonian
people won t h e i r ' n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n on the b a s i s of the
r i g h t of s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n , through the f o u n d a t i o n of the
47
Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia."
41. I b i d . . p. 314.
«i

42. Y u g o s l a v White Book, p. 17. Documents nos. 23-24, pp. .

78-79.
43. I b i d . , p. 41. See a l s o document nos. 254-60, pp. 393-401
44. I b i d . , document nos. 270-75, pp. 417-24.
45- I b i d . . document no. 73, PP- 1 9 5 - 9 6 . Between June 1949-
J a n u a r y 1950, B u l g a r i a e x p e l l e d 10 Y u g o s l a v officials.
46. I b i d . . document nos. 78 (p. 206) and 80 (p. 209).
47. 1 b i d . . p. 41. See a l s o document nos. 254-60, pp. 393-401.
 (218)

I n f a c t , B u l g a r i a and the Macedonian i s s u e v e r e once more

being u s e d a s pawns by an e x t e r n a l power opposed to Yugoslavia..
I n the p a s t , i t had been I t a l y and Germany; now i t was Russia.
On October 1, 1949, a f t e r a mere two y e a r s , the Bulgarian
government o f f i c i a l l y renounced the 1947 T r e a t y of F r i e n d s h i p . ^
Shortly after this, the m i l i t a r y s t r e n g t h of B u l g a r i a was
r a i s e d from the 65,000, p e r m i t t e d under the P e a c e T r e a t y , to
220,000 and e i g h t B u l g a r i a n d i v i s i o n s were a s s e m b l e d on the
49
Yugoslav f r o n t i e r . T h i s manoeuvre came a t a time when t h e r e
was a l r e a d y g r e a t t e n s i o n between R u s s i a and t h e Western nations.
Yugoslavia, w h i c h had r e f u s e d to a c c e p t the M a r s h a l l Plan, now
found h e r s e l f i n a d i f f i c u l t p o s i t i o n . Having been expelled
from the S o v i e t b l o c , Y u g o s l a v i a was now i s o l a t e d and a p r e y
to e x t e r n a l m i l i t a r y i n t e r v e n t i o n . Such a t h r e a t to Yugoslavia's
hard-won independence - and a r e p e t i t i o n o f the e v e n t s of' A p r i l
50
1941 was by no means out of the q u e s t i o n - brought to an end
all prospect of f r i e n d l y r e l a t i o n s between the two countries
and the rapprochement of the p o s t - w a r e r a , w h i c h of a l l a t t e m p t s
to u n i t e the South S l a v p e o p l e s p r o b a b l y had the g r e a t e s t chance
of s u c c e s s , came to nought.

Thus the problem remained the same. D e s p i t e repeated efforts

to b r i n g them t o g e t h e r , these two South S l a v s t a t e s of Yugoslavia

48. I b i d . . document no. 57» pp. 1 5 3 - 6 1 . The B u l g a r i a n s broke

three other t r e a t i e s a t t h i s t i m e . The Agreement on Facilitating
C r o s s i n g o f the F r o n t i e r ( s i g n e d on August 2 7 , 1947) was a b r o g a t e d
on October 3» 1949* the P r o t o c o l on P o s t a l and T e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n
services ( signed on F e b r u a r y 7, 1945) was renounced on March 1,
1950, and the Agreement on the u t i l i z a t i o n of p r o p e r t i e s c u t
by the Y u g o s l a v - B u l g a r i a n frontier line ( s i g n e d on August 25,
1947) was c a n c e l l e d by o f f i c i a l note on June 30, 1950 =
49. I b i d . . p. 46. 50. Maclean, op. c i t . , p. 400.
 (219)

and B u l g a r i a remain independent and d i v i d e d . E v e r y t h i n g -

language, r a c e , r e l i g i o n , economics, h i s t o r y and, above a l l ,
p o l i t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e - d e m o n s t r a t e s t h a t they s h o u l d be one.
Y e t e a c h a t t e m p t t o promote c l o s e r r e l a t i o n s between them has
ended i n estrangement and renewed b i t t e r n e s s . B e f o r e the F i r s t
World War, from 1918-41, and a f t e r the Second World War, t h e

p a t t e r n has been r e p e a t e d a g a i n and a g a i n . On no fewer than

51 -
seven o c c a s i o n s , t h e r e were hopes t h a t the work o f d e d i c a t e d
men would be crowned w i t h s u c c e s s . On no fewer t h a n seven
52
occasions, t h e s e hopes were dashed. No s i n g l e p e r s o n , party
or c o u n t r y can be h e l d r e s p o n s i b l e and t h e r e i s no s i n g l e f a c t o r
w h i c h can e x p l a i n t h i s s a d i n a b i l i t y t o c r e a t e u n i t y , stability
and f r i e n d s h i p between them.
T w e n t y - t h r e e y e a r s , the p e r i o d from 1918-41, i s by h i s t o r i c a l
standards a s i z e a b l e span o f time; i t amounts t o the passing
of a g e n e r a t i o n . It i s a p e r i o d w h i c h tended t o c r y s t a l l i z e
the e x p e r i e n c e and d i s i l l u s i o n m e n t o f a c e n t u r y of Y u g o s l a v -
B u l g a r i a n r e l a t i o n s . I n t h e s e y e a r s between the w a r s , there
are c e r t a i n f i x e d p o i n t s i n the p o l i t i c a l firmament. There are
Yugoslavia's l e a d e r s and B u l g a r i a ' s l e a d e r s , the Y u g o s l a v p e o p l e
and the B u l g a r i a n p e o p l e . The s u p p o r t e r s of Balkan Federation
are t h e r e a l s o and the Macedonian " n a t i o n a l i s t s " Finally,
outside the B a l k a n s but d e e p l y involved i nt h e i r a f f a i r s , there
are the G r e a t Powers;' I t a l y and Germany, R u s s i a , B r i t a i n and
France.
Y u g o s l a v i a emerged from the F i r s t World War a s the most
p o w e r f u l and i n f l u e n t i a l n a t i o n i n the B a l k a n s . I t had s t r o n g
m i l i t a r y f o r c e s and c l o s e c o n n e c t i o n s w i t h the West. The d y n a s t y ,
drawn from S e r b i a n and Montenegrin r o y a l f a m i l i e s , was f i r m l y
e s t a b l i s h e d and went back t o the days o f the l i b e r a t i o n from
the T u r k s . Above a l l , i t had been v i c t o r i o u s i n war - i n t h r e e
s u c c e s s i v e w a r s , w h i c h had l i b e r a t e d the r e m a i n i n g S l a v s under
51c I n 1867, 1904, 1 9 1 2 , 1923, 1 9 3 4 , 1937 and 1947.
52. I n 1885, 1913f 1 9 1 5 , 1 9 2 3 , 1934, 1941 and 1949.
 (220)

f o r e i g n r u l e and u n i t e d them i n t o a s i n g l e Yugoslav s t a t e *

For a c e n t u r y , S e r b i a had regarded h e r s e l f as the t o r c h - b e a r e r
o f the Yugo-Slav movement. Whether her m i s s i o n was motivated
by n a t i o n a l i s m or "Serbian I m p e r i a l i s m " , the t a s k o f u n i t i n g
the Slav peoples o f South-East Europe was accomplished and the
T r i u n e Kingdom r e p r e s e n t e d the t r i u m p h o f the Yugo-Slav movement.
Despite t h e i r b i t t e r i n t e r n a l q u a r r e l s and r i v a l r i e s , the aim
of Yugoslavian statesman i n the p e r i o d 1918-41, was to consol-
i d a t e t h e i r Kingdom and t o m a i n t a i n the B t a t u B quo. King Alex-
ander, Pas*ic',Stojadinovic and even Radic, s u b s c r i b e d t o t h i s
view. Thus, a l t h o u g h Y u g o s l a v i a was s i n c e r e i n her d e s i r e t o
show f r i e n d s h i p towards, and seek c l o s e r r e l a t i o n s w i t h , Bulg-
a r i a , she was determined t o a v o i d any a l t e r a t i o n t o the s t a t u s
quo and r e a c t e d b i t t e r l y t o any B u l g a r i a n attempt t o undermine
the Kingdom.
To preserve the t e r r i t o r i a l i n t e g r i t y o f Y u g o s l a v i a and
g i v e the Kingdom the necessary time t o s o l v e i t s i n t e r n a l
d i f f i c u l t i e s , the c o u n t r y needed peaces As i n the Balkans, so
i n the w i d e r f i e l d o f European diplomacy, Y u g o s l a v i a was a
determined s u p p o r t e r o f the Peace Settlements I n pursuing this
p o l i c y , she found common cause w i t h the o t h e r Succession s t a t e s -
Czechoslovakia, Rumania and Greece. W i t h them, Y u g o s l a v i a worked
f o r an area-wide c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f E a s t e r n Europe, f i r s t through
the L i t t l e Entente, then i n the Balkan Conferences, l a t e r i n
the Balkan Entente and u l t i m a t e l y , i t was hoped, i n a Balkan
u n i o n . Such a u n i o n or c o n f e d e r a t i o n would e s t a b l i s h a l a s t i n g
peace i n the Balkans and p r e s e n t a u n i t e d f r o n t i n the event
o f o f any f u t u r e European c o n f l i c t . The Balkans, t h e n , w o u l d
c o n s t i t u t e a s o l i d t h i r d f o r c e i n European a f f a i r s and no longer
be a happy h u n t i n g ground f o r e x t e r n a l powers anxious t o provoke
war or seek cheap t e r r i t o r i a l g a i n s . •'
B u l g a r i a , however, d i d n o t see the s i t u a t i o n i n the same
l i g h t , tier c o u n t r y had been l i b e r a t e d by Russia a t a g r e a t
expense i n money and human l i f e . A f t e r her l i b e r a t i o n and
 (221)

by the T r e a t y of San Stefano, the proposed "Big B u l g a r i a "

vas a huge Kingdom s t r e t c h i n g r i g h t across the Balkan p e n i n s u l a .
Even when the Great Powers blocked t h i s proposal a t the Congress
of B e r l i n , the T u r k i s h government c o n t i n u e d t o recognize the
B u l g a r i a n Exarchate Church as the o f f i c i a l Orthodox body i n
T u r k i s h Macedonia. The Russian i n t e n t i o n and the T u r k i s h
r e c o g n i t i o n were seen by B u l g a r i a n l e a d e r s t o be an open
admission of B u l g a r i a ' s r i g h t t o Macedonia. Yet, on each occasion
upon which she attempted t o r e c o v e r what she b e l i e v e d t o be
r i g h t f u l l y hers - i n 1912, 1913 and 1915, she met r e s i s t a n c e
from o t h e r Balkan s t a t e s , n o t a b l y S e r b i a and Greece. Whether
her aims were governed by n a t i o n a l greed o r " l e g i t i m a t e rights",
B u l g a r i a s u s t a i n e d a sense o f t h w a r t e d g r e a t n e s s . One writer
has s a i d :
" I t i s because B u l g a r i a has a p r e - c a p i t a l i s t economy,
i s f r e e from any marked s o c i a l d i v i s i o n s , or r e l i g i o u s or
i d e o l o g i c a l problems, t h a t , by reason o f her remo.te p o s i t i o n
from the main c u r r e n t s o f ideas and economic developments,
i t i s n a t u r a l t h a t p o l i t i c a l l i f e should t u r n p r i n c i p a l l y
t o s e n t i m e n t a l q u e s t i o n s of n a t i o n a l p o l i c y Schools,
t r a d i t i o n , r e l i g i o n and Press have hammered home, from
1914-44, the legend o f San Stefano. For t h i s reason,
B u l g a r i a ' s p s y c h o l o g i c a l s t r u c t u r e bears the i n d e l i b l e
53
1 1
marks o f a happiness u n f u l f i l l e d .
By 1918, the B u l g a r i a n people must have r e a l i z e d the
m i s f o r t u n e s which t h i s quest f o r greatness entailed,, As a
people, t h e y d i d n o t renounce what they b e l i e v e d t o be histor-
i c a l l y t h e i r s b u t , l i k e S t a m b o l i s k i , t h e y looked t o a s o l u t i o n
of the problem through a p o l i c y o f c l o s e r f r i e n d s h i p w i t h
Y u g o s l a v i a . On a p u r e l y personal l e v e l , the a t t i t u d e of the
B u l g a r i a n people towards the Yugoslavs i n the i n t e r - w a r p e r i o d ,
was f r i e n d l y . S t a m b o l i s k i ' s government o f 1919-23 and the
F a t h e r l a n d F r o n t of 1944-47 were probably the governments most
53. P. P i p i n e l i s , C a i t i f f B u l g a r i a . London, 1944, pp. 57-8.
 (222)

r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f popular f e e l i n g s i n c e the F i r s t World War.

Both these governments vere i n t e r e s t e d i n the f a t e o f Macedonia,
b u t b o t h shoved a d e s i r e t o shelve the p a s t and work towards
a genuine South Slav rapprochement.

Such a p o l i c y was apposed by a p o w e r f u l m i n o r i t y i n

B u l g a r i a . I n any c o u n t r y t h e r e are those who may be l a b e l l e d
" r e a c t i o n a r i e s " and i n B u l g a r i a , those who found themselves
unable t o renounce t h e i r c o u n t r y ' s r i g h t t o greatness (and t o
Macedonia) r e s o l u t e l y r e f u s e d t o accept the Peace S e t t l e m e n t
aB b i n d i n g upon t h e i r n a t i o n . E m b i t t e r e d by the c o u n t r y ' s p o v e r t y ,
i n f l a m e d by d e f e a t , devoured by h a t r e d and revenge, t h e y were
unscrupulous i n t h e i r attempts t o secure a r e v i s i o n o f the
T r e a t y o f N e u i l l y . The p o l i t i c a l c a p i t a l o f B u l g a r i a , S o f i a , ..
c o n t a i n e d many o f the most a r d e n t Macedonian n a t i o n a l i s t s and
because o f t h e i r p r o p e n s i t y f o r v i o l e n c e and murder, t h e y o b t a i n e d
a power and a u t h o r i t y out o f a l l p r o p o r t i o n t o t h e i r numbers.
Using as t h e i r weapons, v i o l e n c e , murder and i n t i m i d a t i o n , t h e y
secured support f o r t h e i r a n t i - Y u g o s l a v p o l i c y and o f f i c i a l
t o l e r a n c e f o r t h e i r c o m i t a d j i r a i d s a g a i n s t Y u g o s l a v i a . The
governments o f 1923-34 and 1935-44, and the B u l g a r i a n l e a d e r s
of these y e a r s , r e p r e s e n t e d n o t the B u l g a r i a n people but t h i s
more extreme and p o w e r f u l m i n o r i t y .
In this d i f f i c u l t p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n , the p o s i t i o n o f the
King was a l l - i m p o r t a n t . U n f o r t u n a t e l y f o r B u l g a r i a , the F i r s t
World War had s e r i o u s l y weakened the power o f the monarchy, and
King B o r i s - as h i s most t r e n c h a n t c r i t i c has p o i n t e d out - was
not a Bulgarian:
"These Coburgs, an a l i e n dynasty, f e a r e d t h a t South
Slav f r i e n d s h i p would l e a d t o South Slav f e d e r a t i o n , and
f e d e r a t i o x ^ i m p l i e s a dual Bulgaro-Yugoslav monarchy i n w h i c h
the n a t i v e Slav, K a r a d j o r d j e v i 6 dynasty, r e i g n i n g a l r e a d y
over the g r e a t e r Kingdom would be p r e f e r r e d . I t has a l s o
been s a i d t h a t f e a r o f a South Slav F e d e r a t i o n was one o f
the prime motives i n King Ferdinand''s d e c i s i o n t o a t t a c k
 (223)

S e r b i a i n 1915 - f o r had t h e two c o u n t r i e s emerged from

the World War as f r i e n d s or a l l i e s , t h e movement f o r
54
f e d e r a t i o n might v e i l have been i r r e s i s t i b l e . "
Thus d u r i n g t h e g r e a t e r p a r t o f t h e p e r i o d from 1918-41,
B u l g a r i a was l e d by men opposed t o a l l t h a t Y u g o s l a v i a was, and
t o a l l t h a t she hoped t o achieve. Royal a p p r o v a l f o r t h e i r
p o l i c i e s endowed t h e i r h o s t i l e a c t i o n s w i t h a c e r t a i n r e s p e c t -
a b i l i t y . There i s ample evidence t o show t h a t King B o r i s
e x e r c i s e d f u l l c o n t r o l over h i s c o u n t r y * s f o r e i g n p o l i c y and
t h i s p o l i c y was i n s t r u m e n t a l i n d e s t r o y i n g a l l attempts a t
Balkan u n i t y or c o - o p e r a t i o n . W i t h o u t B u l g a r i a n p a r t i c i p a t i o n ,
the schemes and p o l i c i e s o f Y u g o s l a v i a , Rumania and Greece
i n e v i t a b l y appeared t o be d i r e c t e d ' a g a i n s t ' B u l g a r i a and t h i s ,
i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e b i t t e r n e s s and resentments w h i c h a l r e a d y e x i s t e d ,
c r e a t e d a p o t e n t and dangerous source o f d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n a t the
v e r y h e a r t o f t h e Balkan p e n i n s u l a .
Having t h i s a t t i t u d e towards Y u g o s l a v i a and her Balkan
neighbours, B u l g a r i a ' s n a t u r a l a l l i e s were t h e C e n t r a l Powers
and those who were e q u a l l y i n t e r e s t e d i n d e s t r o y i n g t h e "Yugoslav
mosaic". For t h i s reason, B u l g a r i a proved s u s c e p t i b l e t o
I t a l i a n i n f l u e n c e . More s i g n i f i c a n t however, i s t h e c o n n e c t i o n
w i t h Germany. I n t h e event o f any c o n t i n e n t a l war, B u l g a r i a
stood t o g a i n by a German v i c t o r y . N e i t h e r Russia nor t h e
Western powers were i n a p o s i t i o n t o o f f e r B u l g a r i a t e r r i t o r i a l
g a i n s a t t h e expense o f her neighbours - a l t h o u g h they have on
occasions sought t o do s o e But t h e C e n t r a l Powers, who almost
i n v a r i a b l y found themselves opposed t o S e r b i a - Y u g o s l a v i a , were
i n a p o s i t i o n t o a i d B u l g a r i a n expansion. Furthermore, t h e
g e o g r a p h i c a l l i n k o f t h e Danube, and t h e f i n a n c i a l t i e s w i t h
bankers i n Vienna and B e r l i n were a l s o c o n t r i b u t o r y f a c t o r s .
I n t h e i n t e r - w a r y e a r s , b o t h B u l g a r i a and Germany had a v e s t e d
i n t e r e s t i n t r e a t y r e v i s i o n and b o t h these i n t e r e s t s i n v o l v e d
the p a r t i t i o n o f Y u g o s l a v i a . When King Ferdinand f l e d from
54. J . Swire, B u l g a r i a n Conspiracy, London, 1939» p« 23.
 (224)

h i s c o u n t r y i n 1918, he s a i d on h i s a r r i v a l i n Vienna:
" f o r t h i r t y years, I t r i e d t o u n i t e B u l g a r i a w i t h Austria-Hungary
55
and Germany. I d i d n o t succeed. My m i s s i o n i s ended." For
d y n a s t i c reasons and a l s o because t h e pro-German p o l i c y vas
consonant w i t h t h e views o f t h e most p o w e r f u l p o l i t i c a l elements
i n B u l g a r i a , King B o r i s adopted t h e p o l i c y o f h i s f a t h e r , lie
conducted i t i n a more s u b t l e and c a u t i o u s manner, b u t t h e
o b j e c t was t h e same*
These then were the p r i n c i p a l o b s t a c l e s i n the p a t h o f
Y u g o s l a v - B u l g a r i a n r e l a t i o n s i n t h e p e r i o d 1918-41. D e s p i t e
the g r e a t e f f o r t s which were made, t h e powers o f d i s u n i t y ,
a n i m o s i t y and s t r i f e p r e v a i l e d . Post-war developments have
shown t h a t t h e problems o f t h e i n t e r - w a r years were by no. means
an i s o l a t e d episode. A l t h o u g h t h e Second World War brought an
end t o t h e j e a l o u s y and r i v a l r y between Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a ,
i t l e d t o e x t e r n a l i n t e r f e r e n c e by t h e S o v i e t Union. Had i t n o t
been f o r t h i s .Russian i n t r u s i o n , Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a might
w e l l have reached the stage where the q u e s t i o n o f f e d e r a t i o n
would indeed have been a mere f o r m a l i t y , . But ever s i n c e t h e
d e c l i n i n g power o f Ottoman r u l e .gave way t o independent nation
s t a t e s , t h e Balkans have been a prey t o e x t e r n a l intrusion,
e i t h e r d i p l o m a t i c o r m i l i t a r y . I n the course o f a c e n t u r y , f i v e
g r e a t n a t i o n s - A u s t r i a , I t a l y , Germany, Russia and now China -
have e s t a b l i s h e d a p o l i t i c a l f o o t h o l d i n the Balkan p e n i n s u l a .
Perhaps i t i s j u s t because t h e E a s t e r n Question was s o l v e d on
n a t i o n a l r a t h e r than i m p e r i a l l i n e s t h a t these t e n s i o n s have
o c c u r r e d . W i t h t h e South Slav peoples d i v i d e d - and from time
t o time a c t i v e l y h o s t i l e towards each o t h e r - the p e n i n s u l a
has c o n t i n u e d t o p r e s e n t an open i n v i t a t i o n t o Great Power
i n t r i g u e . Through t h e i r i n a b i l i t y t o r e s o l v e t h e i r own d i f f e r -
ences, Y u g o s l a v i a and B u l g a r i a have i n c u r r e d a legacy o f hate
55. K. Todorov, Balkan F i r e b r a n d . An a u t o b i o g r a p h y o f a
Rebel. S o l d i e r and Statesman, Chicago, 1943* p. 103«
 . (225)

and d i s t r u s t which o n l y time can h e a l . Yet, as l o n g as the d i r i

d i v i s i o n l a s t s , e x t e r n a l and h o s t i l e f o r c e s can s t i l l i n f l a m e
h i s t o r i c a l p r e j u d i c e , f o s t e r j e a l o u s y and f a n the f i r e s o f
s t r i f e . I n the years from 1918-41, we have seen the most a c t i v e
p e r i o d i n the h i s t o r y o f r e l a t i o n s between the two c o u n t r i e s .
We have seen the g r e a t e s t e f f o r t s f o r u n i t y and a l s o the
g r e a t e s t f a i l u r e and d e s p a i r . W h i l s t Belgrade and S o f i a remain
p o l i t i c a l l y d i v i d e d , t h e r e can be no sure f o u n d a t i o n f o r peace
and s t a b i l i t y i n the Balkans. For the South Slavs form the
m a j o r i t y o f the p o p u l a t i o n and the t e r r i t o r i e s they occupy
are s t r a t e g i c a l l y the most i m p o r t a n t . The a x i s - B e l g r a d e - S o f i a -
i s a genuine a x i s along which the d e s t i n y o f the Balkans r e v o l v e s .
And t h i s i s why the f u t u r e o f Y u g o s l a v - B u l g a r i a n r e l a t i o n s
w i l l remain the l a s t and most p e r p l e x i n g aspect o f the E a s t e r n
Question.
 (226)

Appendices.
 (227)

Appendix A 0

The A p r i l P r o t o c o l o f 1867.

"Whereas t h e present circumstances c a l l upon a l l

oppressed n a t i o n s i n Turkey t o take measures necessary f o r
t h e i r l i b e r a t i o n , we, t h e B u l g a r i a n s l i v i n g i n B u l g a r i a ,
Thrace and Macedonia, are assembled t o d e l i b e r a t e upon and
d i s c o v e r means f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f our dear f a t h e r l a n d , i n
o r d e r t h a t we m i g h t j o i n t h e ranks o f t h e f r e e n a t i o n s and
m a n i f e s t t o t h e w o r l d t h a t we exist.
I n order t o a t t a i n t h i s d e s i r a b l e end, i t i s necessary
t o s e l e c t a n e i g h b o u r i n g n a t i o n w h i c h , f o r our mutual b e n e f i t ,
w i l l a i d us t o a t t a i n our l i b e r a t i o n and f o r such a n a t i o n
we can p r e f e r no o t h e r t h a n t h e S e r b i a n , w h i c h i n i t s n a t i o n -
a l i t y , i t s f a i t h and i t s geographic p o s i t i o n , has been near
us f o r c e n t u r i e s ; our i n t e r e s t s t h e r e f o r e are i d e n t i c a l , and
hence o n l y w i t h t h e i r close b r o t h e r h o o d we can and w i l l become
an independent n a t i o n .
As a basis f o r such f r a t e r n a l rapprochement, we propose,
i n accordance w i t h e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s , t o adopt t h e f o l l o w i n g
twelve p o i n t s . -
1) A f r a t e r n a l u n i o n should be e f f e c t e d between t h e Serbs
and t h e Buigars under t h e name o f t h e Yugoslav Kingdom.
2) The Yugoslav Kingdom s h a l l c o n s i s t o f S e r b i a and B u l g -
aria ( t h e B u l g a r i a n lands t o i n c l u d e B u l g a r i a , Thrace and
Macedonia).
3) The head o f t h e new government s h a l l be t h e p r e s e n t
 (228)

P r i n c e o f S e r b i a , Michael Obrenovic w i t h the r i g h t o f

succession.

4) The Kingdom s h a l l have one n a t i o n a l f l a g , composed o f

the i n s i g n i a o f the two races.The same s h a l l h o l d f o r the
future coinage.
5) Each c o u n t r y s h a l l r e t a i n i t s own d i a l e c t f o r o f f i c i a l
use, hence the o f f i c i a l s w i l l be r e q u i r e d t o belong t o t h a t
n a t i o n a l i t y among which they serve and t o speak the d i a l e c t
of that country.
6) The Serbian laws i n f o r c e today are accepted by us and
s h a l l be t r a n s l a t e d i n t o the Buigar d i a l e c t . A l l the decrees
of the Yugoslav kingdom s h a l l be p u b l i s h e d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y ,
w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n , i n the two d i a l e c t s , Serbian and B u l g a r i a n .
7) The S t a t e r e l i g i o n s h a l l be Orthodoxy but a l l confessions
will be f r e e .
8) R e l i g i o u s m a t t e r s s h a l l be governed by an independent
synod, composed o f b o t h r a c e s . This synod s h a l l c o n s i s t o f
a M e t r o p o l i t a n Primate and the bishops o f the dioceses acc-
o r d i n g t o the d i a l e c t o f the p o p u l a t i o n . These nominations
must be confirmed i n every case by the g o v e r n i n g a u t h o r i t y .
9) The Head o f S t a t e s h a l l " s e l e c t the members o f t h e
m i n i s t e r i a l c a b i n e t from the two races.
10) The n a t i o n a l r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s h a l l be made up i n p r o p -
o r t i o n t o the p o p u l a t i o n o f the s t a t e and i n accordance
w i t h the form e x i s t i n g i n S e r b i a today f o r t h i s purpose.
11) The c a p i t a l o f the Yugoslav kingdom s h a l l be s e l e c t e d
by the n a t i o n a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s .
12) The head o f the c l e r g y and the synod s h a l l always
r e s i d e i n the c a p i t a l .
However, i n order t o b r i n g i n t o execution the common d e s i r e ,
we f i n d i t j u d i c i o u s t o choose a coiiuuifctee o f seven persons,
r e s i d i n g a t p r e s e n t i n Bucharest who w i l l occupy themselves,
as best they can i n the circumstances, i n the accomplishment o f
our n a t i o n a l d e s i r e .
 (229)

The members o f t h i s committee (named), s u b j e c t t o t h e

c o n v e n t i o n o f the f u t u r e Yugoslav kingdom, w i l l a c t i n the
s p i r i t o f the two f o l l o w i n g c o n d i t i o n s : -

1) The accord w i l l come i n t o f o r c e on the day when i t

i s signed by the S e r b i a n government.
2) The S e r b i a n government c o n s i d e r s i t s e l f bound by
t h i s c o n v e n t i o n t o l e n d a l l m a t e r i a l and moral a i d f o r
the accomplishment o f t h i s d e s i r e , conforming t o t h e
d e c i s i o n s o f the committee.
Hay God p r o t e c t us and h e l p us i n our sacred d e c i s i o n .
April 5, 1867.

Appendix B.

Official Statistics o f the Bulgarian

S t a t i s t i c a l Department 1926.

The s t a t i s t i c s g i v e the numbers o f those born beyond

Bulgarian f r o n t i e r s as f o l l o w s : -
From t e r r i t o r y now Greek, Macedonia 69,449.
(108,648) Thrace 38,572.
Elsewhere 627.
From t e r r i t o r y now Yugoslav South S e r b i 1,695.
(52,311) W. F r o n t i e r 14,770.
Elsewhere 5.846.
From t e r r i t o r y now Rumanian Bobrudja 23,334.
(29,846) Elsewhere 6,512.
From t e r r i t o r y now T u r k i s h In Europe 69,734.
(85,658) I n Asia 15.924.
276.463.
Of a l l these, 234,768 were o f f i c i a l l y d e s c r i b e d as B u l g a r i a n s .
Of them, 221,191 e m i g r a t e d between 1912-25.
These s t a t i s t i c s show t h a t o n l y 101,144 Macedonian immigrants
 (230)

were i n B u l g a r i a , o f whom t w o - t h i r d s came from Greek t e r r i t o r y .

These s t a t i s t i c s f l a t l y condemn Supremist propaganda
which claimed t h a t t h e N a t i o n a l Committee r e p r e s e n t e d
700,000 refugees from Yugoslav o p p r e s s i o n . I t i s a l s o t o be
noted t h a t t h e N a t i o n a l Committee claimed t o speak f o r "700,000
u n l i b e r a t e d B u l g a r i a n s " i n Yugoslavia - whereas Yugoslav f i g u r e s
f o r 1931 show the t o t a l Orthodox Slav p o p u l a t i o n as o n l y
321,000 i n t h e areas ceded t o Yugoslavia under and subsequent
t o t h e 1912 Serbo-Bulgarian T r e a t y ( i e . i n u n l i b e r a t e d T u r k i s h
t e r r i t o r y where t h e B u l g a r i a n Exarchate Church had been t h e
official church.

Appendix C.

Minorities w i t h i n Bulgaria.
The o f f i c i a l B u l g a r i a n s t a t i s t i c s show t h a t , w h i l s t
B u l g a r i a n ' n a t i o n a l i s t s bewailed the e x i s t e n c e o f " B u l g a r i a n
m i n o r i t i e s " abroad, t h e r e was a s i z e a b l e p r o p o r t i o n o f a l i e n
m i n o r i t i e s w i t h i n B u l g a r i a i t s e l f . These s t a t i s t i c s on
the B u l g a r i a n p o p u l a t i o n i n 1926 are g i v e n by G. Guenov,
Das S c h i c k s a l B u i g a r i e n s . B e r l i n , 1940, p. 128. Guenov was
a P r o f e s s o r o f S o f i a U n i v e r s i t y and h i s s t a t i s t i c s relate
to a p o p u l a t i o n o f 4,557,706, where 20Jfc belong t o m i n o r i t y
groups:-
Turks 588,105.
Tziganes 134,844.
Humanians 70,631.
Jews 46,558o
Armeni ans 27,322.
Greeks 10,564,,
Others 43.011.
?21 035.
t
 (231)

Appendix D.

Commercial Trade T r e a t i e s

Albania w i t h B u l g a r i a (1926); Greece (1926); Yugo-

slavia (1926)(1934).
Bulgaria " A l b a n i a (1926); Greece (1927); Turkey (1930);
Yugoslavia (1934).
Greece " A l b a n i a (1926); B u l g a r i a (1927); Turkey
(I930)(l934)s Yugoslavia (1927).
Turkey " B u l g a r i a (1930); Greece (1930)(1934)I
Rumania (1930); Y u g o s l a v i a (1933)•
Rumania " Turkey (1930); Yugoslavia (1930).
Yugoslavia " A l b a n i a ( 1 9 2 6 ) ( 1 9 3 4 ) ; Greece (1927); Rumania
(1930); Turkey (1933); B u l g a r i a (1934).

There were t h i r t e e n Trade T r e a t i e s signed between t h e

Balkan n a t i o n s i n t h e p e r i o d 1926-34. I have l i s t e d them
c o u n t r y by c o u n t r y . The source f o r these dates was R . J . Kerner
and H,N. Howard, The Balkan Conferences and t h e Balkan Entente
1930-35. Berkeley, C a l i f o r n i a , 1936, p. 22.
 (232)

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