BULGARIA MOVING TOWARDS WAR

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23248, 7 February 1941, Page 9

BULGARIA MOVING TOWARDS WAR

“Losing Control Of Situation” CLOSE WATCH BY TURKEY (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION,—COPYRIGHT.) (Received February 6, 10 p.m.) LONDON, February 6. The Sofia correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that King Boris of Bulgaria and his Government are both attempting to evade war, but they seem slowly to be losing control of the situation. The resignation of M. Bagrianoff from the Ministry of Agriculture shows that the policy of neutrality is cracking. Three divisions of newly called up troops are being sent to the Greek frontier. The effect of this would be to draw off Greek pressure on the Italians, and for this reason, the correspondent adds, this move is almost certainly a result of German influence. Meanwhile, Turkey remains watchful and quietly continues to prepare. The Istanbul correspondent of “The Times” says that Colonel Donovan, Mr Roosevelt’s special envoy, after meeting the Turkish Prime Minister (Dr. Saydam) and the Turkish Foreign Minister (Sukru Saracoglu), as well as military leaders, has left a good impression as a result of the clarification of America’s attitude. Turkey sees no reason to relax her vigilance. The semi-official newspaper “Ulus” urges the country to be fully prepared for war before the spring. The Turkish General Staff is confident that any frontal attack from Bulgaria against the Turkish fortifications in Thrace must fail, hut an attack would be dangerous if the enemy infiltrated _ across Bulgaria and took up positions on the Greek frontier.

Discussing such a possibility, the newspaper “Yeni Sabah declared that Turkey would act before the Germans reached the Greek frontier The Sofia ’correspondent ot ine Times” states that the resignation of M. Bagrianoff from the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture has caused a sensation in political circles. He is one of the King’s closest friends, and he was also very popular among the peasants, yet King Boris approved of his resignalt appears that M. Bagrianoff, who was over-confident, last week made a speech in Parliament criticising the economic policy. It is expected that the Cabinet will resign, but King Boris, who hitherto has conceded much, obviously does not like the latest manoeuvres. _ . „ The resignation of M. Bagrianoff weakens the Cabinet’s position, but it frees the Government of a politician who was aiming to institute a totalitarian economic system. It is not believed that the resignation will affect Bulgaria’s foreign policy. The Sofia correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph” states that it is reported from Berlin that officials there are surprised and disappointed b" the refusal of the Prime Minister (M Filoff) to agree to closer collaboration with Germany His actions are regarded as unfriendly. The press was recently hailing M. Bagrianoff as the coming Premier.