CRISIS IN BULGARIA

Evening Star, Issue 25046, 13 December 1943, Page 3

CRISIS IN BULGARIA

EMERGENCY SESSIONS OF CABINET POSSIBLE ATTEMPT TO BREAK WITH GERMANY LONDON, December 11. The Berlin radio stated that the Bulgarian Parliament will "cease functioning " for a week as from to-day. The deputies will receive one week's leave, at the end of which they "will reassemble and deal with the new Budget. Emergency sessions of the Bulgarian Cabinet are reported from Sofia. The' nature of the emergency can hardly be in doubt. The Istanbul correspondent of the British United Press says that the Bulgarian Prime Minister, M. Bojiloff, the Foreign Minister, M. Shishmanoff, and the Minister of the Interior, M. Miahailov, have resigned, according to reports from Sofia. The resignations are reported to be due to the strength of the Bulgarian Opposition. ' ■ , The German Overseas News Agency's diplomatic correspondent says: "Bulgaria's relations with Turkey have always been good. The Bulgarian army, which is completely intact and is well equipped, forms a solid basis for defence. Bulgarian statesmen were satisfied with the results of their last visit to Hjtler, which gave them an insight into Germany's strength and potentialities, and they well know what they have to defend." Other reports state that Germany warned Bulgaria that if Bulgaria changes her course without consulting Berlin this will be considered an unfriendly step, resulting in counter-measures. The ' Daily Telegraph's ' diplomatic correspondent says that reports from European sources to-day indicated that a crisis is expected in Bulgaria during the week-end. The German Ambassador to Turkey, Herr von Papen, is believed on his return to Ankara to have notified the Turkish Government that Istanbul and other towns would be bombed the moment Turkey became an Allied belligerent. A German attempt to provoke an incident oil the Turco-tßulgarian frontier, in which the Turks would be embroiled with the Bulgarians and Germans before they are ready to enter the war, is considered in competent circles as a possibility in t the near future. The Turco-Bulgarian frontier at present is fully manned by Turkish and Bulgarian and German troops. Turkey would, of coure, be blamed for any incidental. Already there have been unconfirmed reports of & clash between Turkish and Bulgarian patrols. Once Germany had Turkey prematurely involved in hostilities, the ' Telegraph's' correspondent adds, German armies would be enabled, before Allied forces arrived, to invade Turkish Thrace, march against Istanbul, and attack Turkish towns by air.

The Bulgarian Minister in Moscow is reported to be en route to Sofia for special consultations after the completion of a secret understanding with, the Russians.

The Cairo correspondent of the ' Daily Express ' reports that the Germans are hastily fortifying Cos, Leros, Samos, and: other islands off Turkey.