DEPLORABLE RECORD

Evening Star, Issue 25895, 12 September 1946, Page 7

DEPLORABLE RECORD

BULGARIA EARNS NO CONSIDERATION ATTITUDE TOWARDS GREECE PARIS, September 10. Britain and South Africa condemned Bulgaria’s attitude towards Greece when the Bulgarian Political and Territorial Committee resumed its discussion on Bulgaria’s claim to Western Thrace and an outlet to the xEgean. Mr Jan Jordaan said that Bulgaria had reached the limit of audacity, while Mr F. A. Warner (Britain) described Bulgaria as a consistent aggressor in the Balkans which could not be trusted to control Western Thrace. Sir Jordaan said, “It is amazing that these outrageous claims. should actually receive support in this committee. It is a strange spectacle when a State with which we have been at war claims co-belligerent rights, and, far from approaching the problems or peace in a contrite, spirit, actually makes territorial demands against one of our allies. I urge that Bulgaria’s claim should be rejected as entirely unjustifiable.” Mr Warner said: “ Bulgaria’s record in the Balkans is absolutely deplorable. It does' not inspire confidence in her fitness to. take over Western Thrace.” Mr Warner denied the Bulgarian claim that Western Thrace was a Bulgarian province, i He said the. province’s population was undoubtedly Greek when the war started, but it had been substantially reduced by the Bulgarians during the war. Concerning the claim to an iEgean outlet, Mr Warner said the Black Sea and the Danube had for a very long time fulfilled all Bulgaria’s needs. It was essential that Greece, after her ordeal during the war, should have peace and security, but this was not possible as long as the threat of Bulgarian aggression remained. The Greek claims against Bulgaria were criticised as imperialist, but Mr Warner noted that Russia and Yugoslavia themselves made very, substantial territorial claims. “ Either the Greek claims are not imperialistic or imperialism is to be allowed in some cases and not in others,” he said. The committee adjourned without reaching a decision on the Greek request that the Bulgarian claim be sent to ' the Militarv Committee for study of the strategic implications. White Russia supported the Bulgarian claim.