BULGARIAN CABINET RECONSTRUCTION

Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 26

BULGARIAN CABINET RECONSTRUCTION

SOFIA, September 29. T3ie Germanophile Ministers, MM. Tontchefl and Bckaloff, have resigned, and it is reported that the Cabinet is being reconstructed. DEFENCE OP SERBIA. LONDON, September 28. German and Italian newspapers assert that Bulgaria has made no engagement to support any belligerent. Berlin denies that Bulgaria lias sent an ultimatum to Serbia. Le Temps says that M. Yestnitch, a Serbian Minister, when interviewed, stated that it was for the Allies to act quickly in defence of Serbia, but he had reason to believe their support would be forthcoming. ASSISTING THE TURKS. LONDON, September 28. It is reported that the port of Dedeagatch is full of Bulgarian soldiers who are fraternising with the Turks. M. Radoslavoff has authorised the despatch of Bulgarian cereals to Constantinople, which is now completely restocked with flour, rice, and bread, stocks of which had been greatly reduced. A STERN WARNING. LONDON, September 28. Sir Edward "Grey, questioned in the

House of Commons, said that Bulgaria had taken up a position of armed neutrality to defend her rights and independence, and she had no aggressive intentions towards her neighbours. Not only was there no hostility between Britain and Bulgaria, but there was a traditional sympathy with the Bulgarian people. So long as Bulgaria did not side with Britain’s enemies there was no question of British influence being hostile, or of the use of force against Bulgaria. “ If the Bulgarian mobilisation,” he continued, “were the result of an aggressive attitude, we are prepared to give our friends in the Balkans all the support in our power in the manner most welcome to them, in concert with our Allies, without reserve or qualification. These are also the views of our allies. Our policy has been to secure agreement among the Balkan States, ensuring her a brilliant future and independence based on the territorial and political union of kindred nationalities.—(Cheers.) “ The policy of Germany, on the other hand, had been to create for her own purpose disunion. The war in the Balkans had been used by Austria to precipitate a European war. Turkey’s' interests would have been preserved if she had remained neutral, but she was forced by Germany into war to realise German aspirations of a railway from Berlin to Bagdad. In the same way it would only be German policy to use Bulgaria, with the inevitable result that Bulgaria would be subordinated, and, though promised territorial gains, would lose her independence.”