BULGARIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3614, 19 June 1923, Page 20

BULGARIA.

ST AMBULI SKI'S DOWNFALL. RESTORATION OF ORDER. LONDON, June 10. The Bulgarian Minister in London today received the following communique from Sofia: —“The Stambuliski Cabinet has been overthrown, and a new Cabinet has teen formed by Professor ZancolT, consisting of representatives of all the Opposition parties, including the Socialists, but not of the Communist. The change took place without disturbance, and perfect order prevails throughout the country. The formation of the new Ministry has provoked much enthusiasm. It has assumed office, its object being the internal pacification of the country, which has been disturbed for a long time, causing constant anxiety. The former Government's anti-constitutional policy is thus condemned by the whole of public opinion. The realisation of a lawful regime with constitutional liberties will be the new Government's first aim, with the nation's unanimous support. The new Government’s foreign policy is inspired' by the firm and specific resolve of all classes, and it will tend towards the uplifting of Bulgaria s good name before the world, through a steady and loyal attitude towards all, the continued observamce of peace treaties, and the establishment of still mere friendlv relations with the neighbouring Balkan States.” The M orning Post’s Belgrade correspondent says: “The revolution was carried out at 3 o’clock on Saturday morning It was led by Genera! Lazaroff, president of the League of Preserve Officers, supported by the active members in the gan- ison. The revolutionaries entered Sofia, killed the prefect, and occupied the public buildings one after another. All the cx-Ministers, except 31, Stambuliski himseh. who is in the country, were immediately arrested.” The correspondent adds : “The King swore in the new Ministry, which includes Radicals, Democrats, Liberals, Socialists, and neutrals. The real aim of the Ministry is to restore order and to make possible the economic restoration of the country. M. Zaucoflf has called the new classes to the colours, and has proclaimed a state of siege. Military patrols axe encircling Sofia in armoured cars.” A telegram from a Sofia correspondent says that the Sobrar.je has been dissolved. The Ministers who were arrested by the Stambuliski Government have been liberated. ENTHUSIASM FOR NEW MOVEMENT. VIENNA, June 10. Reports state that the Bulgarian revo lution was carried out without Macedonian assistance and solely by the army and bourgeoise, who overpowered the police and compelled the King to dismiss the Cabinet. Thirty persons were killed. Great enthusiasm for the new movement has swept over all classes in Sofia. AGRARIAN RISINGS. LONDON, June 11. A Sofia message dated yesterday states that agrarian risings are reported in several large villages. At Gadomir, M. Boteff (ex-President of the Sodranje) started at the head of 500 peasants for Sofia, but troops intercepted and dispersed them. The official version of M. Stambuliski’s position is that, supported bv several hundred agrarian guards and villagers, be is fortifying Slavonitza, which is besieged by troops. The latter are being heavily reinforced, and as they are supplied with artillery and machine guns, it i 3 anticipated that M. Stambuliski’s capture is a matter of only a short time. The arrests of leading agrarians and additional deputies continue, but 1000 captured agrarian guards have been released. M. ST AM ni'JLT SKI’S ENEMIES. PARIS, June 11. M. Stambuliski had many enemies, including the whole of the Bulgarian intehi-

gensia and the friends of the ex-Premier, M. Radoslavoff, who are prepared to go to great lengths to prevent the exposure of earlier scandals. Officers who were retired after the war have also been workfor their re-esta.blishment, and since the downfall of M. Stambuliski they have again donned their uniform. Finally, the Macedonian Committee used its organisation to bring about the change of Government. t The new Cabinet announces that all peace treaties will be respected, and Bulgaria’s obligations arising from the war will be carried out. MM. Daneff, Malinoff, Adieff, and Geshoff have been released from prison. COUNTRY SETTLING DOWN. PARIS, June 11. A message from Belgrade shows that M. Stambuliski is still free. The new Government has instituted a big search with a view to securing bis arrest. The country is settling down under the new regime'. There are isolated disturbances, but nothing of a pretentious character. Sofia is quiet. The police prevented the threatened outbreaks. One report gives the casualties as 80. The Minister of Commerce expresses the intention of the revolutionaries to remain on the best possible terms with the Great Powers and with their neighbours. SOFIA’S OFFICIAL VERSION. LONDON, June 12. M. Stambuliski simply took to liis heels and ran to save his life when cornered, according to a.n official version cabled from Sofia. When he found the situation too hot he went, in the direction of Bazardjik, escorted by a few hundred sympathisers. These gradually fell off, and 31. Stambuliski, finding that his only chance lay in a speedy motor car, bolted with a few friends, with the troops in pursuit. Entering a defile, the chauffeug was wounded, and fainted, and the car became bogged in a ditch. M. Stambuliski fled to an adjacent wood, which was soon surrounded by troops, who were ordered to take him alive. PLEVNA GARRISON DISARMED. BELGRADE, June 12. It is reported from the Plevna district that 10,000 peasants in arms disarmed the garrison. The Government is sending strong detachments to Plevna. Heavy fighting is reported at various points between the conspirators and the peasants, but owing to the censorship the result is not known. Two of M. Stambuliski's 3linisters (31m. Duparinoff and Stanassoff) have escaped. The latter is organising the peasantry at Radomir. 31. Stambuliski is believed to be somewhere in the interior organising resistance. SOUTHERN PEASANTS APATHETIC. SOFIA, June 12. M. Boteff’s resistance in Radomir has collapsed. He and 30 followers remaining loyal to him were arrested, as vvetl as 31. Duparinoff (ex-Minister of Justice). Telegrams from important centres in the south report that all is calm. Troops in motor cars and cavalry are disarming the peasantry, who display an apathy which is attributed to the approaching harvest and the fact that the leaders in the north have been arrested. lighting continues at Teschen, where both sides have been reinforced, and considerable casualties are reported. A SENSATIONAL ALLEGATION. LONDON, June 12. The Sofia correspondent of the Daily Express states that the new Government has issued a sensational statement, pointing out that, though the ex-31 misters were supposed to be poor men, it was evident that they had been living in luxury. Hoards of wealth were found in the residences of several ex-Ministers, including £45,000 worth of foreign currency a-t M. Stambuliski’s farm. The ex-Ministers, it is alleged, had used large sums out of the State capital to buy buildings and estates, and they were the owners of the Agrarian National Stores, which, with the branches throughout the country, were

gaining control of Bulgaria’s whole import and export trade. HEAVY FIGHTING REPORTED. PARIS, June 14. The latest news from Sofia is that there has been intense fighting in the village of Slavkovitza, where M. Stambuliski s brother was killed while defending the ex-Preinier’s cause. The peasants were defeated by artillery after a brave resistance in which they suffered hundreds of casualties. M. Stambuliski himself escaped in a motor car and is believed to have reached the mountains. The ex-Minister of Agriculture (M. Oboff) has crossed the Danube into Rumania. Fighting continues in Bulgaria, but the peasants have few arms and no artillery, so they have small chance of success. DEATH OF 31. STA3IBULISKI. SOFIA, June 15. 31. Stambuliski was shot dead whilst attempting to escape. The newspapers are publishing details of an alleged plot by Stambuliski to force King Boris to abdicate and have himself (Stambuliski) crowned as King Alexander the Second. On the other hand, it is reported that the revolution was engineered with a view to restoring Ferdinand to the throne. ADJACENT COUNTRIES PERTURBED PARIS, June 15. The Bulgarian Legation asserts that Stambuliski’s partisans are massing round Sofia in an attempt to capture the city. The Jugo-Slavian Government has decided to intervene if the Sofia Government continues to mobilise in excess of the limits set forth by the Neuilly Treaty. TELEGRAPH COMMUNICATION INTERRUPTED. BELGRADE, June 15. Since Thursday afternoon telegraphic communication with Bulgaria has been interrupted.