STORM BREWING IN BALKANS

Southland Times, Issue 24353, 6 February 1941, Page 7

STORM BREWING IN BALKANS

BULGARIA’S TRAGIC POSITION

GREAT DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received February 6, 1.0 a.m.) LONDON, February 5. The Sofia correspondent of The Times says a German move through Bulgaria may now be considered almost certain. Bulgaria’s position has developed gradually from a difficult and delicate one to a desperate and tragic one. She is not expected to be able to retain her independence for more than a few weeks. Great diplomatic pressure is being exerted to induce her to sign a Three-Power Pact, the draft of which Colonel Draganolf, the Bulgarian Minister in Berlin has delivered to Sofia. Since a German “proposal” means a demand. it is unlikely that Bulgaria will be able again to decline or postpone a decision. It is reliably reported in Bucharest and also in Bulgarian Danubian ports that German military preparations have reached their final phase. Hundreds of lorries are massed on roads leading io Bulgaria. Observers on lite Bulgarian side of the southern Danube have seen Germans preparing barges and pontoons. German “technicians” are installed in almost all the large Bui-

garian towns, and also at strategic points in Northern Bulgaria. “Tourists,” who are flooding leading Bulgarian cities will, undoubtedly take over control the moment Germany launches a Balkan “blitz.”

The Bulgarian tragedy will begin when Turkey officially declares that the passing of foreign troops across Bulgaria will be dangerous to Turkish interests. The Turkish army may not wait until the Germans reach the Turkish-Bulgarian frontier. Thus, Bulgaria may immediately become a centre of a Balkan military operation which will certainly spell ruin to the country. Bulgarian forces manning the Turkish-Bulgarian frontier may easily be dragged into the operations, and it is unlikely that any Bulgarian commander will agree not to oppose the Turks even if he is ordered to do so from Sofia.

This seems part of the German plan, because after a clash on the TurkishBulgarian frontier Sofia’s pro-German Government might seek German help against Turkish aggression. On the contrary a strong opposition is developing among the Moderates and Communists, both of whom are requesting the Government to sign a RussianBulgarian pact of military assistance, but the army, whose high officers are completely under German influence, will not. tolerate this even were the Government willing. Bagrianoff, the Bulgarian Minister of Agriculture, a staunch pro-German has resigned. His resignation is believed to be the result of a quarrel with M. Filoff, the Prime Minister, over the question of the passage of German troops. The resignation may lead to a serious crisis. The Ministry of Agriculture, which M. Filoff has taken over, is second in importance to the premiership.