SITUATION IN BULGARIA

Southland Times, Issue 24354, 7 February 1941, Page 5

SITUATION IN BULGARIA

TROOP MOVES TO FRONTIER TURKEY WATCHFUL AND READY (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received February 6, 10 p.m.) LONDON, February 6. The Daily Mail’s Sofia correspondent says that King Boris and the Government are both attempting to evade war, but seem to be slowly losing control of the situation. M. Bagrianoff’s resignation shows that the policy of neutrality is cracking. Three divisions of newly-called-up troops are being sent to the Greek frontier. The effect of this would be to draw off Greek pressure on the Italians, for which reason, the move is almost certainly a result of German influence. Meanwhile, Turkey remains watchful, and quietly continues to prepare. Turkey sees no reason to relax her vigilance. The newspaper, Ulus, urges the country to be fully prepared for war before the spring. The Turkish general staff is confident that any frontal attack from Bulgaria against Turkish fortifications in Thrace must fail, but it would be dangerous if the Germans infiltrated across Bulgaria and took up positions on the Greek frontier. Discussing such a possibility, the newspaper Yenisabah declared that Turkey would act before the Germans reached the Greek frontier. Note has been taken in London of the repeated Bulgarian assertions of the country’s desire to maintain neutrality and independence. The sincerity of this desire is not doubted as it would obviously be against Bulgaria’s interest to allow herself to become a theatre of war. In London it is regarded as unthinkable that, with the sad example of Rumania before them, all patriotic and responsible Bulgarians do not realize the danger and take steps to meet it. The development of the whole Balkan situation is being carefully watched in London where the facts are well known. BAGRIANOFF’S RESIGNATION A Sofia correspondent says that the resignation of M. Bagrianoff, Minister of Agriculture, who is a staunch proGerman, caused a sensation in political circles. He was one of the King’s closest friends and was also most popular among the peasants, yet King Boris approved his resignation. It appears that M. Bagrianoff was overconfident last week when he made a speech in Parliament, criticizing the Government’s economic policy. It was expected that Cabinet would have to resign, but King Boris who hitherto had conceded much obviously did not like the latest manoeuvres. The resignation weakens Cabinet’s position, but frees the Government of a politician aiming to institute a totalitarian economic system. It is not believed that the resignation will affect Bulgaria’s foreign policy. The Daily Telegraph’s Sofia correspondent says: “It is reported from Berlin that officials are surprised and disappointed. The refusal of the Prime Minister (M. Filoff) to agree to closer collaboration with Germany is regarded as unfriendly. The German Press has recently been hailing M. Bagrianoff as the coming Premier.”