DAILY EVENING. MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 13, 1915. TURCO-BULGARIAN TREATY

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144783, 13 September 1915, Page 2

DAILY EVENING. MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 13, 1915. TURCO-BULGARIAN TREATY

On the face of it, the fact that a Turco-Bulgarian treaty has been signed, to take effect on September 20, might be taken as an indication that Bulgaria has decided to side with the Central Powers in the great war. There is, however, good reason to believe that such an assumption is unwarranted. Several weeks ago it was (announced that an agreement had been arrived at be.tween the two countries, by virtue of which Bulgaria obtained the whole extent of the Dedeagatch railway traversing Turkish territory, together with the stations Karagach, Demotika, and Kuleli Burgas. With the railway goes all the territory, hitherto Turkish, west of the Maritza, comprising an area of between 700 and 800 square miles. The Times’ correspondent in the Balkan Peninsula stated at the time that the cession implied no engagement whatever of a political character, and this is confirmed by Dr. Radpslavoff, the Bulgarian Premier, who states in a Berlin newspaper that Bulgaria has not accepted obligations in return for the forced Turkish territory, which, he says, must be regarded as an indemnity for her neutrality hitherto. In other words, Bulgaria’s future policy is hot determined by the agreement. Some little light is thrown on the transaction by a Ministerial order issued in July last at Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, suspending railway communication with Turkey. This step, it appeared, was taken in consequence of continubd Turkish interference with traffic on the Dedeagatch railway. Presumably the Turks sought to monopolise the line for the purpose of carrying munitions of war from Germany, to the hindrance of Bulgarian traffic. In spite, however, of the Bulgarian denial it is scarcely likely that Turkey has given way without hope of some counter-balancing concession, though what that will be it is impossible to say. Dr. Radoslavbff’s letter may be read as a gentle bint to Germany that Bulgaria, having accepted considerati6n for her neutrality hitherto, is open to treat for continued neutrality, or even for co-operation with the Central Powers, if any offer is made. If that is so, she is probably equally willing to deal with the Entente Powers, and so the situation is just about as it was, and Bulgaria will continue to remain neutral as long as there is a chance of gaining anything by neutrality. Turkey may have been found in a frame of mind to purchase a small concession at what would at one time have been considered an altogether impossible price, because she realises now that her occupation of European soil rests on a very insecure tenure. She may see in the Gallipoli operations the writing on the wall which is the forerunner of the loss of Constantinople and of every inch of territory in Europe, and so* can afford' to give away quite a larg - e area for a small consideration, or even as nothing more than a bribe to try and purchase Bulgarian assistance. It is more likely that Germany has die-

tated the agreement on the'part of Turkey for the purpose of keeping Bulgaria quiet, or securing her intervention on the side of the Central Powers if Greece and Roumania take the other side, or in the hope of complicating matters between Servia and Bulgaria, so that the former will not he' able to use all her forces to withstand the contemplated Austro-German attack. One never knows what is going to happen in the Balkan States, and possibly the best we can hope for is that they will not turn against the Entente Powers.