DRAMATIC COUP IN BULGARIA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19804, 21 May 1934, Page 9

DRAMATIC COUP IN BULGARIA

ARMY FORCES CHANGE OF REGIME FORMATION OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received May 20, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON. May 19. Following tlie resignation of the | disunited Bulgarian Cabinet. King Boris formed a National Government, supported by the army. Reports have reached Belgrade that a revolt against King Boris has broken out. There are serious disturbances, and the army has isolated Sofia from the rest of the country. All telegraphic and telephonic communications are censored. ARMY LEADS REVOLT. PLEA FOR NON-PARTY CONTROL. Cm ted Pi ess Association —By Electric Telegraph —Copyright (Received May 20, 7.30 p.m.) SOFIA, May 19. It is reported that eighty generals, members of the Reserve of Officers Association, met secretly and sent a deputation to King Boris, urging a non-party Government, owing to the deplorable condition of the country, due to party strife and the neglect of the necessities of the peasants, who comprise 80 per cent of the population. Manifesto Issued. The Government issued a manifesto declaring it had been given power, owing to the party deadlock hindering the working of the administration and delaying the settlement of the economic problems, necessitating a national non-party Government, which would be established with the assistance of the army, who realise the need of ending a dangerous situation. The manifesto sets out fourteen essential points at which the Government aims, including the balancing of the Budget, creation of new sources of revenue, improvement in credit, especially for agriculturists, the creation of new markets, removal of unemployment, and the re-establishment of relations with the Soviet, adds the manifesto. “The Government assumes control,” says the manifesto, “in the name of internal peace.” Sofia Surprised. Sofia awoke to find the coup-d'etat complete. The streets were patrolled by troops with fixed bayonets and armed with bombs and machine guns, and the artillery occupying the strategic points. Early workers were turned back and told the shops and offices were not opening. Hundreds of preventive arrests are reported, including Communists and members of the Left wing. An order confining the people to their houses has been strictly applied to ex-Minis-ters. General Vataff, Minister of War in the last Cabinet, hearing of the military movements, telephoned to the War Ministry asking for an explanation. He was brusquely told that he was no longer Minister. Reports state that all is quiet throughout the country. The military blockade was withdrawn at noon.

NEIGHBOURS INTERESTED. JUGO-SLAVIA READY FOR CO-OPERATION. united Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received May 20. 7.30 p.m.) BELGRADE, May 20. Jugo-Slav circles welcome the accession to power of the Zveno groups, as a plank in their platform is Rapproachment with Yugo-Slavia. Rumours of disturbances in Bulgaria, including the assassination of King Boris and the Royal Family are denied. SWIFT ACTION SUCCEEDS. KING NAMES NATIONAL CABINET •United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received May 20, 8.30 p.m.) SOFIA, May 20. Swift action at two o’clock in the morning, established a National Government, with a virtual dictatorship. Bulgaria troops suddenly occupied the streets, surrounded the public buildings, and placed the city entirely under military control, completely isolated Sofia, and established a censorship of telephones. National Cabinet. The King nominated a National Government as under:— Premier: M. Kimon Georgieff Minister of the Interior: General Midileff. Minister of War: General Zlateff. Minister of Finance: M. Todoroff. Minister of Education: Professor Moloff. Reasons for Coup. There are conflicting reports regarding the reasons for the coup-d’etat, but it is believed due to the action of M. Georgieff, M. Todoroff, M. Moloff and other leaders of the Zveno group, a Nationalist non-party organisation, who were associated with the coup-

d’etat in 1923, when the Agrarian Government was overthrown. It is known that the Zvenos are friendly with Professor Alexander Tsankoff, leader of the Extreme Right, who, with the Army and the Macedonian Nationalists, seized power in the 1923 coup. M. Tsankoff is reported to have planned to assemble 50,000 supporters, including Macedonians on May 20, and seize power. The King learned of the plot and decided, after hesitation, and on the advice of the Army officers to forestall the plot, but he was forced to accept the National Government. Surprise for King. King Boris is reported to have been unaware of the Army’s preparations, until the troops surrounded the palace. Even then he demurred at signing the proclamation dissolving Parliament and appointing a new Government. PRIME MINISTER NO LONGER.” DRASTIC CHANGES EFFECTED OVERNIGHT. United Preen Association — By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received May 20. 11.11 p.m.i LONDON, May 20. The Sofia correspondent of the “Sunday Times” says: The coup-d’etat was effected without firing a single shot. The first that the Premier, M. Mushanoff, heard of the coup, was when he was awakened by a frightened servant and told that the house was surrounded by troops. He tried to telephone the Minister of War, but the answer came: “You are Prime Minister no longer.” LARWOOD INJURED. KNEE STRAINED AT PRACTICE. United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, May 18. Larwood is not playing against Surrey to-morrow, having strained his knee. The injury is not serious.