THE BULGARIAN WAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16820, 24 August 1922, Page 5

THE BULGARIAN WAY.

EX-MINISTER ON TRIAL. MADE WAR WITHOUT CONSENT OF PARLIAMENT. I Py Telegraph—Press Association—Oopyrigrtil Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received August 23, 5.5 p.m.; BERLIN. August 22. Eleven. Bulgarian members of the I war-time Cabinet, including the Com-omnder-in-Chief have been imprisoned since the end of 1910? Among them is Radosiavoff. formerly Premier, who I fled to Germany before the armistice. A twelfth Minister died in prison. The trial of tlie prisoners began last October, since when the prisoners, manacled, have marched thrice daily throng!) the streets of Sofia, guarded by ■an armed escort. The Court consists oi seventeen judges, ten being the so called people’s judges, who are peasants. The charges are framed under at . amazing special Act. of which the principal penalty is death. The mam j charge is that the Cabinet declared I war without the consent of Pariia- ! ment. I Other charges against the ex-Mims-I ters are : I (If That they leased the State coal ! mines to Germany for ninety-six years. ; (2) That tbrv seized enemy property • without, the consent of Parliament, i (3i That th -v increased the severity ! of the military penal code. (4) That they were guilty of bribery j and other corruptions. (5> That they diplomatically pro- ’ pared to join Germany without con- | sidering the advantages offered by the I other side. | The Act, which is entitled “ A Law J for the Prosecution of the Originators j of the National Defeat " is really an I indictment, verdict and judgment com htned. The penalties inejude the remarkable decree that all who participate in diplomatic preparation for war are liable to the same punishments, besides responsibility for the whole cost of the war. which amounts to £400,000,000.