Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
The Balkans had been quiescent during the summer, although the Greeks had on 30 May given an earnest of a better future by a victory at Skra di Legen, west of the Vardar, in which they captured 1500 Bulgarian and German prisoners, and on 18 June the fall of the pro-German Radoslavoff Ministry indicated that Ferdinand wished to present a less Teutonic appearance to the world.
M. Zanoff abruptly replied: "Your Majesty knows that we have not come here to talk about the harvest, but of something far more important at present, namely, the policy of your Government, which is on the point of ruining our country. We can on no account approve the policy that is anti-Russian. If the Crown and M. Radoslavoff persist in their policy we shall not answer for the consequences.
The powers of the Entente, who have at heart the realization of the aspirations of the Bulgarian people, have on many occasions warned M. Radoslavoff that any hostile act against Serbia would be considered as directed against themselves. The assurances given by the head of the Bulgarian Cabinet in reply to these warnings are contradicted by facts.
In a public speech, delivered in March 1916, "M. Radoslavoff confessed that Bulgaria had entered the war by reason of certain obligations which she had assumed." Cf. Daily Telegraph, March 14, 1916, in telegram from Athens. But there was another safe test which the Entente Governments could have applied with profit to the situation.
They also referred to the Premier's oracular utterances. "Ah!" said the King. "Has Radoslavoff spoken to you, and what has he said?" "He has said " replied the leaders, "that Bulgaria would march with Germany and attack Serbia." The King made a vague gesture, and then said: "Oh, I did not know."
We have not desired to seek out those responsible for the disaster of 1913, because other grave events have been precipitated. But it was a disaster due to criminal folly. It must not be repeated by an attack on Serbia by Bulgaria, as seems contemplated by M. Radoslavoff, and which according to all appearances, has the approval of your Majesty.
It was then that he received a letter signed by the three chiefs of the Liberal groups of the old Stambulovist Party Radoslavoff, Ghennadieff and Tontcheff and written, it has been alleged, after consultation between all four parties, exhorting him to reverse the national policy and link Bulgaria's fate with that of Austria.
Word Of The Day