File No. 763.72111/1233
The Minister in Roumania, Servia, and Bulgaria (Vopicka) to the Secretary of State
Bucharest, November 30, 1914.
[Received December 22.]
Bulgarian Series]
No. 141]
Sir: I have the honor to report in regard to the present political situation in Bulgaria as follows:
During the session of the Sobranjé, many speeches were made by leaders of different parties, in which they all claimed that, although the Bulgarians are Slavs, they are, above all, Bulgarians. The Prime Minister, Mr. Radoslavoff, made a speech, of which the following is the most important extract:
Bulgaria adheres to her neutrality, as proclaimed on July 31 last. There are no complaints that we have broken our neutrality and where questions have arisen with countries, the latter have been satisfied with the explanations given. Although the present situation is a very difficult one for us to maintain, I shall, supported by the majority of the Sobranjé, continue to carry out the same policy. We are on the best of terms with Roumania, Greece, and even Servia, and on the most sincere relations with Turkey. I also proclaim that Bulgaria has her integrity assured. Whether we are obliged by circumstances to come before the Sobranjé for more authority depends entirely upon the attitude of the European powers.
My opinion is that Bulgaria is trying to get through her diplomacy what she lost on the battlefield last year. She is waiting for the development of the war and, as I am informed, she is in daily conference with representatives of all the fighting powers. Bulgaria is trying to get Macedonia from Servia, Kavalla from Greece, and Silistria from Roumania without war. Either of the belligerent parties here is willing to promise this territory to her, but the other Balkan States, Serbia, Greece, and Roumania, are opposed to giving anything to Bulgaria. For that reason, it is difficult for [Page 156] the powers at war to secure her cooperation for their side. Furthermore, it is my opinion that, unless the war situation becomes very dark for the Triple Entente, nothing will be done with Bulgaria. The Triple Entente will not bring pressure to bear upon the above-named countries, which are friendly to the Entente, to cede the different parts of their country to Bulgaria, unless they are absolutely obliged to have the support of this country. It is also possible that if the chances of war should favor Germany and Austria, Bulgaria, against the will of her people, whose sympathies are with Russia, will join them because the present Bulgarian Government believes that it can obtain more from Germany and Austria than from Russia, as Bulgaria is convinced that Russia is trying to make a large Servia, which would mean that a great part of Macedonia which Servia now holds, would not go to Bulgaria.
I have [etc.]