C.P.(Gen)Doc.1.J.21.
Article 9
- 1.
- It is provided (Art. 9) that the armed forces which Bulgaria is authorised to maintain must be closely restricted to meeting tasks of an internal character and local defence of frontiers.
- In this connection it should be noted in particular that the Bulgarian Navy, according to the official Directory of the Italian Admiralty for 1943 (Almanacco Navale 1943) comprised an establishment of 1,500 men and an approximate tonnage of 1,100 and it should be remembered that these figures were recorded by a State which was an ally of Bulgaria.
- 2.
- Article 9 should therefore be amplified so as to avoid any possible differences of interpretation as regards both the composition of the Bulgarian armed forces and the recruitment of its personnel.
- 3.
- The question of fortifications should likewise be dealt with, as in the case of the Peace Treaty with Italy, particularly since Bulgaria, during her three years’ occupation of the frontier district, systematically demolished all the Greek fortifications.
The Greek Delegation, therefore, proposes that the four following Articles be substituted for Article 9:
Article 9
“The maintenance of land, sea and air armaments will be closely restricted to meeting tasks of an internal character and local defence of frontiers. In accordance with the foregoing, Bulgaria is authorised to have armed forces consisting of not more than:
- a.
- A land army, including frontier troops, with a total strength of 35,000 personnel, of whom 15,000 will constitute the gendarmerie establishment;
- b.
- Anti-aircraft Artillery with a strength of 1,800 personnel;
- c.
- A navy with a personnel strength of 2,500 including coastal defence personnel, and a total tonnage of 3,250, including auxiliary naval units. Only light units of the coast-guard and Customs patrol type will be authorised;
- d.
- An air force, including any naval air arm, of not more than 40 combat types of aircraft and 15 training planes, including reserves, with a total personnel strength of 1,800 including not more than 140 flying personnel. Bulgaria undertakes not to renew her aviation material before five years from the date of its acquisition. Bulgaria shall not possess or acquire aircraft designed primarily as bombers with internal bomb-carrying facilities.
These strengths will in each case include combat, service and overhead personnel.”
Article (New)
“The proportion of officers in any of the armed forces shall not exceed 5 per cent of the establishment.
The proportion of non-commissioned officers in any of the armed forces shall not exceed 6.5 per cent of the establishment.
All officers and non-commissioned officers shall be professional soldiers.
The proportion of volunteer personnel (officers and non-commissioned officers in any of the armed forces, and gendarmerie personnel) demobilised or leaving the forces on any grounds (health, discipline, etc.) shall not exceed 5 per cent per annum of the establishment of each service. Should this proportion be exceeded, the new replacements recruited shall be limited to 5 percent.”
Article (New)
“The training and instruction of reserve officers and non-commissioned officers, by whatsoever method, is prohibited, as are any mobilisation or premobilisation measures.”
Article (New)
- “1. a. All permanent Bulgarian fortifications and installations along the Greco-Bulgarian frontier and their armaments, shall be destroyed or removed.
- b. Such fortifications and installations shall be deemed to comprise only Artillery and infantry constructions, whether in groups or separated, pill-boxes of any type, shelters, observation posts, and military cableways, whatever be their importance, and actual condition of maintenance or state of construction and which are constructed of metal, masonry or concrete or excavated in the rock.
- c. The destruction or removal mentioned in sub-paragraphs a and b above is limited to a distance of 20 kilometres from any point on the frontier as defined by this Treaty, and shall be completed within one year of the coming into force of the present Treaty.
- 2. Any reconstruction of such fortifications and installations is prohibited.
- 3. a. The following construction to the north of the Greco-Bulgarian frontier is prohibited; permanent fortifications where weapons capable of firing into Greek territory can be emplaced; permanent military installations capable of being used to conduct or direct fire into Greek territory; and permanent supply and storage facilities emplaced solely for the use of the said fortifications and installations.
- b. This prohibition does not include the other types of non-permanent fortifications, or surface accommodations and installations which are designed to meet only requirements of an internal character and of local defence of the frontiers.”