BULGARIAN RULER'S DIPLOMACY.

Grey River Argus, 15 April 1911, Page 8

BULGARIAN RULER'S DIPLOMACY.

Widespread dissatisfaction prevails in politicaP centres in Russia at the clever manoeuvre of King- Ferdinand which, rf. successful, will give" him a free hand to conclude an • alliance with Austria without control or res'posibility, says the.' i St. Petersburg correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph." The programme of modifications in the Bulgarian Constitution which the great Sobranje will be asked to enter upon the. Statute Book includes ithe. kingly prerogative to conclude an alliance with Foreig-n Powers without informing the Legislative Chamber of the stipulations, or even of the circumstance that it has been concluded. The deputies' cannot well throw out the Bill on the ground that it undermines parliamentarism, because Parliamentarism is not taken very seriously by the Bulgarian people; neither can they readily oppose it oh ground that they distrust the present monarch. Consequently the "Sobranje will doubtlessly comply with the request* of King Ferdinand, and will then be authorised , to follow tfhe example of Roumania, and negotiate a secret convention with ■ Austria. For some time past this consummation has been apprehended, in consequence of the significantly, shar planguage employed iby King Ferdinand 'after 'his long and unfruitful conversation with M. Iswolsky last year. The Bulgarian ruler, whose mood was then bellicose, is alleged to have remarked: — "The Russian bear will hybernate for the ten "or fifteen .years. During that time Bulgaria must look out for herself. Bulgaria, being- a healthy State, cannot but desire ultimate reunion with all the members of her own family, and adopt the means of achieving it, but Russia's pursuit of peace at all costs will not advance her very far."