UNREST IN BULGARIA.

Taihape Daily Times, 17 August 1918, Page 3

UNREST IN BULGARIA.

The report in the German press of a Republican movement in. Bulgaria suggests that it "was rather a disorder of the body politie than a personal affliction that recently impelled King Ferdinand and hi» famiy to repair to a health resort in the hawi of Germany. The indefinite absen*o of a monarch from his Capital aity would at any time appear unconventional; in this case there i» probably not a little curiosity among the people of Bulgaria as to the reasons for the secret depiarture of their sovereign, upon whom the 'Constitution imposes a specific duty of permanent residence in the country. And while King Ferdinand is sojourning at a German spa, M. Radoslavoff, the chief instrument of his intrigues with Germany has been relegated to the obscurity of political retirement. The "highly honoured master of Bulgarian politics," as he was described by Dr. von Kuhlmann in the latter'a last speech as a Minister of the Kaiser, resigned in June, "on grounds of internal politics." The German Foreign Secretary; earnestly assured the Reichstag that the subsequent change of persons in the Bulgaria Government did not signify a change in the policy of the country towards the Central Powers. The choice of M. Radoslavoff's successor, and more recent incidents in the "internal politics" of the country suggest that there was some reason for the regret which von Kuhlmann expressed at the departure from office of "a pillar" to the alliance with Germany, who had "so far facilitated the ever closer tightening of many personal and political ties." The leadership of the Government had already been entrusted to M. Malinoff, who is not only the chief of the Democratic party in Bulgaria, but was a member of the famous deputation which in September, 1915, sought to dissuade King Ferdinand from entering the war against the Western Aliij ance, under the impulse of considera- ' tions of self-interest, and fratricidal hatred of the Servians. M. Malinoff demanded the immediate convocation of Parliament, since the country at large was opposed to any adventure in Germany's company, while one of his colleagues, the leader of the Agrarian party, warned the king that such a> ruinous policy would not only lead to disaster, but might cost' him his head. These counsels were ignored by the King and his Prime Minister, but they may yet be proved prophetic. Already Bulgaria has found that little reliance can be placed on either German promises or Turkish pledges. She is involved by dissension with both these allies over the partition of the Dobrudja and Iqthor /tfcifmtory, and, the thrusting out of the Radoslavoff Ministry and the departure of King Ferdinand may be the first signs of an effort to repudiate an unwilling allegiance and to escape from the catastrophe of Germany's defeat.