The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1919. BULGARIAN PEACE TERMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1919. BULGARIAN PEACE TERMS.

The presentation of the Bulgarian peace terms recalls the final stages of the great war, for it was the beginning of the end. Even if the western campaign had not gone so wholly in favor of the Allies, the course of the war in other fieldjs was driving Germany to defeat. It is cow almost a year since the Bulgarian surrender took place (September 29, 1918), the effect of which was to cut the Berlin-Baghdad railway and practically sever Germany from Turkey, whose armies in Syria and Mesopotamia, ghosts of their former strength, had to give in a month later. On the surrender of Bulgaria the Tsar Ferdinand abdicated and was succeeded by his son, who, in turn, after six weekß' power, had to abdicate in favor of a republic. It was a coincidence that the reversal of fortune during 1918 on the western front had its counterpart in the Balkans, Roumania and Bulgaria went successively out of the war under stress of defeat, but whereas the collapse of Roumania was a temporary result of the defection of Russia, the surrender of Bulgaria was as complete as, a few months earlier, it had appeared unexpected, and there is no question that the fall of Bulgaria contributed materially to the defeat of the Central Powers; for Austria was exposed to attack on its southern flank by the revived armies of Serbia. Not only was Bulgaria completely beaten, but she was angry with her allies for failing to answer her cries for help, and bitter against them for refusing to give her, when making terms with Roumania, the whole of the Dobrudja as she expected, besides which she was irritated by the Turks over frontier rectifications. The armistice conditions stipulated that matters of territorial adjustment were left over for the general peace settlement. It will doubtless be remembered that although the Allies had complete control of Bulgarian territory uader the terms of surrender, the Bulgarians were not long before they exhibited a spirit of defiance and treachery that severely taxed the patience of the Allied Powers, and pressure had to be drastically tightened before the murderous activities of the Bulgarians were finally suppressed. Bulgaria joined the Central Powers for' the sole purpose of acquiring territorial gains and indemnities and a more sordid alliance it is difficult to imagine, yet the Bulgarian Premier now states that his country was impelled by a sinister influence to enter the insensate war, against the wishes of the people, though he has the grace to promise that all the authors of excesses will be ruthlessly punished—a belated undertak-1 iag that carries little, if any,! .jttu&i, la s<s£&u£ the tern-1

torial question, the Peace Conference kas evidently fallowed the same general principles that have been adopted in dealing with other enemy nations, while recognising the claims of the new nationalities, the frontier between Bulgaria and Roumania being uuchanged. The military terms restrict the Bulgarian army to 20,000, recruiting to be on a voluntary basis, and the other restrictions should draw the teeth of Bulgaria as a menace to the adjacent nations. The naval terms are as drastic as those imposed on Germany. It was only right in view of the terrible injuries inflicted on Serbia and Roumania that the Bulgarians should be made to pay as much reparation as possible, and in fixing the amount at ninety million sterling (in gold) the Allies have certainly acted on the side of leniency, especially as the payment, with interest, is spread over a period that will not expire until January 1, 1958, and it is only right that the Allies should have the power to collect such amounts as may be due in case of default in payment. Equally just is the provision compelling Bulgaria to make restitution of stolen property, and to deliver up live stock to replace looted animals, a special provision being made for ' compensation for the destruction of the Serbian coal mines. During the next five years Bulgaria is to deliver to Jugo-Slavia 50,000 tons of coal annually fromher State mines, if the Allies are satisfied that such deliveries can be made without unduly affecting the economic life of the country. In 1914 the Bulgarian revenue Amounted to £10,279,800, and her exports to £5,762,466, so that it is evident the people will have to be taxed to provide the indemnity money. They went into the war for gain, and they will now experience the rule that the losers pay. No amount of reparation money could possibly suffice to compensate Serbia and Roumania for Bulgaria's atrocities, and in view of her conduct since the armistice' it is surprising she has been let off so lightly, though it would have been contrary to the Allies' policy to have dictated terms that could have been considered harsh. Relieved of the burden of a large naval and military expenditure the country should be well able to meet the demands now made. The people will have to bend to the task, and that will be part of their punishment. It is as well that this should be so. |