1939: Bulgaria

Territorial Claims and Neutrality.

The Balkan kingdom of Bulgaria was seized in 1939 by the general unrest which growing international tension, and, later on, war in Europe and the resurgence of the Soviet Union as a factor in Balkan politics produced. Bulgaria still resents the losses she suffered in the Second Balkan and World War. She claims a thorough-going revision of her frontiers with Rumania by the return of the Dobruja, the fertile stretch of land south of the Danubian delta, and with Greece by regaining a direct outlet to the Aegean Sea. These claims made it impossible for Bulgaria to join the Balkan Entente, although her relations with Yugoslavia and Turkey improved considerably in recent years. In the domestic field the veiled dictatorship established by the king through the coup d'état of May 19, 1934, met with the growing opposition of the people, in whom the democratic traditions are extremely strong. For all these problems the year 1939 did not bring any clear-cut solution, although towards its end the German and the Soviet influences were definitely growing within the country. On April 20, Premier George Kiosseivanoff declared that Bulgaria was following a policy of the strictest neutrality, but stressed at the same time Bulgaria's territorial claims which amount to an area of 7,695 square kilometers from Rumania, 8,712 from Greece, and 2,506 from Yugoslavia. In spite of diplomatic negotiations which seem to have been pursued during the whole year, Bulgaria's territorial claims had not been fulfilled by the end of 1939, a fact which prevented the conclusion of any strong Balkan alliance that would have united the Balkan nations against aggression by any great power. At the time of the outbreak of the European war Bulgaria proclaimed a policy of steadfast neutrality, but the population manifested repeatedly its sympathies for the Soviet Union, to which Bulgaria is bound by a strong pan-Slav sentiment. Bulgaria expected that Soviet Russia's pressure upon Rumania and Bessarabia will make Rumania more inclined to cede Dobruja to Bulgaria.

Internal Affairs.

In October the Cabinet resigned, but was reconstituted under George Kiosseivanoff as prime Minister. The resignation of the cabinet was due to the long-standing distrust between the Government and Parliament. The opposition, under the leadership of Speaker Mouchanoff of the Bulgarian Parliament, had made itself felt also in foreign policy. During the summer, at the same time when the Premier was officially visiting Berlin. Mouchanoff was visiting Paris and London and was received by King George. Although under the present constitution, the Government does not depend upon the confidence of the Chamber, the opposition in the country against the dictatorial regime and against Kiosseivanoff, whose four years of government have not produced any appreciable improvements in the internal situation, became so insistent towards the end of the year that King Boris decided to dissolve Parliament and to hold new elections in January 1940. The Government hopes to be able through pressure to have a Parliament elected which would be less oppositionally minded. Public opinion, however, believes that in this difficult period Bulgaria needs a Parliament of national concentration which would be supported by the confidence of the whole nation. Such a step would imply the revival of the old parties which were dissolved under the existing semi-dictatorial régime. See also BALKAN ENTENTE; GREECE; LITTLE ENTENTE.