Their
policy has proceeded in a spirit of justice and generosity which has
characterized the attitude of Great Britain, Russia and Italy as well as
France. We have attempted to re-establish the union of the Baltic
peoples, and in accord with them seek the realization of their principal
national aspirations. The equilibrium thus obtained by mutual sacrifices
really made by each would have been the best guarantee of future peace.
Despite constant efforts in which Roumania, Greece and Serbia lent their
assistance, we have been unable to obtain the sincere collaboration of
the Bulgarian Government. The difficulties respecting the negotiations
were always at Sofia.
At the beginning of the war it appears, therefore, that Bulgaria was
entering into negotiations with the Allies, hoping to regain in this
way, some of the territory she had lost in the Second Baltic War. Many
of her leading statesmen and most distinguished generals favored the
cause of Russia, but in May came the great German advance in Galicia,
and the Allies' stalemate in the Dardanelles, and the king, and his
supporters, found the way clear for a movement in favor of Germany.
Still protesting neutrality they signed a secret treaty with Berlin,
Vienna and Constantinople on July 17th. The Central Powers had promised
them not only what they had been asking, in Macedonia, but also the
Greek territory of Epirus.
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