September 25, 1915. 
LAND AND WATER 
it in her power to render the Allies. But it was 
withheld by sinister influences. Since then the 
exertions of the Entente have been confined to 
Serbia and Roumania. 
SERBIA'S SACRIFICES. 
The difficulties in the way of the sacrifices 
asked from Serbia were enormous : sentimental, 
political, and strategic. For example, the Serbian 
Constitutiontt lays it down that no Serbian terri- 
tory may be alienated otherwise than by a vote of 
a Great National Skuptshina, which it is practi- 
cally impossible to convoke at present. 
Another impediment, international in charac- 
ter, derives from the stipulation between Serbia 
and Greece. But in spite of these obstacles 
Pasitch succeeded, by dint of extraordinary exer- 
tions, in obtaining a vote from the Chamber 
authorising in principle the alienation of terri- 
tovj. To what extent and under what conditions 
this Parliamentary warrant was issued is known 
only to the Governments concerned. But the main 
point is that, Avhatever turn Balkan affairs may 
now take, the responsibility for the grave con- 
sequences which continued dissension is sure to 
bring in its train will not fall on the heroic 
Serbian people. Bulgaria will have the necessary 
inducement to march against Turkey, and the 
Allies a touchstone by which to test the sincerity 
of the professions of the Sofia Cabinet. If the 
Radoslavoff Administration and the King still 
persist in quiescence, the Entente will know what 
to think of Bulgaria and how to adjust their atti- 
tude towards that country. 
My own opinion on this aspect of the ques- 
tion, based on certain established facts, differs so 
widely from the belief professed in the Allied 
countries that I hold it over until the die has been 
cast. 
The hopeful view of Bulgaria's straight- 
forwardness adopted by the Entente was not 
shaken by the financial deal between Bulgaria and 
Austria which provoked lively comment a few 
weeks ago. Even the alleged conclusion of the 
Turco-Bulgarian accord has not shattered the 
faith of the Allies in Bulgaria's solicitude for her 
own vital interests. But it has supplied them with 
food for deliberation and forethought. Person- 
ally, I disbelieve the last chapter of the story of 
the convention with Turkey, and my scepticism 
rests on positive and trustworthy data. A draft 
treaty is certainly in existence, but it has not yet 
been signed. For those who, unlike myself, possess 
no substratum of fact on which to base this belief, 
the following consideration may prove helpful. 
^Whether Bulgaria be really anxious to wipe out 
old scores and help to revive the Balkan League, or 
is fastened to the Central Empires bv strong ties, 
it is to her interest to remain free, at least in seem- 
ing, until the Allies' proposal has been presented. 
For even if her decision nave been long ago taken, 
she would still like to weigh the offer coming from 
the Entente, reject it as insuflicient, and cast the 
responsibility for the consequences on Serbia. 
DEALINGS WITH TURKEY. 
But the circumstance that Bulgaria's negotia- 
tions with Turkey have come to a head, and that a 
iTreaty is ready for signature, is significant. So, 
too, is the sudden dismissal of General Fitcheff 
from the post of 5V;ar Minister, I know Fitcheff 
tt Article IV. 
personally, and I consider hira by far the ablest 
man in Bulgaria. It was he who, as Chief of the 
General Staff and virtual Commander-in-Chief 
of the Forces, besought King Ferdinand to aban- 
don his scheme of resuming the campaign against 
Turkey after the London Conference. And he is 
a statesman as well as a strategist. His views on 
the international situation and the opportunity 
which it offers to his own country were charac- 
terised by good sense and sagacity. He was 
believed to be in favour of military action against 
Turkey, and his sudden dismissal at the critical 
turning-point is a symptom. Its significance is 
enhanced by the appointment of a successor who 
is an avowed friend of Turkey and was the nego- 
tiator of the draft treaty with Enver, Talaat, and 
Djemal, which is waiting to be ratified. That 
these misgivings are not wholly groundless may 
be inferred from the circumstance that the oppo- 
sition parties in Sofia share them. 
And the Parliamentary opposition is strong. 
Numerically it is almost equal to the Government 
party. In the country it possesses immeasurably 
greater influence. But it cannot make its power 
effectively felt unless the Chamber is sitting. 
Hence the leaders recently requested the Cabinet 
to convoke the Sobranje in a stirring manifesto 
which ended thus : " Inasmuch as the Govern- 
ment is not minded to take counsel with the nation 
and its legal representatives and it is impossible 
to warn the country from the Parliamentary tri- 
bune before it is launched upon a new adventure, 
we hereby protest against the mode of action 
adopted oy the Cabinet, and we trust that the 
people will sustain our protest by intervening 
energetically in favour of the immediate assembly 
of the Chamber in an extraordinary session." 
But the Premier Radoslavoff has refused to 
call the Chamber. And if his policy had its 
orientation towards Turkey and the Central Em- 
pires, that refusal would be wise. But hardly in 
any other case. 
THREATENED ROUMANIA. 
Meanwhile Roumania is threatened by Ger- 
many for refusing to forward munitions of war 
and gold to Turkey. Troops are concentrated 
near Vidin in larger numbers than usual, but not 
yet too large for a mere demonstration. Rou- 
mania's corn exports into Hungary have been 
stopped by the Dual Monarchy. A Press cam- 
paign against the Roumanian people has been in- 
augurated in Berlin, Frankfurt, Vienna, and 
Budapest. Military precautions are bein^ 
pushed forward vigorously by the authorities of 
Bucharest, and excitement is growing. 
To the question whether the Turco-Bulgarian 
accord has been decided upon in principle we have 
no clear-cut answer. Some of the tokens that 
suggest one have been enumerated. There is 
another : Ferdinand and his Ministers have one 
ardent desire — to rise on the crest of victory's 
wave. That consummation would fill them with 
intense joy. To that they would sacrifice the good- 
will of the Allies and the affection of Russia. 
Well, they are fully convinced that it will fall to 
Germany and Austria to dictate the terms on 
which this war will be ended, and to redistribute 
the forces of " regenerate " Europe. The Central 
Empires will be the victors. ... 
The Allies will do well to put their trust m 
themselves. '^- J- Dillon. 
15 
