[C 7743] 16 OCT 1928

Macedonian question and political situation in Bulgaria.

Refers to Mr. Sargent's letter of 1st October (C 7022/42/7)

Discusses points raised therein and maintains that views expressed in Sofia despatch No.243 of 13th September are justified.

(Minutes.)

Mr. Sperling's attempt to justify the charges which he made in his despatch No. 243 of September 30th seems to me to be a dismal failure and a short reply will be sufficient to point to the confusion of thought which appears to exist at our Legation at Sofia on this Macedonian question. To take Mr. Sperling's arguments seriatim.

• (1) Raids by emigres. All that Mr. Sperling can say about these is that the Bulgarian Government have given up making representations about them and they only cause mild discussion by the public. This I take it is a tacit admission that raids by the emigres have, as we said they had, ceased to have any real political importance.

• (2) Mr. Sperling's comments on what he calls the Macedonian minority appear to mе to be quite beside the point. The reports to which he draws attention will be found attached. Those reports do not go beyond saying that the Slavs in Southern Yugoslavia are now inclined to call themselves Macedonians. Now this we have never denied. It is something we have known for a long time past. If, however, Mr. Sperling had consulted our memorandum on the Macedonian question of November 26th 1925, he would have found that these very people who are now calling themselves Macedonians were certainly not averse prior to the War from calling themselves Serbs, Bulgars and even Greeks whenever the circumstances seemed to warrant it. Moreover, had he consulted Mr. Footman's memorandum in Mr. Kennard's despatch No. 91 of the 6th March last (C 1955), he would have found the first sentence reads as follows:-“As has so often been pointed out, the Macedonian peasant is not politically minded. His present grievances may be summarised as (1) He is not getting a fair price for his produce and (2) He is not being well treated by the officials.”