BRITISH LEGATION,

Sofia.

September 23rd, 1938.

My Lord,

As I had the honour to report in my telegram Nо. 87 of September 14th, the leading article published in the semiofficial “Dnes” of September 12th on “the international Situation and Bulgaria”, a translation of which was enclosed in my despatch Nо.205 of September 13th, was generally interpreted here as a declaration of Bulgaria's neutrality in case of war. It is, indeed, obvious that on the outbreak of war Bulgaria must adopt a waiting attitude and sее how events shape; but this does not exclude the possibility of her joining in at a later stage if she judged that she had a good chance of realizing her national aspirations.

• 2. The main objects of any Bulgarian Government are at home to improve the economic condition of the country and, in the sphere of foreign policy, to obtain an outlet to the Agean Sea, the Dobrudja, Macedonia (though this has now receded somewhat into the background) and better treatment for Bulgarian minorities in foreign countries. The recent turn of events in Czechoslovakia has greatly encouraged the Bulgarians to believe that the realization of these aspirations may be nearer than seemed likely before; and they are asking whether, if such large concessions are to be made to the German, and possibly the Hungarian and Polish, minorities of Czechoslovakia, the same principle of self-determination should not be applied to the Bulgarian minorities in foreign countries. I am informed that a meeting of some twenty prominent politicians, including members of the opposition, was recently held, in order to examine this question, and that, as might be expected, doubts were expressed as to the attitude which would be adopted by Roumania, Greece and Yugoslavia if it were raised. At the same time all the speakers criticised the Government for having concluded the Salonica Agreement, on the familiar ground that they should have insisted on guarantees for their minorities before signing. An agitation against Yugoslavia, Turkey, Greece and Roumania is also being carried on in the country by the Bulgarian refugees from the neighbouring states, of whom there are said to be 500,000 from Greek and Serbian Macedonia, 240,000 from Eastern and Western Thrace and 30,000 from the Dobrudja.