One hundred years ago
The hollowness of the European `peace' has been roughly exposed this week. Lord Beaconsfield, it will be remembered, during the Conference at Berlin insisted that Bulgaria should be divided into two, — a State called Bulgaria north of the Balkans, and a province called Eastern Roumelia south of them. He allowed both to be free; but insisted that the southern one should be nominally Turkish, that it should pay tribute, and that its Christ- ian Governor should always be called a Pasha, and be removable by order from Constantinople; and he carried his worthless point. The provinces were separated; but the Turks were unable to garrison the Balkans, and it was under- stood that the Bulgarians intended as soon as possible to come together again. The adroitness of the first Governor, Prince Vogorides, who knew how to diplomatise as well as to govern, staved off the crisis for five years; but under his successor, `Gavrir Pasha, a Serb named Christovich, the South Bulgarians took the reins in their own hands. Everything was prepared, and on the 18th inst. Philippopolis broke out in insurrection, arrested M. Christovich — who only asked permission to hand in a written protest, and was refused that — and appointed a Provisional Government, with orders to declare the Bulgarias united.
Spectator, 26 September 1885
Previous page
