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i9n] GENERAL FICHEV IN RUSSIA
for the festivities marking the 25th anniversary of
Ferdinand’s reign. But how changed the situation had
become ! and what fears haunted us!
On the very day of the opening, the Assembly passed
the proposed law by a large majority, in spite of a few
violent speeches made by the Socialist leaders.
Throughout the summer, my relations with
Government and Court were still very friendly. On mine and
our Military Attache’s initiative, General Fichev, Chief of
the Bulgarian General Staff, was invited to the grand
manoeuvres at Krasnoe-Selo, where he was to be
presented to the Emperor and to meet our military chiefs.
Fichev, who had finished his military education at Turin,
had never been to Russia, and was looked upon as a
Stamboulovist and an enemy to Russian policy. Yet in
his relations with us he never showed any hostile
feelings, but appeared to be sincere and moderate. Acting
on the principle that one ought to attract people
possessing genuine qualities and not repulse them, we
took the necessary steps to insure a hearty welcome to
the Bulgarian General. He left St. Petersburg flattered
and delighted. Later on, in momentous circumstances,
General Fichev displayed a sincerity and prudence that
many Russophile leaders might well have envied. He
vehemently opposed the march of Bulgarian troops on
Constantinople, a move which ended in the bloody
and useless sacrifices of Chataldja, and provoked our
suspicion and displeasure. By his opposition to this,
Fichev fell into disgrace with his master; the Chief of
the General Staff was forced to apply for sick-leave and
to return to Sofia, leaving the direction of his Staff to
his adjutant Nerezov. The latter played a disastrous
part later on at the time of the Bulgarian attack on
the Serbians (June, 1913).
Fichev’s journey to Russia was followed by another
of far greater importance. At the wish expressed by
M. Gueshov, acting as the King’s spokesman, I readily
agreed to arrange the visit of the Bulgarian Crown-
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