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46 RUSSIAN-BULGARIAN RELATIONS [chap. iv.
" Oh! but Russian diplomacy is there to prevent
matters taking such a turn," replied the Minister sharply.
" We must simply check all dangerous proclivities at once
in Sofia and in Belgrade. You tell me that the present
Bulgarian Government is quite sincere in regard to
Russia; you also tell me that King Ferdinand seems to
you to be very cautious. We have the same impressions
about Belgrade. Under the circumstances, I repeat, we
shall make both countries listen to reason. You might
write to M. Neratoff and ask him for instructions ; for my
part, I firmly believe that a loyal agreement, putting an
end to all these sad misunderstandings between Serbians
and Bulgarians, is highly desirable, and that we ought
openly to encourage them to enter into it."
This was briefly the pith of my conversation with the
Minister.
A fortnight later, on my return from Paris, I stopped
in Belgrade to talk with M. Hartwig.
He appeared to be very well versed in the overtures
made to me by M. Todorov, although he did not openly
admit this.
" The Bulgarians," said my colleague, " have at last
understood that they can do nothing without the
co-operation of the Serbians. I expected this and I am
quite satisfied: if only the Government in Sofia will
display in the negotiations about to commence a true
conciliatory spirit, and will not ask the Serbians to give
up things which they cannot give up; for at the last
attempt to arrange and define the spheres of influence
in Macedonia, the Bulgarians would not even abandon
their claim to Uskub—the former Serbian capital—which
as you must admit was really insane on their part! But
I have reason to believe that this time the Bulgarians
will be obliged to be more reasonable. As to my
Serbians, I am quite sure of them."
" But are you not afraid that, if they come to a
complete and formal agreement, the two Slav states may
be tempted to throw themselves immediately into the
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