Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - VI. The Serbo-Bulgarian treaty
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
1912] FERDINAND’S PERPLEXITIES 63
subject of a possible disclosure of the Serbo-Bulgarian
treaty.
"They are so imprudent in the Palace of Belgrade ;
every one has access to it and they talk to every one.
Moreover, the whole of Belgrade is full of Austrian, and
especially Hungarian, spies. Hence what would my
position be if the old Emperor Francis-Joseph got to
know of the agreement that I have just signed, and which
has all the appearance of being chiefly directed against
the monarchy of the Hapsburgs? And I feel sure that
the Serbians will not fail to boast everywhere of their
friendship with Bulgaria, that they will allow it to be
understood in Vienna that henceforth they can depend
on us; and the Serbian irredentists, that King Peter’s
Government cannot keep in hand—as / can keep the
Macedonians—will not miss the opportunity to annoy
Austria in Bosnia and in Herzegovina. And finally, we
two, that is Bulgaria and Serbia, instead of profiting
by our agreement to guard the rights of our kin in
Macedonia, shall be forced to arms in all haste to uphold
our own integrity and our own independence. I would
entreat you most earnestly, Monsieur, to make my
apprehensions known in St. Petersburg and to explain
the true state of affairs. I shall await your return with
impatience. For my part, I have already given the
necessary instructions to General Papriskov" (at that
time Bulgarian Minister in St. Petersburg).
I listened with some astonishment to the long-winded
explanations of the King, in which truth was mingled with
lies and clumsy fictions alternated with real opinions
and fears. King Ferdinand was sincere when he
acknowledged himself guilty towards the Emperor
Francis-Joseph. Accustomed from his early youth to
respect the aged monarch, he felt truly uneasy at the idea
that in the Castle of Schoenbrunn he might be looked
on as a traitor and an enemy. The fears which the
King expressed on the subject of the Serbian irredentists
were also well founded. But what he said about the
Palace of Belgrade bore the stamp of wilful exaggeration.
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
