The Balkans: A History of Bulgaria—Serbia—Greece—Rumania—Turkey — John Shaqi
The Balkans: A History of Bulgaria—Serbia—Greece—Rumania—TurkeyHogarth, D. G. (David George)
History
The Balkans: A History of Bulgaria—Serbia—Greece—Rumania—Turkey
Hogarth, D. G. (David George)
Balkan Peninsula -- History; Eastern question (Balkan)
This treaty, which on ethnological grounds was tolerably just, alarmed
the other powers, especially Great Britain and Germany, who thought
they perceived in it the foundations of Russian hegemony in the
Balkans, while it would, if put into execution, have blighted the
aspirations of Greece and Serbia. The Treaty of Berlin, inspired by
Bismarck and Lord Salisbury, anxious to defend, the former, the
interests of (ostensibly) Austria-Hungary, the latter (shortsightedly)
those of Turkey, replaced it in July 1878. By its terms Bulgaria was
cut into three parts; northern Bulgaria, between the Danube and the
Balkans, was made an autonomous province, tributary to Turkey; southern
Bulgaria, fancifully termed Eastern Rumelia (Rumili was the name always
given by the Turks to the whole Balkan peninsula), was to have
autonomous administration under a Christian governor appointed by the
Porte; Macedonia was left to Turkey; and the Dobrudja, between the
Danube and the Black Sea, was adjudged to Rumania.
11
_The Aftermath, and Prince Alexander of Battenberg, 1878–86_
The relations between the Russians and the Bulgarians were better
before the liberation of the latter by the former than after; this may
seem unjust, because Bulgaria could never have freed herself so
decisively and rapidly alone, and Russia was the only power in whose
interest it was to free her from the Turks, and who could translate
that interest so promptly into action; nevertheless, the laws
controlling the relationships of states and nationalities being much
the same as those which control the relationships of individuals, it
was only to be expected.
What so often happens in the relationships of individuals happened in
those between Russia and Bulgaria. Russia naturally enough expected
Bulgaria to be grateful for the really large amount of blood and
treasure which its liberation had cost Russia, and, moreover, expected
its gratitude to take the form of docility and a general acquiescence
in all the suggestions and wishes expressed by its liberator. Bulgaria
was no doubt deeply grateful, but never had the slightest intention of
expressing its gratitude in the desired way; on the contrary, like most
people who have regained a long-lost and unaccustomed freedom of action
or been put under an obligation, it appeared touchy and jealous of its
right to an independent judgement. It is often assumed by Russophobe
writers that Russia wished and intended to make a Russian province of
Bulgaria, but this is very unlikely; the geographical configuration of
the Balkan peninsula would not lend itself to its incorporation in the
Russian Empire, the existence between the two of the compact and
vigorous national block of Rumania, a Latin race and then already an
independent state, was an insurmountable obstacle, and, finally, it is
quite possible for Russia to obtain possession or control of
Constantinople without owning all the intervening littoral.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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