Wars & Treaties, 1815 to 1914Ponsonby, Arthur Ponsonby, Baron
History
Wars & Treaties, 1815 to 1914
Ponsonby, Arthur Ponsonby, Baron
History, Modern -- 19th century; History, Modern -- 20th century; Military history, Modern; Treaties
Serious disputes as to the disposal of the spoils won from Turkey led
immediately to the outbreak of war among the Allies.
SECOND BALKAN WAR
1913
Belligerents:
Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, Roumania.
Bulgaria.
Turkey.
Cause:
In February 1912 a treaty was concluded between Bulgaria and Serbia,
whereby it was agreed that North-west Macedonia should go to Serbia,
another part to Bulgaria, and the zone lying between these two should
be submitted to the arbitration of the Czar. In December 1912, in the
First Balkan War, Austria protested against the occupation by Serbia of
Durazzo on the Adriatic, and of Scutari by Montenegro. Serbia declared
that Bulgaria did not adequately support her in resisting the Austrian
demand, felt impelled to claim more territory in Macedonia, and refused
to carry out the provisions of the treaty with Bulgaria. Serbia was
ready to arbitrate. Russia was inclined to support the Serbian claim.
Bulgaria hesitated.
Occasion:
While the dispute was still in the balance the aggressive party in
Bulgaria got the upper hand, and war was declared against Serbia and
Greece in June 24, 1913, only a few months after the cessation of
hostilities in the First Balkan War.
Course of the War:
The Bulgarians found themselves invaded on four frontiers. While they
were being driven back by Serbia and Greece, the Turks repudiated the
Treaty of London and retook Adrianople, and Roumania advanced from the
north and without striking a blow annexed a large slice of territory in
the Dobrudja. Bulgaria was obliged to yield.
Political Result:
By the _Treaty of Bukarest_, August 10, 1913, Serbia acquired a large
district of South-east Macedonia, Greece obtained Kavalla, and Roumania
was given possession of the territory her troops had occupied.
By the _Treaty of Constantinople_, August 1913, Bulgaria ceded back
to Turkey more than half of the territory won in the previous war,
including Adrianople.
Remarks:
Bulgaria being again restricted in territory felt she had been betrayed
by the Powers, who did nothing to enforce the engagements of the Treaty
of London. Her rivals, Serbia and Greece, gained at her expense. On the
other hand, Bulgarian responsibility for the outbreak of the second war
was undoubted.
The European Powers, by acting together, prevented the Balkan conflict
from spreading into a European War. But the Treaty of Bukarest was no
settlement, and was a signal exposure of their inability to solve the
Balkan problem, which was destined to be the spark for a world-wide
conflagration.
IMPORTANT TREATIES
(OTHER THAN THOSE ALREADY MENTIONED)
The _Treaty of Vienna_, June 9, 1815.
_Second Treaty of Paris_, November 20, 1815, Signed by Great Britain,
Austria, Prussia, Russia, France at the conclusion of the
Napoleonic Wars.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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