Bourchier, James David (1850 – 30.12.1920)

A British journalist, a public and political figure; years-long correspondent of the London-based Times on the Balkans (1888– 1920). Knowledgeable about Balkan issues, author of hundreds of articles in the British press on the problems of Macedonia and the struggles on the island of Crete. One of the most influential and well-informed members of the Balkan Committee. Author of the articles on the history of the Balkan states and Macedonia in Encyclopedia Britannica. Having extensive connections with the ruling circles on the Balkans, Bourchier was used as an intermediary in a series of diplomatic negotiations as early as the time of the Crete Uprising (1896-1897). During the preliminaries on the Balkan War, he was a liaison figure between the Bulgarian and Greek diplomacy. He lashed the terms of the Bucharest Peace Treaty of 1913. During the Paris Peace Conference (1919-1920) he sought to ensure better conditions for defeated Bulgaria.

By him: I. Ilchev. James David Bourchier and the Bulgarian National Cause (1912-1920). Bulletin of the State Archives, 50, 1986, 135–190.

About him: Lady Grogan. The Life of J. Bourchier. London, 1932; F. Otty. James Bourchier, Times Correspondent on the Balkans (1888–1920). Problems of the Bulgarian Historiography. Sofia, 1973.

Buxton Mission (September 1914 – January 1915)

An investigation mission on the Balkans, headed by the brothers Noel and Charles Buxton, assigned by the British government. It aimed to study the political opinions in the Balkan capitals and expressed London’s ambivalence on the Balkan policy. The mission was backed by Winston Churchill, David Lloyd George and, to a lesser extent, Prime Minister Henry Asquit, while the Foreign Minister Sir Edward Grey was rather skeptic. The two brothers, known as key figures of the Balkan Committee, soon transcended their prerogatives and tried to persuade the neutral Balkan countries to support the Entente. A Turkish assassin shot at the brothers and wounded them in Bucharest. Until the autumn of 1915, they remained fervent advocates of the idea about making territorial cessions to Bulgaria in order to win it for the cause. The Buxton brothers’ telegrams and ideas influenced Churchill and Lloyd George’s way of thinking about the preliminaries of the Dardanelles’ operation.

About it: Buxton, N. and C.. Mission on the Balkans. Sofia, 1987.

Radoslavov, Vassil Hristov (1854-1929)

Born in Lovech. Member of the revolutionary committee in the town. He finished secondary school in the Czech lands of Austria-Hungary and graduated in Law from the Heidelberg University, Germany. Member of the Liberal Party (1883), leader of the Liberal Party (Radoslavisti) (1887). Member of Parliament. Minister of Justice (1884-1886, 1886-1887, 19 May – 17 September 1894), Minster of Internal Affairs (12 August 1886 – 28 June 1887, 18 January 1899 – 27 November 1900, 4 July 1913 – 20 December 1913, 23 December 1913 – 21 September 1915, 7 September 1916 – 21 June 1918), Minister of Finance (18 November 1886 – 28 June 1887), Minister of Education (17 September 1894 – 9 December 1894), Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ecclesiastical Matters (17 – 20 November 1913, 23 December 1913 – 21 September 1915, 21 September 1915 – 21 June 1918). Prime Minister (16 August 1886 – 28 June 1887, 23 December 1913 – 21 June 1918).

Russia’s unceremonious interference in Bulgaria’s internal affairs in 1886-1887 had a strong effect on his foreign-political views. From that time until the end of his life he remained a staunch Russophobe. During the Balkan War he recommended rapprochement with the Central Powers. After Bulgaria’s defeat in the Inter-Allies War, he headed a government which took the country away from the Entente and brought it closer to the Central Powers. He pulled strings to conclude a financial agreement with Diskonto Gesellschaft on the eve of World War I, which placed part of the Bulgarian economy under German control. After the outbreak of the war, he maneuvered between the two groups, yet did not conceal his sympathy for the Central Powers. He sent Dr. Nikola Genadiev on an investigation mission to the Entente countries, but he rejected his recommendations and continued his pro-German policy. From August 1914 to September 1915 he conducted negotiations with both warring parties. On 3-4 September 1915, he signed a Turkish-Bulgarian Convention on Amending the Borders and a secret political pact with Germany and Austria-Hungary. Two days later, a military convention was signed, envisaging territorial cessions in favour of Bulgaria.

Throughout his term of office, he did not dare, and probably did not want to, pursue an independent policy and in everything complied with the will of Tsar Ferdinand. He was forced to hand in his resignation in the summer of 1918. The collapse of his policy became evident. Moreover, he failed to gain his allies’ support for the Bulgarian interests in Northern Dobrudja. In the wake of the Thessolonike Truce, he left Bulgaria along with Tsar Ferdinand to spend the rest of his life in Germany.

By him: Central State Archives, f.313; BIA with NBKM, f.263; Bulgaria and the World Crisis. Sofia, 1923. Daily Notes 1914–1916, Sofia, 1993.

Sobolev Mission

A proposal of the Soviet government to Bulgaria, handed on 26 November 1940 by the Chief Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Mr. Arkadiy Sobolev, for signing a pact for friendship and mutual assistance. The pact envisaged support for the Bulgarian territorial claims and defence of its state independence. The proposal aimed to release Bulgaria from the grip of German influence and was part of the diplomatic struggle between Berlin and Moscow. The Bulgarian Workers’ Party (communists) initiated an active campaign in favour of the proposal. The mission ended in failure. The government refused to bind the Bulgarian with the Soviet policy. The example with the Baltic Republics, which signed similar pacts with the Soviet Union and were engulfed in 1940, was much too startling.

About it: Chichovska V. Sobolev’s Action. Sofia, 1972.

Trianon Peace Treaty (4 June 1920)

Part of the system of the Parisian Peace Treaties. Signed between the victorious powers and Hungary. The USA declined its ratification and signed a separate covenant with Budapest. Under the terms of the Treaty, Romania received Transylvania and East Banat; the Kingdom of Serbs, Croatians and Slovenians (KSCS) – Croatia, Bachka and West Banat; Czechoslovakia – Slovakia and West Ukraine. The Burgenland Province was given to Austria. Hungary renounced any claims on Rieka (Fiume).

According to the Treaty, Hungary recognised the independence of KSCS and Czechoslovakia and renounced all rights of the former Austria-Hungary. The Treaty restricted the Hungarian army to 35,000 people, banned conscription and possession of aviation, tanks and heavy artillery. Under the Treaty, Hungary shared the blame of Germany and Austria for the outbreak of World War I. Hungary was to pay reparations. An inter-allies committee was set up to control the execution of the Treaty.

About it: De Martens. Nouveau recueil general de Traites. 3-e serie, par H. Triepel, t. XII.

Churchill, Winston (1876–1965)

British politician and statesman, born in the renowned family of the Marlboros. He graduated from Sandhurst Military School, took part in the military operations in Afghanistan and the Anglo-Boer War. He gained popularity by describing his escape from Boer captivity. From that time until the end of his life he remained an active politician. He first became member of the British Cabinet in 1905. During World War I he came into contact with the Balkan problems. In the autumn of 1914 he was one of the ministers who backed the mission of the brothers Noel and Charles Buxton on the Balkans. He demanded the winning of the Balkan countries on the side of the Entente. He was an advocate of territorial concessions, which were to be made by Bulgaria’s neighbouring countries and, as he said, were “in the interest of justice”. In January 1915, as First Lord of the Admiralty, he suggested the so-called Dardanelles Operation, which was to force the Ottoman Empire to capitulate. Churchill quickly realised that Bulgaria’s support might be crucial for the success of the operation and therefore by the autumn of 1915 he was one of the greatest supporters of the policy for making considerable territorial cessions to Bulgaria. In his memoirs “The World Crisis”, written after the war, he continued to defend the idea that one of the reasons for the failure of the conspiratorial policy on the peninsula was the Entente’s inability to satisfy at least part of Bulgaria’s just territorial claims. On the other hand, after World War I he rendered assistance to Greece in its catastrophic conflict with Turkey (1919-1922). A down-to-earth politician, he never allowed that these just demands should come into conflict with his political line even during World War II, when he once again headed the British government and did not make any moves to attract Sofia. On 9 December 1944 he struck the so-called “Balkan Deal” with Y. Stalin, which led to the English intervention in Greece in 1944. In the late 1940s he enthusiastically backed the Truman Plan.

About him: Gunev G., I. Ilchev. Winston Churchill and the Balkans. Sofia, 1989.