The reconstruction of South-Eastern Europe

VIII THE SERBO-BULGARIAN RELATIONS

In order to avoid blunders of the past, which had such fatal consequences in bleeding Serbia nearly to death, and by prolonging the war necessitated new sacrifices in lives and wealth, we must form some clear and definite idea about Bulgaria and make up our mind concerning the future arrangements in the Balkans. Great Britain and her Allies bid everything to win Bulgaria to their side, but she sneered in their faces, and in the most decisive hour betrayed her benefactors and the cause of European liberties. But the treachery of Bulgaria was quite natural and could be expected by every one who had some insight into Bulgarian character and psychology. The “ Prussians of the Balkans”? had more in common with Prussia than political sympathy of a moment, and in view of the importance of the subject, no excuse is necessary in treating to some length the Serbo-Bulgarian relations in the past, as they are the key to the understanding of the present, and the best warning how to avoid fatal mistakes in the future.

By the seventh century the Slav tribes had definitely occupied the whole northern part of

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