§ Sir P. MAGNUSI desire to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs a question of which I have given him private notice, namely, whether he can now give the House any information regarding the intention of the Bulgarian Government in mobilising their forces?
§ Sir E. GREYMy official information from the Bulgarian Government is that they have taken up a position of armed neutrality to defend their rights and independence, and that they have no aggressive intentions whatever against Bulgaria's neighbours.
It would, perhaps, be well that I should, with the leave of the House, explain quite shortly our view of the Balkan situation. Not only is there no hostility in this country to Bulgaria, but there is traditionally a warm feeling of sympathy for the Bulgarian people.
As long, therefore, as Bulgaria does not aide with the enemies of Great Britain and her Allies, there can be no question of 732 British influence or forces being used in a sense hostile to Bulgarian interests; and, as long as the Bulgarian attitude is unaggressive, there should be no disturbance of friendly relations.
If, on the other hand, the Bulgarian mobilisation were the result in Bulgaria assuming an aggressive attitude on the side of our enemies, we are prepared to give to our friends in the Balkans all the support in our power, in the manner that would be most welcome to them, in concert with our Allies, without reserve and without qualification.
We are, of course, in consultation with our Allies on the situation, and I believe that the view that I express is theirs also.
Our policy has been to secure agreement between the Balkan States, which would assure to each of them, not only independence, but a brilliant future, based as a general principle on the territorial and political union of kindred nationalities. To secure this agreement we have recognised that the legitimate aspirations of all Balkan States must find satisfaction.
The policy of Germany, on the other hand, has been to create for her own purposes disunion and war between the Balkan States. She first made use of Austria-Hungary to precipitate a European war, with the result that that Empire is now completely subordinated to Germany and dependent upon her.
Turkey, whose interests would have been preserved by remaining neutral, was gratuitously forced by Germany into this War, and, having been used, is now being subordinated and made dependent upon Germany, in order to realise the German aspiration of German influence from Berlin to Bagdad.
In the same way, it would naturally be Germany's policy to use any Balkan State she could influence to further this plan, with the inevitable result that that State would eventually be subordinated to her; and, though territorial gains might be promised, it would lose real independence.
This is directly contrary to the policy of the Allies, which is to further the national aspirations of the Balkan States without sacrificing the independence of any of them.