§ 31. Mr. F. Noel-Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the size of the Bulgarian armed forces.
§ Mr. MayhewAccording to my information the total Bulgarian armed forces amount to 170,000 all ranks. Of these only about 60,000 are in the regular army. The remainder are contained in the Frontier Militia and other branches of the Militia. These bodies, which have been constituted in their present form since the conclusion of the armistice, are fully armed and under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior or of the Directorate of Militia.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerWill my hon. Friend say if these figures are in accordance with the Armistice terms agreed by the Bulgarian Government at the time of surrender?
§ Mr. MayhewI can say that they are not in agreement with the draft Bulgarian Peace Treaty and will have to be scaled down to come within Article 9 of the Peace Treaty.
§ Mr. MackDoes my hon. Friend realise that since peaceful and progressive Bulgaria has no aggressive designs whatever against any nation, her army has been reduced to a number only sufficient to defend itself from any possible aggressor?
§ Mr. MayhewThey will have to be reduced still further to come within the draft Treaty next year.