Calmer

The continuance of martial law and a severe press censorship in Bulgaria were the outer signs of an inner state. High tension had been caused by the recent assassination bombing outrages (TIME, Apr. 27, May 4). Some fighting and another attempt on the life of King Boris (subsequently denied by the Sofia Government) were reported.

The trial of terrorists implicated in the Sveti Krai Cathedral explosion began and evidence read established positively the connivance of the Third (Communist) Internationale in the short-lived attempt to overthrow the Government and institute a reign of terror. One Zadgorsky, sacristan of the Sveti Krai Cathedral, said that he had been a Communist for several years, had been bribed with money received from Bolsheviki to permit one Vasco to place bombs on the roof of the Cathedral and had, on the fatal day, signaled when the building was full, whereupon Vasco had fired the fuse to the bombs. One Friedmann, pleading not guilty, admitted that he was a Communist, that he knew of the plans to blow up the Cathedral, but called the attempt "a stupid thing which could not have had anything like a practical result." The Government charged that the wife of a former Premier (probably Mme. Stambulisky) was implicated.

The international aspect of the affair calmed down considerably. The Great Powers of Europe warned Premier Tsankoff against committing retaliatory excesses and against surpassing the rights of the constitutional Opposition. Premier Mussolini of Italy was reported to have warned Yugo-Slavia that Italy would not tolerate any interference on her part in the internal affairs of Bulgaria, and a Minister of the latter called on Premier Pashitch at Belgrade and apologized for the statements published by the press charging Serbian complicity in the outrages.