40. – Bulgaria in the year 1915.

This map represents the rectification of the Turkish-Bulgarian boundary according to the "Convention concerning the rectification of the Turkish-Bulgarian boundary of the 24th of August-6th of September 1915". – The territory conceded by Turkey to Bulgaria has been white-hatched.

This concession by Turkey has been an act of true statesman-like prudence and far-sightedness. The Turkish history shows few examples of territorial cessions that had not been enforced by the sword. lf in past times Turkey had understood to make of her own free-will concessions that had become necessary, it can be scarcely doubted, that a large part of the Balkan peninsula would have remained, even to this day, embodied in the Ottoman Empire. The present Turkish statesmen, clever as they are, have recognised this; they have recognised that Turkey and Bulgaria have a common interest in preventing Russia from getting a footing in Constantinople and at the Dardanellies, in consequence of which the preliminaries of complete harmony between these two neighbour-states had to be set by putting aside all that might separate them and by attending to all that could keep up the union. After the settlement of the Macedonian question, the only obstacle to this harmony was the unnatural Turkish-Bulgarian frontier; this difficulty was overcome by the above-mentioned convention. Now, definite boundaries are erected between Turkey and Bulgaria. The success of this concession made by Turkey is evident as daylight: for two years Turkish and Bulgarian armies defend side by side their countries on the battlefield and fight for the right of free and undisturbed development. If the policy of Turkey in the future should be led as wisely as today, and avoid raising territorial questions that might prejudice the sincere friendship between Turkey and Bulgaria, it cannot be doubted that this friendship will be of long duration.