Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - X. The Balkan war, 1912 (continued)
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1913] FERDINAND’S EVASIVENESS
I tried fervently to dissuade Gueshov from taking
such a step ; but in my heart of hearts I could not help
agreeing that indeed things could not go on like that,
and that such an abnormal situation would finally lead
to disastrous consequences for the country.
King Ferdinand was not hiding himself only from
Gueshov at this period. I have already mentioned the
curious state of things existing at his headquarters,
which he hardly left at the beginning of the war.
During the month of December he began coming more
frequently to Sofia, but he remained invisible and
inaccessible there. More especially did he hide himself
carefully from the diplomats accredited to his person,
thinking—and not without foundation—that these latter
would endeavour to give him the advice of their
Governments, which he was not at all inclined to listen to.
Since the King’s Jubilee and the festivities at
Tir-nova (in August, 1912) and up to April, 1913, I had the
honour of catching sight of the King twice only, and
both times in the cathedral; the PVench Minister saw
him once at the Palace, and the German Minister once
also at the Royal villa of Vrana (near Sofia); all the
other Ministers also saw him once in the cathedral, and
that is all. My two meetings with Ferdinand took place
as follows : on the 1st (14th) January, 1913* I went to
the Sofia cathedral, according to the Orthodox custom,
to attend High Mass and the Te Deum for the New
Year. In previous years all the Diplomatic Corps
appeared in full dress at the Te Deum, by special
invitation from the Court; after the Te Deum the King
came to talk to the foreign Ministers and to exchange
with them good wishes for the New Year; in the
evening a dinner at the Palace was given to the
Diplomatic Corps, at which the senior member made a
congratulatory speech to the King. On this occasion there
was no invitation from the Court, and we were not even
certain if His Majesty was in Sofia.
Just before the Te Deum began the King made his
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