CFM Files
United States Delegation Minutes
[General Balmer made the following statement in the course of the discussion on Bulgarian ground forces:]
“In drafting Article 9, and similar Articles in the other treaties, it was found to be impracticable to list all the types of military and semi-military organizations, under the general limitation of armed forces. Accordingly, Article 11 and the similar Article for other treaties were agreed upon, which prohibits any form of military training except in the army authorized in Article 9.
“Since this Conference started its work in Paris, the Minister of Interior for Bulgaria introduced a law-project which provides for the establishment of a frontier Militia in Bulgaria. The law has been passed and places the frontier Militia under the Minister of Interior. The personnel are to be young men serving with their age group who enter service through army barracks, receive individual training and company exercises. Those who serve in the frontier Militia have equal rights with those who serve in the present army and they are responsible at military courts. The movable and immovable properties of the present frontier troops are to be transferred to the frontier Militia.
“In Article 9 we have included frontier troops, but it appears now that these troops will not be included in the land army and their duties will be taken over by the frontier Militia, operating under the Minister of Interior.
“If the frontier Militia is not included in the total armed strength limited to 55,000, then under Article 11 it will be illegal for Bulgaria to have a frontier Militia with military training when this treaty goes into effect.”59
- The British representative delivered a similar statement; both statements were annexed to the Record of Decisions of the Meeting.↩