M1135/1 I Confidential Correspondence to Australia From 26 November 1924 to 9 July 1925 Nos.1-100 Volume RG Casey

M1135/1 I Confidential Correspondence to Australia From 26 November 1924 to 9 July 1925 Nos.1-100 Volume RG Casey

This is a tightly bound volume of telegrams sent by RG Casey in London to Prime Minister Stanley M Bruce. These telegrams cover a variety of European and Asian issues e.g. China, Japan, Russia, security pact, communist activities, Balkan states, Iraq and Italian emigration to South America including a cutting from the Times of London.

Lon.14 RG 8 January , 1925-3ff
Casey to RT SM Bruce
The Balkans
" In a conversation with Mr. M.W Lampson the head of the Central Department, he explained that although they treated the Balkans with great circumspection, they did not consider them such as a " powder magazine" as they had done before the war.
Under the present condition it should be possible to localise any Balkan war as the big powers had no real interests or direct connection there.
The exception to the above statement are contained in the fact that Italy has a treaty with Yugo-slavia and Great Britain has traditional friendship for Greece, mainly to suit our book, as an offset to Italy in the western Mediterranean.
Bulgaria and Serbia (as part of the present Yugoslavia) are traditional enemies on account of their both wanting, Macedonia, which, of course, is now incorporated in the south-eastern portion of Yugoslavia. This dispute goes back to the Treaty of San Stefano in 1878. However, as Yugo-slavia now has a fairly tight hold on Macedonia, it is hoped that, if ten years go by without any active attempt on the part of Bulgaria to get it back, a status quo position will be established which will settle this question in the eyes of the great nations."
"Albania is a breeding ground for trouble [where] Italy, Yugoslavia and Greece all covet the portion of it adjacent to their own territory; and are jealous if the others having a share of the loot.
Speaking rather generally and in answer to my query as to where he anticipated, even remotely, that trouble might occur, Lampson said that he visualised vaguely that Bulgaria and Yugo-slavia might get together temporarily and raid Greece. Bulgaria was keen to get the port of Kavalla; and Yugoslavia has constant conversations with Greece with regard to the latter allowing her customs and railway privileges in Salonika.
In answer to my query as to the real nature of the much discussed attempted bolshevising of the Balkans, he said that he did not really regard this very seriously…[The Bolsheviks] had to deal with countries consisting for the great power of a population of small peasant landholders and these are well known not to be good breeding grounds for Bolshevism….
Lampson states that Great Britain has no desire to meddle in the Balkans other than to keep a watchful eye on their doings and a restraining hand on their war-like activities."

Lon.61 30 April, 1925 –4ff
RG Casey to RT SM Bruce MP
The Balkans.
It discusses the internal problems faced by the Bulgarian Government from Stambouliski assassinated in June 1923 to Tsankov. Tsankov was pressing the Allied Powers to allow Bulgaria to increase its army and this measure raised concerns in Greece, Yugoslavia and Roumania.
" The Chargé d'Affaires of the Greek Embassy presented a most disquieting communication in writing. protesting against the authorised increase in the Bulgarian army of 10,000 men, and stating that Greek Government will see themselves compelled to have recourse to similar military measures in order to meet any emergency, along with naval measures, placing the Navy in a position to ensure the eventual transport of troops. He was warned by Mr. Lampson of the Central Dept of the F.O, of the gravity of the proposed step of the danger that anything of the sort might will precipitate a crisis in the Balkans with incalculable consequences to all concerned. It was the duty of Bulgaria's neighbors to remain calm and refrain from any hasty action." pp.2-3

There are also references to Daily Herald and Times article of April 28, 1925 over the situation in Balkans.

Lon.100 Security Pact 9 July, 1925-3ff
Lon.99 Policy in China 9 July 1925-3ff
Lon.98 Russia 9 July , 1925-6ff
Lon.94 Bulgaria, Egypt 2 July 1925-3ff
Lon.83 Balkans, Greek-Serbian dispute over Salonika railway 11 June 1925-3ff

Personal; and Confidential no.70 14 May, 1925
RGC Casey to RT HON SM Bruce MP PM of Australia, Melbourne
" I saw Amery yesterday…. He said that on his recent trip he was very gratified to find Iraq quiet and peaceful, with good prospects for the future. The kind of rebellion against the Turks was rather a help to us than otherwise, as it shows us that we can enlist the aid of the Kurds against the Turks without much trouble in the future should the Turks become offensive to us.
He said that if and when the time came, for us to bolster up either one or both of Turkey and Persia against the Bolshevists, Iraq is ideally placed to do so from, both the point of view of moral and material support."