732
BULGARIA
The following were the most important imports in 1919 : — cereals and other products, 1,731,174*.; colonial produce, 75,730*.; chemicals, 26,072*.; minerals and other ores and fatty materials, 262,346*. ; skins and their products, 56,482*. ; textiles and their products, 838,885*. The principal articles of export were : — tobacco leaf, 59,960*. ; attar of roses, 37,362*. ; animal skins, 114,412*. ; cocoons, 27,441*. During the first half of 1920 Bulgaria exported goods of the value of 27,102,102*., and imported to the value of 36,815,040*.
Total trade between United Kingdom and Bulgaria (Board of Trade Returns) for 5 years : —
Imports from Bulgaria into U.K. Exports to Bulgaria from U.K.
1915
1916
£ 41,974 85,505
800
191S
1919
£
12,701
828,308
£ 207,492 610,759
Shipping and Communications.
The number of vessels entered at the ports of Bulgaria in 1919 was 202 of 153,089 tons.
In 1920 there were in Bulgaria 2,632 miles of good roads, 2,593 miles of fair roads, and 1,890 miles of bad roads ; total, 7,115 miles of road.
In 1919, Bulgaria had 1,368 miles of railway of ordinary gauge and 195 miles of narrow gauge ; total, 1,563 miles. All the lines belong to the State, which works them. Railways connect Sofia with the general European system.
There were, in 1919, 395 post and telegraph offices (116 urban and 279 rural), and 97 telephone offices (64 urban and 33 rural).
Money and Credit.
There is a National Bank of Bulgaria, with headquarters at Sofia and branches at Philippopolis, Ruschuk, Varna, Burgas, Tirnovo and 59 agencies in the different towns of Bulgaria ; its capital is 20,000,000 leva, provided by the State, and it has authority to issue both gold notes and silver notes. There is a State Agricultural Bank for making advances on personal security.
There are a few Bulgarian gold coins, of the value of 100, 20, and 10 leva (francs), but the gold circulation is supplied by foreign 10 and 20 franc pieces. There are silver coins of £ lev, and 1 lev, 2, and 5 leva (francs) ; nickel coins of 2J, 5, 10, and 20 stotinki (centimes) ; the notes of the National Bank circulate at par.
The metric system is in general use. On April 1, 1916, the Gregorian Calendar came into force in Bulgaria.
Diplomatic and Consular Representatives.
1. Of Bulgaria, in Great Britain.
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. — Dimitri Stancioff. Appointed October 25, 1920.
Secretaries. — Stoyan Petrow-Tchomakoff and Dimitri Mamartcheff. Attache". — Boris Athanassofi'. Archivist. — Gheno. Nedelkoff
