Neuilly, Treaty of

the peace treaty between Bulgaria, one of the defeated Central Powers in World War I (1914–18), and the victorious Allied and Associated Powers (USA, Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Greece, and other countries). Signed on Nov. 27, 1919, at Neuilly-sur-Seine (near Paris), it became effective Aug. 9, 1920. It was one of the treaties that formed the basis of the Versailles-Washington system.

According to the treaty, Bulgaria ceded four regions, which totaled 2,566 sq km in area and included the cities of Tsaribrod, Bosilegrad, and Strumica, to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (Yugoslavia since 1929). The treaty confirmed the frontiers with Rumania established by the Bucharest Peace Treaty of 1913 (South Dobruja was restored to Rumania). Bulgaria lost western Thrace (8,500 sq km) and with it access to the Aegean Sea; western Thrace came under the control of Great Britain, Italy, France, the USA, and Japan, which pledged (art. 48) to guarantee free commercial access by Bulgaria to the Aegean Sea (this pledge was violated by the transfer of western Thrace to Greece in 1920).

Bulgaria pledged to pay reparations in the amount of 2.25 billion gold francs. The military clauses of the Treaty of Neuilly restricted Bulgaria’s armaments and the size of its army (20,000 men), frontier guard, and gendarmerie. Bulgaria’s economy and finances were placed under the control of an interallied commission composed of representatives of Great Britain, France, and Italy. The articles dealing with reparation were reviewed in 1923 and 1930, and the clauses on military limitations in 1938. In 1940, South Dobruja was returned to Bulgaria (in accordance with the Treaty of Craiovo of Sept. 7, 1940). The Treaty of Neuilly lost its force after World War II (1939–45).