THE SO-CALLED GARDENERS CASE IN POLISH-BULGARIAN RELATIONS IN 1930-1939

The author discusses a conflict which emerged in certain parts of Poland and involved a small group (100-300 persons) of seasonal Bulgarian gardeners. The vegetables, frequently totally unknown in Poland or more attractive species, grown by them at the cost of hard work and a clever irrigation system, quickly found buyers. The local gardeners and traders recognised the presence of the Bulgarians to be a form of harmful competition and demanded the closure of frontiers. Their energetic undertakings won the support of a number of self- government and administrative authorities, from the local level to ministries. The ultimate outcome of the controversy assumed the form of restrictions and even harassment applied towards the Bulgarians and generated differences of opinion among members of the cabinet as well as numerous official interventions of the Bulgarian side.