The herald., 1897-04-24
WILL THE EUROPEAN MAP BE
CHANGEDP

1t has generally pten d ieouil VI "oh
that one or the other of the contestants
has lost territory. This has been es-
pecially true as the outcome of the
wars that have been waged in Europe
during the last sixty years. Every war
there has produced reconstruction of
the continental map.
In that period France has lost and
Germany has gained territory. Sardinia
has spread over the peninsula and has
become the great Italian kingdom.
Turkey has steadily lost, and portions
of her European possessions have be-
come independent and converted into
the kingdoms of Roumania and Ser
via. Bulgaria is to an extent an inde-
pendent principality, and Bosnia and
Herzegovina have been placed under
the suzerainty of Austria. Russia has
reached the Daunbe and would have
been in possession of the Dardanelles
and the Bosphorus had there not been
a combination of other European pow
ers to prevent it.
The conflict between Greece and Tur-
key opens a field for speculation as to
what may be done in the way of another
reconstruction of the map of Europe.
The first thought is that Russia would
ally herself with Greece. and this
thought would seem to be reasonable.
as for half century the Muscovite has
had an eye on Constantinople and
route into the Mediterranean for the
commerce of his vast empire. There
is more jealousy of Russia and dread of
her power than of all other European
states.
That Russia has not sided with Greece
may be regarded as enigmatical, but
the reason is that she has other schemes
of aggrandizement, and does not under
present circumstances deem it prudent
to collide with Great Britain on
European field. Though the British
people sympathize with Greece on re-
lgious and other grounds, still, con-
trolled as the government is by none
tary considerations, it feels bound to
stand by Turkey in order to protect
British creditors. and to maintain her
commercial ascendency in Turkish
countries and in the others which bor-
der on the Mediterranean, an ascend
ency which would be seriously i'm
periled if Russia should acquire COM
petitive position. So far as religious toll
II,
Turkey is an anachronism in Europe.
There has long been an expectation
that the Christian nations would unite
in compelling the Mussulman govern
ment to retire into Asia. That this has
not been done may be ascribed to ma
tional jealousies and the commercial
ambition and interests of the western
powers. more especially those of Great
Britain.
For the present Russia has greay
schemes in Asia, which for a time at
least she can prosecute unopposed. She
has already taken possession of Tar
tary and Turkestan, and from China
has been obtained slice of Manchura
Her aspirations for the moment seem
to be to promote transpacific commerce
and to gain position to menace Brit
ish interests in the Orient, rather than
in Europe.
France. the supposed ally of Russia,
Is advancing her interests in Asia; she
has already seized Cambodia and Anam.
The rivals of Great Britain are devel-
oping aggression upon her interests in
Asia, while Germany and other nations
are pressing upon her interests in At
RIGA
AS the principal European nations
are concerning themselves with Asiatic
and African acquisitions, it seems prob
able that Greece will be left to fight her
battles singlehanded with the ''un-
speakable Turk" The moral sentl-
mepts of Europe are with the Hellenes,
but the governments are handicapped
by monetary influences. Poor Greece,