The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-10-01


Territorial boundaries Of half the world are today
in the melting pot: The map not merely Of Europe.
but Of Africa. Asia and the Pacific islands. viii be
modified aEd may ee , s1:nndssaIaly changed y the
WIN not be vital and far-reachng as they will be
If Germany is successful; but IN any case, they
will be important notifications in nationel boundaries
and territorial control
IL il were possible TO personify nation land
hunger would be said to be of It's instincts This
Unsuitable desire for more territory is one of the
causes Of the present world conflict. i may be best
understood by considering the case Of the leading
nations generally.
In recent years Austria Hungary has been the
most shameless sinner in land grabbing and to her
action in 1903 can be traced the immediate cause Of
the war In that year she annexed Bosnia and Here
govna to her territory which was N violation of the
to Austria merely the military occupation and ad-
ministraton of these states The population of these
states is almost entirely Slav, and Austrias act of
annexation was particularly offensive to Russia, but
Russo Japanese war (Ioo4-5) and did not declare
war on Austria, although u is safe TO assume that
she would have done so If the reforms then taking
place IN her army had been complete.
In 1914 the situation was different Russia was
ready for war. Il is probable that str:a-Hungay
I'D not expect desire Seryia to comply with her
terms. it would have been the first step Of Austrian
control over this Slav nation Servias refusal to
comply with Austria's demands was followed by a
declaration July e.
To understand the problem that at this point
confronted Russia the relations ofs Russia and Aus
tra to the Balkan states must be fully anayzed
cr distinct Ss .ra n Is IN
Austria; the Magyar in Hungary, but there are APP
proximately 100000 Says in Galicia Pennsylvania
and other parts OF the dual monarchy, which are
with their fellowSlavs IN Russia or IN the Balkans
Austria Hungary lacks the one fundamental force
that makes nation-a common blood or race IN its
people 1t IS not nation; il is an aggregate OF peo-
pies. Its boundaries are artificial and for that rea-
son transient Nothing can be probable than
that If Germany is defeated in this struggle, Aus
Hungary win be dsmembered and political bound
aries made to correspond with racial boundaries.
At present Austria exists IN the interests Of Ger
man civilization and trade Her ambition is to con-
troll the port of Salonid and through It seek to
capture the trade of the East The annexation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina step in this direction
The preservation of the autonomy of Albania after
had remained inactive in the present. conflict Serva
would have been destroyed and annexed and Aus
TRAN ambition would be near its goal.
Here, however. Russia's interests came into IRE;
concilable conflict with Austria's. Russia, with all
her vast territory, has practically seacoast Her
ports on the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland are open
to navigation only part of the year on account OF
the ice Even the passage through the Dardanelles
is tar from satisfactory since she cannot send war
ships through this strait Russia desires either the
control of Constantinople a window on the Adrl-
atc She believes that she achieve the asGeT II
there is established in the Balkans strong Slay
state in sympathy with her and through whom she
can work Ii, IN the present struggle, she had re-
fused TO intervene Seryia would have been DESTROYED
and her chance 70 encourage the growth of Slav
state IN the Balkans gone at least indefinitely AS
it is now, Servias fate awaits the ultimate result OF
the war
TIL uy,, then ;s STRUGGLE for the control of the
R.Ttans The LITTLE states have been pawns in the
game between the Russians and Austrians They
thc RaLs5 territory In the present conflict If there
were no ether Interests but those of Austria and
Russia the Balkans would 20 as spoils 10 the victor
II Gr71manv and Austria achieve q decisive victory
o,,sr the lilies Srr,;a will no doubt be annexed
and oerh.ns other of the Balan states brought un-
der Austrian control IL the allies however are
successful II does NOT follow that Russia will have
free hand IN the BaIkans England will have some
thing 70 cav concernino how near Russia shall come
70 her Mediterranean trade routes and Egypt II
Is mere SPECULATION but II is fair CONJECTURE that
IL the allies are successful there will be erected
Say state in the Balkans which will include Seryia
and the Slav peoples now under the rule of Francis
France is in this conflict spurred with the hope