Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-15
A BALKAN PROPOSAL.
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

ternational sociology. The Balkan Pc
ninsua is to serve as the laboratory,
provided the governments involved can be
induced to see the advantages of the
proposal. and the avowed object is the
infusion of new economic strength into
Europe against time of overwhelming
competition from the United States the
more progressive nations of South Amer
lea, and, finally, an awakened China. It
Is planned to establish by convention Of
Austrfa-Hungary and the Balkan states
free trade belt. connecting central Eu-
rope with Asia Minor and the Black sea.
Besides the opening and development of
great trade artery. expounders of the
idea believe that such a convention would
pave the way for ultimate European
solidarity. Only closely federated Eu-
rope. in their opinion, can hope to sur
vive the bitter industrial and commercial
struggle of nations which is opening with
the twentieth century.
Creation of such free trade zone
across the Balkan peninsula to the Black
sea would open a short, convenient route
for the products of central Europe to
the markets of the orient-Asia Minor
Persia and India. 1t would a'so of
course. oner a most advantageous path
for the flow of the raw materials and
goods of the east into the distributing
centers of Europe. Ostensibly. it would
make for peace and orderly development
or the Balkan nations. knitting their
interests firmly together and fostering
their growth by sharing in a tremendous
kuropean-orfental commerce as carriers
commission agents and manufacturers 1t
would promote commercial good will
among the great manufacturing nations
OF Europe. bringing them to full realiza-
tion that 1t is to their Vita interest
TO make common cause against the pow
es.u, countries OF almost inexhaustible
resources in Asia and America. Such
are the reasons advanced in support OF
the project.
As to the line Of the proposed free trade
oeit. 1t Is suggested that 1t follow the
Danube, and one
Free Trade Zone branch the rail-
to Follow Danube. laos aa a. arteries eae
stantinople These zones should be from
six to twelve miles wide. European coun-
tries interested In the trade of the near
and far east should aid to their utmost
ability. with their moral support and with
their capital, fullest development of the
route. from which all would expect to
benefit.
The Danube is the mightiest stream Of
middle Europe. Traffic upon this river
Is regulated by the international Euro
pean Danube commission" in which
Austria-Hungary, Germany, France. Rus
sia. England. Italy, Roumania and Tur-
key are represented. 1t stretches from
the Black sea into southern Germany
and is connected by the Main-Danube
canal with the Rhine. and, go. with the
Atlantic. The opening of a free water
way from the Atlantic through the Rhine
to the Danube and the Black Sea would,
,1sh 1.- ha Inv nf thn
greatest trade route in Europe. II would
bind west. middle and southeast Europe
together, and. according to the views of
the keen-visioned German seer, Goethe.
expressed nearly hundred years ago. it
would become commercial avenue of as
much Importance Panama canal.
At present traffic upon the Danube is
relatively light Hungary bore the costs
of making the river navigable through
the iron gates and to repay her expendi-
ture takes toll from all ships passing
through the narrows. Despite the I'm
provement, her yearly receipts from tolls
the interest upon the investment. A
point made by those in Vienna who favor
the free trade zone is that Hungary
stands to gain considerable by the open
ing of the river.
Other branches OF the proosed zone
would be the railway lines running TO
Corstantinople and Salonika. The regu-
latons under which these roads are at
present operated We're adopted by the
convention a quatre'' of 1888. in whose
deliberations Austria-Hungary, Servia,
Bulgaria and Turkey were represented.
The work of this convention is now I'M
dergoing modification to meet the
changed conditions caused by the Balkan
war. in wSich Turkey lost numerous
railway stretches with her territorial
losses. Subsidiary to the free trade belt,
iS,is proposed that the railways should
connect the AEGEAN and the Adriatic by
privileged international avenue.
Albania, Montenegro, Servia, Bulgaria
Roumania, Greece, Austrta-Hungary and
Turkey would be directly affected by the
establishment of the free-trade zone. If
for no other reason, a fear of giving the
powerful European states too strong an
interest in their affairs might serve TO
retard the Balkan countries from enter
ing enthusiastically into the proposals.
However assurances are given by sup
porters OF the plan that the sovereignty
rights Of these countries would in no
wise be weakened by such an arrange
ment
On the contrary, a prospect Of waxing
fat. wealthy and strong is held out to the
Balkan nations. They are to be brought
back into the civilized world, their In
dustries developed, their commerce pro-
NOTED and their social standing among
polite nations heightened. Such prom
Uses should be dazzling. For centuries
the Balkan peninsula has been merely
land of darkness on the fringe of Eu-
rope summed by tourists who cared any
thing for the comforts and refnements of
re- avnSda6 nv march MIA WI Rought