South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-26
KEY To SITUATION
HELD BY RUSSIA
Success or Failure of Allies is
in Her HandS-DeSperate
Diplomatic Struggle is Now
Going On.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-Hannis
Taylor. formerly minister to Spain,
counsellor 10 the state department and
expert in international law was asked
TO express his views as to the report
that a tentative peace negOtiatiOe is
now progressing between Germany
and Russia and also Austria and Rus
STA. He said the summary of inter
ests and motives given in the report
is full of deep significance. Mr.. Tay-
Tor said:
NO one who studies the diplomacy
of Europe can doubt that Russia
holds the key to the situation, that
the success or failure Of the allies is
largely in her hands. The two great
est factors in the problem are the mil
lions of soldiers that Russia can hurl
against the eastern frontiers of Ger
many and Austria and the sea power
OF Great Britain in the west which,
despite a few unimportant reverses.
commands and supervises today the
ocean traffic of the world.
Ever since Great Britain and
France bottled Russia UP by the
treaty of 1856. which closed the
Crimean war, undertaken by the two
powers first named to preserve the
balance of power in eastern Europe
and incidentally to vest in the Europe
an concert the protection of Christian
peoples subject 10 Turkeys power to
that time, by Russia alone, the Slavic
colossus has been waiting for an op-
portunity TO carry out his plans for
the dismemberment of Turkey and
the capture of Constantinople.
Great HumiliauOns.
The two great humiliations to
which Russia was subjected in 1856
consisted of the forced surrender Of
70 tho 1gtprD
Christians and of the abrogation Of
her right TO keep war vessels in the
Black sea and to maintain naval ar
senals on its coasts.
when the first opportunity came
in 1870 Russia gave notice that il was
impossible for her to be longer bound
either by the Objectionable articles OF
the treaty of 1856 or by the cOnven-
ton of the straits, really a part of II.
In the conference heldsat London in
Jan, 1871. Russia gained all that she
then demanded. Articles II, XII and
XIV of the treaty of Paris were an
nulled and in that way Russia re-
gained her full sovereignty over the
Black sea and its coasts subject to
the right of the sultan TO invite into
the straits at any moment such pow
ers as may be willing TO join with
him in order TO check any naval ag-
gression Russia may make.
in 1870 Russia thus gained
less AN half a loaf. The question
now is Will her position at the present
enable her 10 gain the other half?
Germany as the virtual governor of
Turkey, occupies a diplomatic posi-
ton OF the first Importance and that
advantage has been somewhat in
creased by Great Britains final and
inevitable act in completing her SOW
ereignty over Egypt
"In view of these conditions il is
hard 10 doubt that a desperate diplO-
matte struggle is now going on behind
the curtain between Germany and
Great Britain for the final possession
of the influence of Russia. Her states
men who are not as a rule sentimental
cannot for a moment forget that it Is
their duty 10 open up warm water
ports as soon as possible for more
than 16O.OOO.0OO persons who have
been unjustly excluded from them.
"In my humble opinion the solution
Of that question is the one that viii
stand in the foreground when the
time for settlement comes.
"RusSia's final allegiance viii be-
I long 10 the power or powers that can
do most TO realize the one dream
upon which her future largely de-
pends Until that question is settled
there can hardly be re-establiSh-
went of the peace OF Europe. no mat
F ter what Germany might induce Tur-
+ KEY 10 concede to Russia in the Black
sea and in the straits. If the sea
power of Great Britain. backed up by
f that OF Italy in the Mediterranean as
/ il surely would be, was hostile, any
/ concession that Germany and Turkey