Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-04-01
RECASTING EUROPE'S MAP,
How the Process Was Accomplished n
Century AGO,

While the spring campaign in Eu-
ropes great war is opening up" says I
statement Issued by the National Geo
graphic society. and the ques-
ton is pending as to whether or not the
coming summer Will end hostiities as
those Of Napoleonic wars We're ended in
the year Of which this Is the centennial.
1t Ia interesting to go back a hundred
years for a glimpse OF the process by
which the map OF the continent was re-
, made at that time.
I'm March, 1914 Great Britain, Austria
Russia and Prussia entered into treaty
binding them to stand together until
| peace was concluded little less than
| three months later France with Napo-
| leon beaten. entered into a secret agree.
inent with these powers giving them the
disposition of all countries which the lit
tie corporai's fall had liberated from
French control
''The allies decided to hold congress
at Vienna for the distribution OF the
spoils of the war. As soon as they met
there Great Britain. Austria, Russia and
Prussia decided that they would frat
settle all controversies themselves and
| then call in France and Spain to rattfy
| what they had done. Fra nee was repre-
scented by Talleyrand and he declared
| that France would never give it's assent
to such a course OF procedure. Sweden
and Portugal were finally added IS mem
bers of the congress, and 1t was not long
until bones of contention were thrown
into the arena OF debate upon which the
four allies could reach no agreement
among themselves. One Of these was the
n 10 ~
Poland. Russia insisted that she should
have the whole OF Poland a. the price
of its contribution to the war England
through its leading representative Lord
Castlereagh, firmly opposed the preten-
sions of Alexander.
THE diplomatic war continued for a
number OF months with England stand
! ing by France, her late enemy. against
| Russia. her recent ally. Finally, with
Russia showing no signs OF yielding.
France, Austria and Great Britain en-
tered into secret treaty of defense. the
purpose Of which was to force Russia to
terms. The allies probably would thus
have fought among themselves at that
time, Just as the allies did after the
Balkan war few years ago. had not
Napoleon reappeared on the scene of ac-
| ton as their common enemy again
| The outcome of the chickering's in the
congress resulted in Austria and Prus-
STA retaining most OF their Polish domin-
IONS with the remainder going to Russia
under an agreement that 1t shouli be a
| separate kingdom, ruled by the car OF
| Russia, according to its own constitu-
ton. Switzerland was given consti-
tuition; Italy retained Lombardy and Ven
eta; and Holland kept Belgian I.uxem-
burg and 1imNlrg. Sweden. losing Fin
land to Russia, secured Norway as COM
! pensaton.
| England made proposal that the
slave trade OF Europe should be abolish
ed which resulted In declaration OF
| abolition, leaving each country free to
| fix its own date OF abolition.
TT was the purpose Of the English
representatives to secure q solemn guar
antee from the members of the congress
to make collective war on any nation
that might undertake to disturb the
| agreement of partition. This plan par
| took something OF the nature OF an in
ternattonal court such as Ia to-day rec
| commended by many peace advocates.
But the return of Napoleon forced the
adjournment OF the congress. almost be-
fore II had parceled out the territory at
issue. and wholly before 1t could take
| 'rp and adjust those matters which might
| have the more fully made for permanent
pence"