The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-04-22
Europe One
Century Ago

Nuie Nlt spring CdnpdlsH III nu
ropes g:eat war is opening up, says
statement issued by the National
Geographic society today, and the
question is pending as to whether or
not the coming summer will end hos
Titles as those of Napoleonic wars
were ended in the year of which this
is the centennial, it is interesting to
so back hundred years for a
glimpse OF the process by which the
map of the continent was remade at
that time.
"In March, 1914, Great Britain,
Austria, Russia and Prussia entered !
into a treaty binding them to stand |
together until peace was concluded.
A little less than three months later
France, with Napoleon beaten, en-.
tering into a secret agreement with
these powers giving them the disposi
ton of all countries which the little
corporal's fall had liberated from
French control.
THE allies decided to hold con-
gress at Vienna for the distribution
OF the spells of the war. AS soon as
| they met there Great Britain, Aus
tria, Russia and Prussia decided that
they would first settle all controvers-
les themselves and then call in
/ France and Spain to ratify what they
had done. France was represented
by Talleyrand, and he declared that
France would never give its assent to
such q course of procedure. Sweden
and Portugal were finally added as
members of the congress, and It was
not long until bones of contention
were thrown into the arena of de.
bate upon which the four allies could
reach no agreement among them.
selves. One of these was the ques.
ton of the disposition of SaXony and
Poland, Russia insisted that sho
should have the whole of Poland us
the price of its contribution to the
war. England, through its leading
firmly opposed the pretensons of AL
exander.
"The diplomatic war continued for
n number of months with England
standing by France, her late enemy,
against Russia, her recent ally. Fin
ally with Russia showing no signs
of yielding, France, Austria and
Great Britain entered into a 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 oil
action as their common enemy again
"The outcome of the chickering's In
the congress resulted in Austria and
= Prussia retaining most of their Pol
| ish dominions, with the remainder
} going to Russia under an agreement
that 1t should be a separate kingdom
ruled by the car of Russia, according
to its own constitution. Switzerland
was given a constitution; Italy re
: tanned Lombardy and Vanetia; anC
Holland kept Belgium, LuXemburi
y and Limburg, Sweden, losing FinlanC
y to Russia, secured Norway as com
= pensation.
t England made a proposal that tn,
slave trade of Europe should be ah
1, olished which resulted in declare
b. tion of abolition, leaving. each coun
h try free to fix its own date OF abol
Is ton.
s, 1T was the purpose of the Englis
y representatives TO secure a solem
N guarantee from the members OF tn
1t congress TO make collective war o.
any nation that might undertake I
1t disturb the agreement of partition
ID This plan partook something OF tn
1t nature OF an international court sue
lie as is today recommended by man
Id peace advocates. But the return {
,r Napoleon forced the adjournment {
ID the congress, almost before II ha
n parceled out the territory at issu'
Id and wholly before 1t could take Il
IL and adjust those matters which ma
to have more fully made for permaner
lie peace"