The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-04-06
.EUROPES MAP MAY
soon Be CHANGED
Just 100 Years Since Ma
tons Agreed On Present
Boundaries.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April g.
While the spring campaign in
Europe's great war is opening up
says a statement issued by the Ma.
tional Geographic society today. land
the question is pending as to whether
or not the coming summer will end
hostilities as those of Napoleonic wars
were ended in the year Of which this
is the centennial, 1t is interesting
to go back a hundred years for q
glimpse of the process by which the
may OF the continent was re-made
at that time.
In March, 1914. Great Britain, Aus.
tria. Russia and Prussia entered into
a treaty binding them to stand to-
gether until peace was concluded. A
little less than three months later
France, with Napoleon beaten. en-
tered into a secret agreement with
these powers giving them the DISPOSE
ton OF all countries which the Little
Corporals fall had liberated from
French control.
THE Allies decided to hold a con
gress at Vienna for the distribution
of the spoils 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 T~aIleyrand, and he declared that
France would W. give It's assent
to such a course of procedure. Swed-
en- n Portugal were finally added as
members of the congress, and it was
not long until bones of contention
wore thrown into the arena of debate
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 she
should have the whole of Poland as
HI price of its contribution 10 the
var England, through its leading
representatives. Lord Castlereagh,
firmly opposed the pretensions of
Alexander.
The diplomatic war continued for
a 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
a a few years ago., had not Napol-
con reappeareG on the scene of action
as their common enemy again.
1.-The outcome of the chickering's in
the congress resulted III Austria and
Prussia retaining most of their Pol
ish dominions, with the remainder
going to Russia under an agreement
that it should be a separate kingdom,
, ruled by the car of Russia, accord
ing to its W constitution. Switzer-
land was given a constitution; Italy
retained Lombardy and Venetia; and
Holland kept Belgian, Luxembourg
n Limburg. Sweden, losing Finland
to Russia, secured Norway as com
penSation.<
England made a proposal hat the
slave trade of Europe should be abol.
ished. which resulted in a declaration
of abolition, leaving each country
free to fix it's own date of abolition.
ut was the purpose of the English
representatives to secure a solemn
guarantee from the members of the
congress to make collective war on
any nation Il "a might undertake to
disturb the agreement of partition.
This plan partook something of the
nature of IN international court such
as is today recommended by many
peace advocates. But the return of
Napoleon forced the adjournment of
the congress-, almost before it had
parceled out the territory at issue,
and wholly before 1t could take up
and adjust those matters which might
have the more fully made for perma.
nent peace"