South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-20

peace and stable government that Turkey de-
velop her resources that Persia be free and
independent, that Egypt determine her own
economic policy, that the door remain open
in China and that China be independent and
strong that the laws of the sea be made by
ali seafaring nations in common and not by
the interest of one nation.
But all these things are also in the interest
Of the United States. and that is the reason
why German-Americans and a few other
Americans have always maintained that the
foreign interests of this country and of Ger
many are in all essentials parallel. The time
will come when this will be recognized.
That a German victory will new life
for the oppressed smaller nationalities may
be seen from two facts OF recent date. Rel
gum as is we'll known. is not a state based
upon common nationalities. There are two
peoples and two languages in that country.
the Flemish, about 50 per cent OF the total
population, and the WallOons. There has been
Flemish movement almost from the begin
ming of the Belgian state in 1881.
The Flemings fought for the recognition OF
their language against the French of the Wal
looms The movement was so far successful
that the Flemish language was in theory
recognized by the Belgian government as an
OFFICIAL language of Belgium; in practise, how
ever. it was impossible for any Fleming TO
occupy a higher position in the government
service or anywhere else unless he went over
to the use of the French language
Since the German occupation the Flemish
sense pro-GermAn, but IL is anti-Walonian
French Naturally. no attention has been paid
TO this movement by our press, but there Is
considerable literature on this subject In Ger
man and in Flemish both. Whatever the
political status Of Belgium may be after the
war a German victory will insure to the Elem
ings the unabridged use Of their language and
the full recognition of their national life.
The second significant fact which our
papers have disregarded pertains to Poland
on the 18th of November a new Polish uni
versty was opened in Warsaw in the presence
of the German military governor. 1t is to take
the place of the former Russian university
The character Of the univ rsity provides that
the language of instruction is Polish. Al the
same time a university for technical studies
was opened with Polish the language OF in
struction.
At the beginning of the war there was no
doubt on which side the sympathies and in
terests OF the Poles of Prussia and Austria
were in the struggle, but the Poles IN Russia
were divided To-day the large majority OF
Russian Poles realize that their national future
and development depend upon the victory OF
the Central Powers. They take the words Of
the German chancellor at their face value,
while most of them have always discounted
the Russian promises made in times OF dis
tress.
We have spoken so far of the political con
sequences Of a German victory. They Will
affect Europe and Asia but hardly our own
country But there are other effects that viii
be strongly felt in our country, as well as N
every other industrial and commercial country.
We are told, 10 be sure, that victorious Ger
many will challenge the Monroe doctrine and
even contemplate an invasion or the United
States. But a layman in military matters has
seen that none OF the belligerents have at
tempted TO land army on enemy shore. with