Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-11-19

restoration the Germans propose. should
not be risked. The Germans have in
sisted upon IL and have had their way
at the last. Knowing how dificult the
German problem in Posen has been we
get some glimpse of the German pre-
dicament. when we see the German
empire officially committed to the cause
of the Poles, however many Qualifica-
tons and reservations there may be in
the German mind.
From the point OF view of the neu-
trail the best thing that could be hoped
FOR would be the complete restoration
OF Poland, the erection of state in
Guiding most of the territory inhabited
by Poles in eastern Europe, whether
now under Russian. German or AUS
trian rule. II such state could be
created and permitted to stand long
enough to regain the old sense of ma
tionality. it would be a permanent bar
rler between the Teutonic and the
Slavic worlds and it would be sub
servient to neither. But such state,
built upon the ruins of Prussian unity,
could hardly hope to live long enough
to become strong unless Germany were
crushed in the present war.
Neutrality Violation Costly.
The next best thing would be tnS
union of Russian Poland and Austrian
Poland and the bestowal upon this
state OF the guarantee of the thres
neighborng empires that 1t should be
neutral. Belgian neutrality has provsd
such an empty thing that Polish neu-
trality might seem insecure: yet the
invasion OF Belgium. the war in which
this was as essential detail FROM
German point of view. has already
cost Germany 100000 casualties. and
the end is not vet. But it must be
recognized again that such a state
would be a real menace to Germany
a all times. because it's rulers and It's
patriots would inevitably follow tha
Rumauian example and wait for the
chance to complete the work OF ma
t!onal unity. -
We are going to see some sort OF
Poland rise out of the ashes. 1t will
probably be a Poland consisting OF
Russian and Austrian districts. It
VIII either be free. guaranteed by all
the nations now fighting, or the pro-
tected autonomous state Of either thu
Slav or the Teuton. We are probably
seeing the beginning of new Euro
pean question quite as difficult and
quite as dangerous to world peace ali
the old Balkan problem. the eastern
question. which in its latest form
brought us 20 Armageddon. Meantime
we can measure the situation of the
states which to their own peril have
raised the question by their act
For Supremacy in Balkans.
afore and more the war is becoming
a battle for supremacy In the Balkaus.
Germany is ready to consent to ffiS
evacuation of Belgium. Some months
ago she was demanding all sorts Of
guarantees against the enslavement of
Belgium by the French and British.
This set Of demands is disappearing.
Until recently Poland was to be par=
titioned between Austria and Germany
on lines suggesting the division which
preceded the Napo'eonic turmoil now
Poland is to be restored. rather rough.
y TO be sure, but restored. not an
neXed
Hereafter Germany can find a way to
reconcile her dema nds both in the east
and in the west. If necessary. Thera
remains in the south the Balkans II
she can keep the road open to Con-
ssantinople and Asia Minor, she can
some risks She will thus insure tina
existence of a central European state.
now filling the press OF the empire.
Germany; Austria HUNGRY. Serbia. Al
with Greece as future possibility.
this is the aim. To it Poland on the
east and Belgium on the west may be
added. or Belgium and Poland may be
temporarily sacrificed to insure the
realization of the main dream. 1t Will
be possible to add to the main struc-
ture later, il the main structure ever
gets built and stands four square on
it's foundations.
Vast Stake at Issue. -"
A good deal Of discussion may Be
heard nowadays. much solemn disputa-
ton as to whether the war will be
decided in the east or the west. The
fact is that Germany has won the
Df In he 1np
She cannot surrender It without abanr
doning her allies and her future: her
enemies cannot permit her to hold 1t
without abandoning their allies. I'M:
periling their future and permitting to
endure a European empire more rnepg
acing to European Independence thaQ
were those of Napoleon or Louis xiv.
There will be no peace until the Bal.
kan question is settled. and do not
until the German road to Constanti-
NOBLE is cut by the restoration OF Serbia
or a prolongation of the war through
several more years leads to exhaustion.
n Germany's foes are exhausted frqt,
she will then keep her road to the east
and retain the. place in the SUN which
she has fought for. But II she loses
the road to the east. do not oeleys
there viii be nothing left worth night
inr for since the allies have long ago
that Germany cannot be d.
stroyed In this war.
Germany is looking for ptacs In her
Belgian proposal and for recruits In her
Polish plan. She will probably make
little progress In either venture. but
both show new conditions--.the one
and the other physical. Like
Napoleon. the kaiser Ii finding ths busi-
ness of conquering and ruling Europe
expensive in lives, and like
NAPOLEON he is looking for -enlisfments
wherever he can buy them. But II was
with French armies that Napoleon Or:
uuered Europe. armies that he inh w -
from the revolutions: hta Saxon. Bn.
varian and Prussian regiments desert.
ed in their turn. and the mass OF the
Polish people did not rally to him. b.
cause, like the kaiser. he o6efsd Poland
Dnly minor fraction Of independenSe.
That portion Of the German pubne
which 10 against 4 proloneAtion OF the
war for the purpose Of ANNEXATION may
be temporarily silenced By the ooneeos
sions in Belgium and PolandSbut. how.
ever effectivs a. q domsstac eedASives
these policies will not oohvinoe the
Of Germany nor mitch cons'
tribute to peace.
Il