Evening star., 1916-01-03

things left as they were. so far, as
sovereign rights are concerned. By
violating Turkish territorial integrity
an international zone might be created,
including the Bosporus and the Dar-
danelles.~ Out of this might grow an
of all the narrow
waterways connecting big seas-Pana-
ma. Suez. Gibraltar. Kategat-very de-
sira ble-very difficult,
IS. Rearrangement of African posses
sons. Abyssinia remains the only native
African unit which has kept its inde
pendence | know the country and the
people fairly well. ] see no convincing
reason for assigning Abyssinia to any one
these regions is clouded by misleading
traditions as to the value of such pos
sessions. But we cannot hope to see the
errors dispelled soon enough to seriously
affect the peace treaty closing this war.
SO. Persian autonomy must be weighed
against subordinaton of Persia to greater
powers. 1t is probable that Germany will
stand for the former position. Russia and
England will find it embarrassing to re-
cede from the divided domination which
they now exercise.
40 European footholds on the Chinese
coast will doubtless be considered. Ques-
ton: Can a formula be discovered which
will satisfy at once, that baleful spheres
of-inf1uence doctrine, with Japans pre-
tensions, our open door policy and
Germany to Protect Her Trade.
III. Germany will certainly desire to
have guaranty that preferential trade
relations shall not be established in favor
of England. France and Holland in their
great possessions. if those possessions re-
main in the hands of their present holders.
The unionist party in England has cham
y,inn MI u-hi he wis
and liberal policy of Great Britain in this
respect. Question: Will any trading coun-
try be content to see four hundred millions
of the worlds civilized but weak popula-
that group of traders which happens to
control the political administration of
those millions? Perhaps this ghost may
be laid by a prohibition in the peace
treaty against preferences Of this kind
pertaining to non-self- governing posses
sions. while leaving strong governments
their present rights for establishing pro-
tective tariffs pertaining to their home ter
ritory.
"12. Doubtless attempts will be made
to limit the military establishments of
some all of the present belligerents
This attempt will fail as long as indie
pendent and competitive armaments re-
main as the final resort for settling in
ternational difficulties
"13. The peace treaty should-doubtless
will-deflne the rights of neutrals in re-
spect to trade with contiguous belliger-
ent countries. That is one of the most
important questions for German states
men who may be studying possible
peace terms. Their interests and those
of other continental powers are quite
opposed to those of Great Britain. The
matter may be seen in its bearing upon
ourselves if we suppose our ports
blockaded. 1t would obviously be
harmful to us-perhaps vitally so-if
Mexican ports were at the same time
closed to US. Question: Shall it be
fixed in so-called international law
that blockade such as now exists
against our trade with Germany,
through Dutch and Danish ports, must
be accepted by neutrals as proper
exercise of belligerent sea power? The
size of the navy which we should build
will be largely determined by this
point"