Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-06-08
BY FRANK H. SlMoNDs,
AUTHOR OF 1.-THE GREAT WAR;"
"THEY SHALL NOT PASS"
Copyright, 1917-The Tribune Assn

eOsVOo VT s0e 0U6Au WAN
"THEY SHALL NOT PASS"
(The New York Tribune).
1T would be a very great mistake to
dismiss as merely visionary the de-
mand of the Russian revolution that
there should be world peace and that
this world peace should be based upon
the principle OF no annexation and no
indemnity. 1t is true that at the mo
ment this proposal finds a hearing only
in Russia, and is rejected by Germany
and by the allied nations alike. al
though for very differentsreasons. But
the situation may be altogether
changed if winter comes without a de-
cision on either side or any unmistaka-
BILE evidence OF the approach of a de-
CfSiOn.
We have seen in recent weeks u very
clear evidence that Austria is ready to
make peace on the basis OF things as
they were in July, 1914. We have the
firm declaration of the Russian revolu-
ton in favor of such a program. Here
are the two nations whose quarrel
opened the way 20 the conflict prepared
to give over the struggle, and ii hou
be remarked that with these declara-
lions or intimations there vanish some
OF h most extensive proposals for the
alteration of the map of Europe.
Turkey and Russia Near Accord.
At the present moment Russia has
abandoned her claim to the straits and
to Constantinople: h no longer Asks
to establish her rule on the ruins of
Turkey in Europe and merely asks free
passage through the straits, which the
turks and their allies are prepared to
give her. Thus expires any eason for
the prolongatiOn of q war between Tur-
key m Russia, for the problem of Ar
menia is not difficult to settle.
In abandoning her claim upon Galicia
Russia surrenders any plan that would
urge Austria to continue at war with
Russia, for with the surrender OF the
Gaiician dream Russia very manifestly
throws over all Etumanian dreams OF
expansion at h expense of Hungary.
Since the Russians have declined to
make the cause OF the Slavs in Galicia
a basis for continued a there is small
chance that they will long insist upon
war merely to do for the Rumanians Of
Pennsylvania and Bukovina what they
will not do for their own brothers in
Austrian territory.
Grantee that the present Russian
proposal prevails in Russia and con-
tinues to be the driving force OF Rus
sian policy, we may dismiss at once all
bu one OF the great proposals for
changes in the m ia OF Europe between
tue Danube and the Baltic. This single
exception Is the case of Poland. The
Russians nave agreed to the liberation
OF Poland; they have frankly and freely
and in the spirit Of the revolution in
dOrsed the idea Of Polish freedom. But
this must mean the freedom Of the
Poles In Austria as well as in Russian
Poland. No sernt-autOnomous Polish
state actually undo German tutelage,
actually bound to the Prussian autoc-
racy. will satisfy the ideas of the Rus
sian revolution. Nor is 1t less clear that
once a portion OF Poland is free the
Austrian Poles, the ablest, most intel
ligent, most energetic of all, will in
sist upon. Joining The new kingdom.
FOr Austria to refuse would be to throw
h great Polish element into the oppo-
sttion. and In recent ~ it has only
been by a coalition of the Poles with
h Magyars and Germans of the dual
monarchy hat the H%apsburg empire
has been preserved.
A New Poland.
BY far h most likely outcome of the
present situation, granted that there is
no collapse on thep part OF Russia or of
the central powers. granted that the
war goes on until the end Of the cam
paign, Is a new peace proposal emanat-
ing from Russia or from Austria, or
coming from be sh, suggesting the crea-
ton OF a new Poland to consist of Rus
sim Poland and Austrian Galicia, a
state which will be guaranteed by
Austria and by Russia, and possibly by
Germany. Such a proposal would at
once eliminate all questions of VIC
tory or defeat in the war. Russia would
lose $4,000 square miles and IL. 200. 900
people. Austria 3 $1,000 square miles and
8.25O.000 or $4,000 square miles and g.
600. 1000 souls il Bukovina were included,
and BukOvina might yery we'll be as
signed to Rumania in exchange for
that Bulgarian territory taken at the
time of the treaty OF Bucharest and
eetaken by the, Bulgars last year.
Such asOlution would erect between
Austria n Russia q Polish state of at
least 10000. 900 nearly three-quarters Of
whom would be Polish. It would. to be
sure. join to the Poles at least 10000
would not welcome the change with en-
ehustasm. Yet they have been at all
times dominated by the Poles Of west
ern GaliCta and their ancestors were
tnOluded in the old Polish kingdom,
Between Austrta and the buffer state
q Poland would stand the wall Of the
C~arpathians. and the monaco OF Rus.
sian attack would be removed or at
beast much reduced.
A. Tor the Serbian problem. on the
baotD OF no Annexa4ions, Il would md
eas1 solution: unsupported by the Rus
eiaQs. the Serbian dreams Of . greater
8eflbiA would NOT long survive 10 keep
= conquered peopaeHu6tho war. Granted
that Russia ana Austria were agreed
to make peace without conquesta., Il
would not be difficult 70 aasign osSer.
blA that window on the Adriatic at
DuftaxO which was won At the time OF.
tAe First Balkan war ana denied by
gateWay on the sea, With Z practical
antonswtth Aontsnegro. Serbia would
Aeaorko from the wa with
froodom. And 70 balance her acqut-