New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-21

pointed out that any German peace
at least some expansion for Bulgaria,
and retention of enough of the con-
quered Balkan territory to insure the
route to Constantinople. That it is
the intention to bring Austria-Hun-
gary, Bulgaria and Turkey into GUS
toms union. Germanizing their indus
tries. and TO surround the whole eco
nomic entity thus established with a
formidable tariff wall, has been made
clear by the declarations of Friedrich
Naumann and other opponents OF an
economic "Mitteleuropa.
Some influential men of this group
even have suggested that Germany go
so far as to be joint chancellery for
Germany, Austria and Hungary to con-
duct foreign affairs.
All of this is taken as revealing the
point of a premature peace which
should leave the German southeastern
6ominions unbroken. II is regarded as
giving a sinister color to recent move
ments for separate peace for Austria
Hungary or Bulgaria, in the region
where German conquest is most safe;
TO the eagerness with which German
leaders have taken up the cry of mo
anneXations" so far as the great North
ern powers are concerned, and to the
German Chancellor's recent Reichstag
speech, indicating that the government
was not yet ready TO renounce its terri
toral gains in France, Belgium and
Russia, "while all other matters are
left in suspense" Any remuneration of
territory IL is expected, would exclude
Poland, which would be made "free"
state under the German plan, but would
remain wholly under German domino
ton.
The turn of affairs Is accepted, too
as bringing Austria Hungary more
clearly into relief as the area of pos
siblc operations TO impose barrier be-
tween Berlin and Constantinople In
that connection is recalled the declara-
tion Of the Allies. replying to Presi-
dent Wilson's peace note, in the light
of knowledge which only now has be-
come available here, that the war must
accomplish "the Liberation of Italians,
OF Slavs, of Rumanians and Of Czecho-
Slovaos from foreign domination, the
cnfranchisement of populations sub
ject TO the bloody tyranny of the Turk,
the expulsion from Europe of the Otto
man Empire and the restoration of
toNibid, -NpHNthtSiO anu huUdnld.
Allies Propose Barriers
Such programme, it was pointed
out. would eifectually break p the
greater Germany now established as
the nucleus of world Germany. 1t
would impose Rumanian-Serbian bar
rier between Austria and Bulgaria;
would further enlarge this barrier by
restoring TO Rumania her $500 600 ma
tionals in Eastern Hungary. and prob
ably to Serbia 100000 Serbo- Croatians
in Southern Austria and large section
Cf Bulgaria. and would establish at
the crucial southern point of the Dual
Empire u free nation of seven million
Czecho- Slovacs, and in the north free
Poland by the addition of five million
Poles now under Austrian rule. II fur
Their would restore one million Italians
TO Italy and upward of two million
Slavs TO Russia. In addition, il would
dismember the then detached Turkish
territory 10 the south, by liberating the
Armenians and Syrians and removing
the Dardanelles from German domi-
nation.
American officials have made il clear
that in cooperating with the Allies the
United States was not entering a bind
ing alliance TO accomplish definite ard
detailed territorial aims. But there IS
every evidence that the government un-
derstands in concrete form the crucial
southeastern element of the situation,
and realizes the enormity Of the strug-
gle that must be won before the world
is made "ssfe for democracy