Evening star., 1917-01-21
BY CHARLES M. PEPPER.

E0HE relations Of the United States
with the Balkan States prom
Use to be one Of the interest
~S ing developments that will fol-
low the war. This probability is In
dicated by the action Of Serbia in ac-
crediting q minister to Washington.
The Balkan puzzle heretofore has
been something that the United States
has not attempted to solve. 1t was
looked on purely as q European prob
lem. and it will continue to be viewed
in that light. But recent events make
it clear that the United States will not
remain indifferent to the solution which
js sought for the problem.
President Wilson's declaration in re-
gard to our interest In the welfare of
the small nations need not be inter
preted with special reference to the
Balkans. for there are other small ma
tions whose existence is involved in
the present gigantic struggle, but 1t
will not be possible to draw line and
separate the small nations OF western
Europe from those of eastern europe
if we are to concern ourselves win
their fate. Americans who are beneVo-
lently inclined in international mat
tcrs, but who do not believe in mixing
up with European questions. douotiess
will hope that our interest may con-
cntangling alliances.
*
The commercial interests OF the
United States in the Balkans are not
great, although in the quest for world
markets they are not to be overlooked.
In peaceful times we sell agricultural
implements to Rumania, although there
The same is true OF Bulgaria. Her
principal export to the United States
is altar of roses. Serbia. being 50
largely an agricultural country. does
not find a market across the seas 1of
her pork and farm products.
The first of the Balkan countries TO
send a minister to the United States
was Bulgaria. This was nearly Two
years ago It was predicted then that
other states would follow. and When
a Rumanian military comnlssich carne
to this country to buy munitions Ins
absence of any diplomatic or consular
officers and the difficulties whicn the
commission had in establishing IT'S own
status caused the tntiTnation 10 ps niaue %
that before long dip dlplomariiG Minister s dis
patched to washington.
Rumania was then neutral ana IL vas
not known whether she would cast ne
lot with the central powers ;J.d y, 49,
entente allies. 1t was considered pos
sible that she might remain neutral ~
the end. SO far as known. no actuai
steps were taken by the Rumaniah
cation in Washington, although the
subject received some consideration;
Since all the smaller nations engase9
in the war are looking to the 0niteu
possible that Rumania, in her hour OF
tribulation, will take the step wnich
was in mind before she met with mill
tary reverses ,z
send a minister came from the United
states diplomatic agent at Corfu, Wnere
the entente allies had esta onsneG
themselves without asking leave OF
government took refuge after the gal
liant but unavaiiing struggle to hold
their capital at Bucharest.
The arrival OF Minister Mihaflovftch
centers attention more than ever On
the country which he represents What
ever the ultimate outcome may be.
whether the allies succeed In restoring
Serbia to the Serbians with some addi-
tions of territory, or whether the CEN
trail powers prevail in their plans to
appropriate some OF the territory for
BuIga ria, the Serbia which sends a
minister to Washington Is the SERBIA
imperious demand. and the great war
was inauEurated by the refusal OF SER
bia to abdicate her own sovereignty
as a means of making reparation Tor
the assassination Of the neir 70 inc
Austrian throne. The fact that the
Serbian government which sends dip
loinatic representative Is exercising its
functions on foreign SOIL does not aiter
it's existence as u nation any more
than the fact that the temporary seat
of the government of Belgium is at
Hayre. France, alters the national ex-
istence Of Belgium.
The Serbia that has sent a minister
to Washington Is the nation which is
rest, signed in 1913. by the Balkan
States This Is a country OF some 81.
900 square miles. with q population OF
between 100000 and 100000. The
Serbia that was created by the Bernn
treaty Of 1877, when England and the
other European powers denied to Rus
sia the fruits OF her victory over Tur-
key, contained about $4,000 square
miles. with 100000 inhabitants.
the first place, of the Balkan Leagues
war against Turkey. and then Of the
war Of Greece and Serbia against Bull
Earia over the partition Of the spoils.
The treaty of Bucharest gave serbia
her the full realization Of her national
aspirations. She did not get Albania
and an outlet on the Adriatic, or Sa-
lontki, with the outlet on the Aegean
sea. She had to yield this port to
Greece and to be content with treaty
arrangement under which she secured
certain privileges Of diplomatic char
acter which assured her tree access to
tho sea over tho forty miles OF railway
line to Saioniki. which is not IN Serbian
territory.