New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-19
Ear and Away the Most Important Peace
Suggestion Yet Made-Ca1ls for
German Defeat if Serbia and Bel.
eium Are To Be Restored
BY FRANK II. SIMONDS,
Author of 1.-THE Great War;" "They Shall Not Pass"

set of the war, proclaimed policy which
promised the reunion of Russian, Aus
trian and German Poland and autonomy
for this nation, which had been destroyed
by Austria, Prussia and Russia under the
direction of Frederick the Great in the
closing years of the eighteenth century.
The entrance of Turkey into the war re-
opened the Russo-Turkish question, and
N the presence of an attack by Turkey, as
the agent of Germany, France and Eng
land resigned their historical role as de-
tenders of the Dardanelles against Russian
ambition and consented to Russian posses
sion of Constantinople.
A partition of Turkey among the ma
tons fighting Germany was also arrived
at during the process of negotiations, and
this partition aimed at rescuing the Arme-
Man survivors from the Turkish massa-
ores, at freeing the Arabs of Syria and
Mesopotamia and Palestine from Turkish
rule and placing them under the protecto-
rates of France, of Italy and of Great
| Britain.
Colonial conquests in Africa, which ter
minated with the extinction of German
possession of Togolsnd, Kamerun and Ger
man Southwest Africa, and practically of
German East Africa, led to further ar.
rangements among the Allies for a par
tition Of these territories thus conquered.
The Maximum of Allied Aims
In addition to this, the practical con-
quest of Austria Hungary by Germany
and the domination of twenty-five millions
of Slavs, who were made cannon fodder
| for German imperial ambitions, moved the
Allies to adopt toward Austria Hungary
purpose which involved the ultimate ex-
t;nction of this ancient dual monarchy.
Western Galicia was to be joined to the
new, independent Poland kingdom. Bohe-
mia, with its Slav majority, was to he
erected into an independent state. The
Southern Slavs from Cattaro to Fiume
Trieste, the Trentino, portion of Dalma-
tia and the Adriatic islands still preserv-
ing an Italian character were to be joined
to Italy, and the Latin population of Hun
gary was to be Joined to Rumania, leaving
much reduced kingdom of Hungary and
mere shell of Austria-the regions &C
tually inhabited by Germans or by Mag
| vars.
Here, at its maximum, were the Allied
war aims, all outgrowths of peculiar con-
ditions in Europe all resting, so far as
the European proposals were concerned,
upon the liberation of races held subject
/ to German, Austrian or Hungarian tyr
amy.
The Russian revolution, carrying with
! it a remuneration of the Russian ambi-
tions in Galicia and at the Dardanelles,
materially and instantly modified the AL
lied programme. 1t eliminated the ques-
ton of the partition of Asia Minor and
/ Of Eastern Austria. By withdrawing Rus
( sian support from Rumanian and Serbian
ambition it automatically terminated the
hopes of these people for the liberation of
the portions of their race still under
Austrian rule, and in fact it demolished
the whole Allied programme for the de-
struction of Austria Hungary, since it
was not possible to conceive of the liberia
ton of the Slavs of Austria Hungary
without the direct aid of the great Slav
state Of Russia.
In fact, therefore, the Russian revolu-
ton entirely changed the war aims of
the Allied nations. who, while they still
might believe in the justice Of the pro-
gramme which contemplated the liberia
ton of the Rumanan, the Serb, the Czech
and the Pole, were bound to recognize that
such a programme was beyond the re-
sources of the Western nations, once Rus
STA had renowned her part in this policy.
Two Sets Of Issues
There remained two sets Of war aims
the original purpose of the Allies at the
beginning Of the war to defend Serbia and
Belgium and the issues predicated upon
the old wrongs Of Alsace-Lorraine and of
the Italian Irredenta. We have had in
recent months many reafirmations Of the
purpose of the people Of Great Britain
and of France and of Italy to fight on
until the independence of Belgium and
of Serbia is assured and until the Serbian
and Belgian people are UNIDENTIFIED for
the sufferngs and the losses incident to
the application Of the German and Aus
trian policies Of ruthlessness to their
states. We have had the declaration of
the French people through their Prime
Minister that France will fight until
Alsace-Lorraine is regained, and VIC have
had the declaration Of Mr.. Bsfour that
England, in his opinion, must support this
French purpose. II is inconceivsble that
Italy at this time would lay aside her