Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-29


the three great continents may be car
ried out. The Entente Allies cannot
consent to the German plans IL there
is to be any longcontinued peace when
this war Is over. The Russians have
taken possession Of Armenia and the
British have captured Bagdad and
Jerusalem. 1t is conceivable that the
Germans may be able to induce the
Russians to withdraw from Armenia,
but the British statesmen are too well
aware Of German ambitions in Asia
Minor and too keenly alive to the in
terests of the British Empire for them
to consent to surrender what they
have taken without adequate guaran.
tees that British rights will be pro-
tected.
1T will be much easier to dispose
Of Poland than of Asia Minor, al.
though Germany will exert herself to
the utmost to prevent the creation of
an independent Poland in which prus-
sian Poland will be included. Germany
wants the mineral resources of Poland.
as she wanted the mineral resources
of Lorraine in 1870, and as she wants
the mineral regions of France and
Belgium at the present time. She has
seized the great coal and iron dis.
tricts Of France and occupies them
now. II she can get the representa-.
tives of the Powers about n confer.
ence table while she still holds these
districts she will be in a position to
demand better terms than If she is
forced out of France before peace
terms are seriously discussed. II she
can make peace with Russia now 1t
is morally certain that she will insist
on retaining part at least of Russian
Poland, either as her own territory
or as n sort of an autonomous State
dependent on Berlin. Mr.. Barker, in
1915, foretold the German efforts TO
create differences between Russia and
her Allies in order to pave the way
for dealing directly with the Russians
on the Polish question. His prophecy
has been fulfilled.
Whether the peace conference can
solve the Austro-Hungarian complica.
tions no one knows. 1t certainly
ought TO attempt it, The freeing of
tho non-German and ron-Magyar ma.
tions of Austria. Hungary is as i'm
portant as the freeing of Poland and
the neutralizing of Asia Minor. 1t is
conceivable that Austria, which is now
merely a rassal OF Germany. may he
strengthened by the restoration to
her of the South German States to
compensate her for the loss. of the
non-German and non.Magyar peoples
who wish to be set up as Independent
States or to be made members of a
federation free from German control
II the little. nations are to be pro.
tected, those in Austria. Hungary, de.
serve the attention OF the Powers as
much as Belgium and Serbia deserve
it. Why, do you know that the domi-
nant races in Austria-Hungary 90 not
let the men Of other races vote? They
will break down the bridges so the
voters cannot cross the streams to the
polls. They will order out the soldiers
to take the voters away from the poll
ing places on election day, and they
will resort to other practices beside
which those used in the Fifth Ward
here are innocent child's play. The
realignment of the nationalities there
is important TO the peace of Europe
1t is part of the great policy involved
in checking the German plans for
world dominion at the expense Of other
nations. A non-German federation in
southeastern Europe is needed to
block the way Of Germany to Asia
Minor, as Asia Minor, controlled
by non.German powers is necessary
to keep the Germans from getting
possession Of that great strategic link
between the continents"
"Mr. Barker seems to have the
whole matter settled" said Owen.
He has assembled theselements of
the problems that must be considered"
I admitted. Whether it is possible
to go so far as he thinkc is necessary
is doubtful. for there are SO many
divergent interests to be harmonized.
But the peace commissioner who goes
to the conference table unfortified by
the vast amount Of information which
Mr.. Barker has put in his book will
be an easy prey for the ambitious
Germans who know what they want
and why they want it, And IL the
intelligent Americans whose views are
influential in creating public sentiment
Should read his book and understand
1t, our commissioners would have back
Of them body Of opinion which would
stiffen their backbone when they come
to lay down the terms on which peace
can be made"
GEORGE W. DOUGLAS,
THE mREAT PROBLEMS OF BRIrrst,
SuAATEsMANSHIP. BY J, Ellis Harksr
Juror or Modern Germany New York.
T. r. Dutton & Co. 81. A''N'
On the Peace River