The Washington herald., 1918-02-17
Readjustment of Europe
Must Follow World War
Balderston Says People of Various Countries
"a Involved Will Decide by Vote Upon
Disposition of States.
BY JOHN LLOYD BALDERsToN.

(Copynght, l9ls)
London. Jan. IS, (by mail) war
aims are monopolizing public at
tention at present to the almost
the field. Until Wilson, Lloyd
George and other allied spokesmen
had discussed the territorial details
OF the settlement. 1t was the wish
Of all the governments that inde-
dependent correspondents should
not analyze too closely In the press
the difficulties involved That en-
barge no longer holds. and / pro-
pose to explain here English opin-
ion regarding the vexed points that
American opinion must understand
and pronounce upon IL 1t is to guide
the President when the time comes.
Throughout most of the war there
have been two main schools Of
thought in this country. One school
has contended, and still arguesA that
in the words Of Premier Clemen-
eeau, ''the one thing that matters Is
victory. Let US beat the Germans
1irst and talk about it afterwards
1T believes that, the German smash
ed and the Kaiser forced to sue for
peace at discretion, the terms will
not matter, but II considers that no
paper arrangement, no matter how
favorable to the allies, can repre-
sent anything but defeat II conclud-
I'd with, the Prussian military pow
y sr intact
The rival school of thought does
believe in the possibility of
.an-cut military decision. and
lids that peace eventually must lie
included by negotiation, not die
ated in the field, and that victory
over militarism can be won. with
the aid of the German people, In the
council chamber.
Peace Movement Grows.
The feature of the past few weeks
IN this country. as apparently in
France and Italy. as well, has been
the steady increase in numbers and
influence of the peace by negotia-
Ion school, at the expense OF the
advocates of military victory.
There is m. Ie than a suspicion that
this change Of mind is not confined
to nonofficial circles.
There is no climbing down" from
the principles to which the allies
are pledged. no inclination to com
promise with the evil things that
the allies are out to destroy. but it
is undeniabIe that the influence of
the Russian peace negotiations and
the crisis between the moderate
parties and the militarist clique in
Germany have combined to create
a feeling that peace may be pos
sible without another year OF fight
ing.
It was in response to this move
ment of opinion. too powerful and
widespread, especially in labor cir
cIes, to be ignored, that the leaders
Of English policy met toether and
drafted the statement Of peace terms
that was issued by Lloyd George.
wilson's speech to Congress, with
it's detailed terms, has exerted
powerful influence here. Whether
the necessary concessions will be
made by the enemy is up to the
German people.
There are ave issues in territorial
problems that present difficulties 10
the statesmen of the allies. These
are Alsace-Lorraine; the question or
Poland and the Russian provinces
conquered by the enemy; the tangle
Of claims in Austria-H ana
the Balkans; the aspirations OF
ItaIv- and the dilemma concerning
the provinces conquered from the
TURK and the colonies wrested from
Germany.
IJpon all Of these points opinion
here has changed somewhat during
the past few weeks.
Question of War.
The most difficult question of all,
bv unanimous consent, is the settle
menet in Austria-Hungary, and the
Balkans. 1t would be too much to
saw that at any time there has
been unanimity on the many COM
pIex issues in these regions, but,
nm to the time of the Russian
revolution, there was a general un-
Outstanding that Austria must be
broken up. 1t was proposed to re-
store Serbia, Montenegro and Ru-
mania, and to add to these states
the adjoining district of the dual
monarchy inhabited by Humans
and Serbs. The Italians were to
have Istrfa and Dalmatia, to give
them. the control Of the Adriatic,
and the allies also considered set
ting up an independent Bohemia,
as well as a free Poland.
A disposition now exists in Eng
land, and. apparently has won the
support of President Wilson, to be
satisfied with a free Poland, with
the restoration Of Serbia, Montene-
gro and Rumania and with full
autonomy under the HapsburS
crown for the prosecuted national
titles whose aspirations to complete
nationhood now appear impractical
bIe-
This modification of war aims is
not regarded here as an abandon
ment of principle, or as a betrayal
of week nations which had been
promised support 1t is felt by
many observers who formerly sup
ported plans for the partition of
Austria that the disappearance of
Russia as great military force
makes It impossible for the pro-
posed free states in Southeastern
Europe to stand alone.
Bohemia, aggrandized Serbia and
Rumania were expecting to lean for
support against the encroachments OF
the Teutonic power upon Russia 1t
is now evident that whatever may
happen in Russia she will not for long
be able or inclined to maintain her
Slav policy in Austria and the Bal
kans. Hence the present feeling that
il the entente fulfills its debt of honor
and compels Germany to disgorge
Serbia and Rumania, it will be better
for the other nationalities to develop
freely inside a liberalized Austria
than to be set up as independent bun
helpless states subject to economic
persecution from the Teutonic power
and unable to look for help to Rus
sia.
Poland represents a separate prob
lem. and both Lloyd George and VIII
son have declared in favor of COM
plete independence. President Will
sons demand that Poland shall have