Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-11-15

Now that America. through the
generous assistance of which the
great Allied victory, against Teuton
militarism was made possible. will
take an equally generous part in Sc
curing IA democratic peace for all the
world, it is the ardent hope of all the
Balkan peoples. that, the Near East
ern Question will be solved definitely,
and in a way to assure the future
prosperity and happiness of those ma
tionalit;cs. that have so dearly paid
for the sins of the odious regime that
prevailed in their lands before the
great conflict.
according 10 the principF' Of tho old
diplomacy, the Balkan Peninsula has
been for nearly 4 whole century pop
ulated by number of nations only
half free. These nations, Greeks and
Serbians and Monteneslins and Ru-
manians alike had won their freedom
by n series of bloody struggles, only
TO find in the end, that European Dip
iomacy had more concern for the So
called Integrity of the Ottoman EN-
phi {" van for the rightful aspirations
Of the young peoples coming into
their own after long years Of slavery
and untold sacrifices in treasure AMI
blOnd.
Thus while the right OF Eumania to
10 free and Independent state was
recognized. the rights of the Ruman-
ians living under Austrian rule, to be
included in their independent coun-
try, were summarily brushed aside.
Serbia and Montenegro were per-
mitted to be established as free
states. but their populations OF Bosnia
and Herzegovina and Macedonia were
not allowed to join them in the free
life. Greece. following bitter strug-
gle of eight years, succeeded in gain
ing her independence, but then Euro
pean Diplomacy took charge of the
Greek Question and managed the
whole thing so ingeniously, that of a
total ten million Greeks, only less
than one were allowed to be included
in the original state Of Hellas. !.
Strange enough. Bulgaria which
came into being through the Russian
better treated by the European diplo-
mats Of the day, and not only sue
cecded in taking within her borders
larger percentage OF her nationals
than all the other Balkan states. but
was allowed as early as 1885 to annex
a whole province, chiefly inhabited
by Greeks.
Those were the days when Russia
was the threatening power of
Europe. and when any method by
which the prestige of the Muscovite
could be lessened in the Near East.
was considered as good. A Russian
was considered such a calamity, az to
justify the Crimean war, while
Russo -phobe Rumania, a pro-Aus-
TRAN Bulgaria, an Anglophile Greece.
were to be the best guarantees for the
peace of the Balkans. But above
everything a powerful Turkey was
essential to the maintenance Of the
Near Eastern Status quo.
Bulgaria by her geographic position
was the chief beneficiary of the clash
ing Anglo Russian interests. Russia
was encouraging the erection Of a
greater Bulgaria, hoping to use her
O fts rwards as stepping stone for
the march to Constantinople. Rus
sian overlordship did not please the
therefore the opponents
cf Russia thought OF Strengthening
this anti Russian Balkan states. to
further their own ends.
Serbia was condemned to be a +,
small state. because II she had been
allowed to take in all the Slav eie-
rnents # the Austrian Empire, she /
would become a dangerous competi- |
tor for Russian supremacy in the
Near Fest.
Rumania in the same way was
looked upon as q country, which |
ought not to become strong enough To |
oppose a Russian advance down the |
balkans and against Constantinople. |
The Russians had >prO0fs Of Ru-
manian yalor in Plevna and they did
not want to strengthen them any /
more, a. this would spoil their III. |
fuse schemes
Greece could only b. satisfied Il