The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-15


! tary power.
are alike removed. This was among
the objects that Prussian oligarchy
contemplated when 1t plunged Europe
into war. To have altered it is a dis
tinct seton to many losses. It leaves
Germany still the greatest and most
powerful State on the continent Of
Europe.
! For the Acknowledgement OF Austria
is not merely a negative gain to Ger
many. II may bring her a positive ac-
cession Of strength Of the most sub
stantial kind. German Austrian dis
tricts, It seems, are TO be permitted to
Join the Germanic empire or fedora
ton.
This would, suppose, come within
the four corners OF President Wilson's
fourteen points, and may have been
already embodied in the draft of peace
terms accepted by the allied council
Perhaps II would be difficult TO pre-
vent the German upper and lower
Austria, Syria and Tyrol from decid-
ing their own destinies and annexing
themselves to the Teutonic mass II they
please.
we are al out for the self deter
mination OF peoples. and this is self
determination. But consider what It
means and what the results will be.
See how It affects that profit and loss
account which the German ruling
classes, when the present agitation has
subsidized, will ask their countrymen to
I examine
Loss or Colonie. o Gain.
! Germany will presumably lose her
colonies: this will be a heavy blow to
her pride and prestige. but the colonies
were OF no value to her economically.
They did not attract any large bodies
OF settlers. and they were a constant
drain upon her resources, for they were
/ not self-supporting. Except as a re.
cruiting ground for negro armies and
as base for future U-boat operations,
they can we'll be dispensed with.
| But Germany loses something that
affects her more seriously. Alsace-
| Lorraine goes back to France: some
portions OF Posen and the town OF
Danzig will be surrendered to the new
Polish State. These are important, ex-
tensive and valuable territories. and
bitter. indeed. It will be for Prussia
Germany TO give them up.
Still, German-Austria would be a
! fine consolation prize. Let US assume
that the whole OF the Reichsland will
be surrendered, and with 1t the whole
of Posen. though this Is not likely TO
| be the case, for some districts in which
there is a large German speaking
| population will probably be left with
| Prussia.
Taking the pre-war figures the
population of Alsace-Lorralne was
! l.s74,O0o: that OF Posen Just over
100000 that OF Danzig. 10000. and
to this last number let US add the In
| habitants OF a sufficient hinterland or
avenue OF approach. bringing the ngure
| to, say, 10000
Against this let US set the populA-
ton of upper Austria, lower Austria,
Salisbury. Syria, Corinthia, Carnolia.
Vorarlberg, .Tyrol and the Istrian
coast district. estimated In 1914 at
over $500, 900 OF these about 1900. 900
will be Transferred to italy, so that tho
self-determination population to Join
Germany would amount to 100000
| ION the counter heads. therefore,
Germany will come out rather well.
She loses 100000 citizens or subjects
to gain 100000, which is not bad
| transaction. All the better when 1t Is
| remembered that the 100000 who will
| go are Alsatians, French and Poles,
whereas the 100000 to come in are
/ German by language. sentiment and
! sympathy.
Really q Good Bargain.
ITO exchange a troublesome popuIa-
ton Of hostile and disconnected aliens
for nearly double the number OF loyal
and enthusiastic nationals Is a very
good bargain for a Power which has
had to sue for peace after a crushing
military disaster. II Is true that the
district ceded 20 France will embrace
the rich iron ore basin OF Lorraine, and
that Is a serious loss to Germany
| perhaps tho most serious of all. But
| Austria proper Is a good mining coun-
| try too. Iron, coal, copper lead, zinc,
( quicksilver, manganese, sulphur and
other metals and minerals abound.
| at will include Vienna, whicA Is not
only a noble and famous city but also
from its situation the national eco
monte centre and entrepot OF all the
upper and middle Danubian lands be-
tween the Alps. tho Carpathians and
the Balkans.
! Here the banks and cartels OF Ber-
lin and Frankfort may get buster than
ever under the esis OF a political
union which will assuredly not be too
democratic to ignore material interests
an 1914 there wers ave continental