The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-01-17

TO insist upon the restoration of Serbia,
and the United States and the French
are bound to support this British
course, a every moral and ma
tional consideration entities the Serbs
to liberty; and, if their liberty be
sacrificed, If the old Balkan chaos sub
SlSt after this war, we shall sooner or
later nave now troubles growing out
or fresh virus coming from this Tester
ing sore n poisoning the whole world
system as it has in the past.
Ihus, IL, east INT west, things tend
to reach a condition which may endure,
which at the congress of Brest-Litoysk
Germany is seeking to put in an endur-
ing form, IL allied defense in the west
and Russian collapse in the east have
on the n hand shattered and on the
other fortified German ambitions, it is
clear that in the Balkans the solution
is still to seek. Serbia remains in Ger
man hands; but every consideration of
honor and of safety compels the foes
or Germany to resist any settlement
which does not restore Serbia. substan-
tally intart, although we are bound to
recognize that h larger aspirations
Of the allies. the creation Of Jugo-
Slavia like the Italian ambition for
mastery of the eastern Adriatic, a
suffered great and probably enduring
diminution.
Future Wars Not Removed.
The greatest dangers that now face
the world are not hat Germany will
win the war, that she will enslave Bel
GUM or reduce France 20 the estate of
a vassal. These dangers are no longer
real. What is to be feared is that the
growth or war WEAKNESS will bring
with it n rapid abandonment of all the
idealistic aspirations Of the nations at
wal with Germany and that the close
OF the war will see, not a settlement,
not a general liquidation, but a %perpetu-
alton Of all the old problems, out of
which the war came and out of which
other wars seem bound to come.
The greatest single gain the war could
bring-the defeat of German ambitions
in the west for the destruction of
france and Britain-is now assured,
not only for the moment, but it would
seem for the future, because both
Britain and France are likely to be on
their guard hereafter, and Britain has
now millions OF trained troops to send
to the aid Of the French hould another
German attack be made within the next
decade. The western conditions of
Europe are not to be modified in Ger
many's favor, and outside Of Europe the
conditions have been greatly modified
to the disadvantage of Germany, If only
by reason of the vast harvest of hate
and contempt she has soWn in bel
ligercnt and even in neutral countries.
But only less to be desired is a set
Element which should give the subject
races of Europe liberty. And, to say the
least, the chances of realizing this gain
now have been gravely reduced by
RusSia's desertion. The possibility that
the chief contestants will presently
come to a peace on the basis OF the
situation before the war, but with a
perpetuation of all the old rancors and
the old wrongs. has become far moro
considerable as a consequence or the
events OF the past year.
This means that the conditions OF
1914, the armed truce and the continue
ance of nations in arms, are unmistak-
ably becoming more probable than they
seemed even last year. This is a more
reasonable basis for pessimism as to
the future than the present military
outlook. Peace will not cave Germany
in France or Belgium, 1t will not leave
Germany master of the continent or OF
the world: decision on these points was
had at the Marne, at Verdun and in the
submarine war. These issues may DO
marked as settled.
On the other hand, the collapse Of
Russia has left Germany still strong
and united, still holding to her military
gospel of blood and iron, to the east
ward looking out upon ~disorganiZcd
races n enslaved fragments. If Po-
land, Serbia, Rumania are not to be
recOnSllluteu as strong states, posses
sing the necessary resources to develop
into fencible states. If Turkey and the
Balkans remain the battle ground OF
rival ambitions, if Russia becomes an
other and greatly larger Sick Man OF
Europe" the forthcoming peace will be
a mockery after all. This is the danger
now. 1t can be avoided only If allied
determination and German obstinacy
combine to prolong the wal to the point
where an exhausted Germany falls back
to internal ruin, as did France after
the wars Of Louis XIV.
The question of the independence of
western Europe has beea settled, and
ii was the main issue Of the war. But
the second question raised by the war,
that of the independence of eastern and
Balkan Europe, has not been settled.
and today there is grave danger that
war WEAKNESS may lead to a compro
mise peace, which, like hat made at
Vienna a century ago, will strive to per
petuate all the old conditions n sue
coed merely in preserving all the old
causes for war against the coming OF
a new world Conflagration.
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