Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-22


Czecho-Slovaks. In certain sense
this is a renascence, for there was
Bohemian kingdom three centuries
ago and its fall was the opening act
in the thfrty-years' war. Through
these centuries the CZechs have kept
alive the memories of former great
ness. and now they are erecting a new
state in the very heart of Europe. a
sort of Slav Switzerland, which is al
most an island in the sea of German
tribes.
The new Czecho-Slovakia, which is
a geographical fact and a political
reality includes the Austrian prov
with an area Of about 10000 square
miles and a population a little under
100000, and the Hungarian up
lands south of the Carpathians, with
an area of about 10000 square miles.
and population in excess of 100000
The new state has thus an area of
$4,000 square miles and a population
of 100000. But of this population
at least 100000 are Germans. and
these Germans, inhabiting the frontier
districts joining the territories of Ger
many and of the German-speaking
Austrian states, constitute very Sc
rious problem.
Like Hungary, too. the new S1av
state has no direct access to the sea,
coast will be held by enemies or rivals
by the Germans. the Hungarians and
the Poles. If the Germans regain
unity and thereby again the greatest
nation on the continent of Europe, the
position of the Czechs promises to be
one of extreme peril. But this is for the
future; at the moment these gallant
Slavs, having thrown off the Austrian
and Hungarian yokes. are proceeding
to create strong and stable nation.
relying upon the future organization
to guarantee their independence.
At Versailles they will have to en-
counter German claims. both with re-
German-speaking districts will seek
Incorporation with Germany rather
than with the new state. But these
offer no such intricate tangleS as the
Adriatic dispute of the southern Slavs
and Italians. and the Czecho-Slovaks
have already won the sympathy and
support of the western nations by
their courage, intelligence and mod
Grafton.
Changes in Two Months.
Such in substance is the TRANSFORMED
ton which has taken place in Mittel-
europa in two months. One may COM
plete the story by brief reference to
the organization in the German
speaking provinces of Austria of
semblance of a state, which has al
ready sought to be admitted into the
German nation. Rather less than
100000 people are included in this
surviving. fragment of Hapsburg
Austria, but should their desire be
granted they would bring 70 Germany
precious aid, largely if not wholly
replacing the numbers lost by ces-
sions to France, Poland and Denmark
and completing the unification of the
German tribes.
But at the moment the fate of the
German Austrians is less interesting
than the fact Of the rise of three new
nations, with combined population of
nearly 100000, with an area great
er than that of France, even with
Alsace-Lorraine; three nations with
great economic possibilities, created
out of territories mainly inhabited by
people who have sought this trans
forma ton.
Given half century of peaceful de-
than that there will be a natural
term to all German hope of expan-
sion in Europe toward Asia and
Africa.
1t was to abolish just this danger
that Germany, with Austria, risked
the world war.
Larger Federation Possible.
1t is conceivable that in some flu
ture. not necessarily remote, the
Jugo-Slavs, the Czecho -Slovaks, the
Rumanians and the Hungarians will
form some federation. economic if not
political. possibly both. since only in
this way could the Czecho- Slovaks
and the HungarianS be assured OF ac-
cess to the sea, but in such d state the
Hungarians will be but the lesser
partner The day of Magyar DONNA
ton is passed.
Fortunately. there is little tempta-
ton for rivalry in the case of Hun
gary, for the Rumanians and the
Serbs are old allies and their rela-
tons with the Czecho-Slovaks can
never be the cause of any political
jealousies. AS for Hungary, her very
helplessness should serve to destroy
her present bitterness. Nothing is
more certain than that in the years
to come both the Rumanians and the
southern Slavs will wholly distance
the Magyars, while the Magyars will
remain dependent upon both for the
use of the natural routes to the out
side world. Moreover, a revolution in
Hungary, driving out the old autoc-
racy and at last giving the mass of
the Hungarian people political free
dom, will probably contribute might
lily to destroying the old and wicked
tradition which has cost so much Sor-
row and slaughter in southeastern
Europe.
OF the four states the new Rumania
and the surviving Hungarian state
may be accepted as permanent
Czecho-Slovakia and Greater Serbia
are in the nature of experiments,
hopefully begun. but confronted with
obvious perils. both from within and
from without. For the southern
Slavs Italian rivalry is the outside
peril, and the differences in religion
and the lack of common historical
tradition constitute possible causes
for future disintegration On the
other hand it is not unlikely that the
peril from without may force unity
within, and this contributes to ulti-
mate success. For the Czecho-Slo
vaks the perils are manifold. They
are threatened alike by the Germans
within and without: they have also
the hostile Magyars on their south
ern frontiers. and they are without
direct access to the sea. But if their
future is difficult they are beyond all
doubt the best fitted of all the newly
united peoples for the great task be-
fore them. Moreover. they have the
good will of all the western powers
to an unlimited extent