Evening star., 1918-11-21
PEACE PROBLEMS
MAY BRING ABOUT
7W0CONGRESSES
Magnitude of Questions at
Issue Might Postpone
Academic Plans.
PRECEDENT FOR ACTION
SEEN INsPARIS TREATY

Germany's Proposed Expansion in
Austria Will Be Decided
for Her.
Diplomatists and officials here, view
ing broadly the diversity, as well as
the magnitude Of the problems aris-
ing out Of the world war-economic,
financial and territorial questions
foresee q prolonged session of the
speedy agreement upon the most
exigent questions, with the academic
and idealistic problems possibly post
poned to a future worlds congress.
Precedent for the latter contingency,
and it is at this time to be discussed
only as a contingency, is furnished by
history After Napoleon's first defeat
peace between France and the powers
was effected by the treaty of Paris.
May 80, 1914. The thirty-second
article Of that treaty provided for the
assembling within two months of a
general congress to complete the
provisions of the present treaty"
Thus came about the congress Of
Vienna, at which the powers divided
parts Of Europe at their leisure.
Terms Agreement First.
Diplomatists here point out that the
first work Of the coming Paris con-
ference will be to agree upon terms
Of peace to succeed the armistice upon
which the world is now standing. All
nations want to get back to work, return
to the task of productivity to I'LL the
appalling gaps created by the waste
Of the war. II II It be possible to make
the better. it is said.
Pointing out few Of the many
problems to be presented to the con-
ference and upon which action must
claimed and men may go to their work
without Keeping ono eye upon the Ahet-
gun on the antlers over the door, the
opinion ts Tentute 4AAf &3a4 4ffaf s&seEt
question to be taken Np viii bK ofrep-
Ts,ssa alatiSn na and 1naeRRnlss smrn Ger
key must make amends for. the fright
full property losses inflicted upon in
nocent victims. Germany, the chief Of
fender, must pay the heavier price
German territory will be occupied un-
til the debt is. discharged.
Germany's Dealing With France.
Germany established a measure Of
payment to be exacted from defeat
ed foe in her dealing with France,
after the Franco-Prrssian;' war. It
is certain that the scale will not be
diminished by the allies. tbut more
conclusive in the data now In the
hands Of the allies. bearing date ante
cedent to the war, that Germany, If
victorious, proposed to exact from the
vanquished terms which would stag
ger humanity" By a coincidence, the
Ballin, former ship magnate, as out
lining the magnitude of Germany's
intended exaction, which in effect
meant the annexation Of the continent
of Europe. A mere trifle, Just by way
of an appetizer. so to speak, before
entering upon the general gormandiz-
ing of the world.
Thus far there has been on the part
of the allies no spirit of vindictive-
ness. despite the monstrous aggrava-
ton, but there is existent a terribly
stern sense Of outraged justice and
the aggressor to account in material
ways-ways which the Prussian make
up can appreciate more than q scrap
of paper. Indemnity and reparation
first in order and adequate in char
acter Is the sch edu1e Of the peace con-
gress. it is declared here.
Territorial Questions.
Many are the territorial questions
cluding Poland. western Russia, the
Ukraine, Hungary. Bosnia, Herzego-
vina, Serbia, Bulgaria, Rumania, Sio-
vakia. Albania, Greece. Turkey, Italy
and even Palestine and Armenia.
Territorial questions that have been
poison has infected Europe from time
to time and finally precipitated this
war. will come up for settlement
President Wilson early forecast the
necessity OF dealing with all these
questions In spirit OF justice which
In future times, the result of fntus-
tice inflicted now. Some of the great
est peace conferences heretofore have
violated this principle, and the world
is now paying the penalty for it
Fortunately, the statesmen Of Eng
l4uOs = I6akCcs 4S34y 3AV o0l&lUm arc
in accord with this spirit, which
premises to make for fairer dealing
among the nations assembling at this
conference than was ever witnessed
before Prussia will have to be
amenable to the decision whether the
Prussian mind agrees with the prin-
ciples of justice or not.
German Expansion to Come Up.
In the first determination Of terrific
rial questions. consideration Of Ger
many's proposed expansion Of popu.
lation through the Absorption Of the
German Inhabitants Of present Aus
statesmen have already pointed out
the danger Of q greater Germany to be
erected In that proposed wing of ex-
tension. At every peace conference.
beginning with 181A, in which Prussfa
has figured, that nation has aexran-
dfxed Itself tarfitorially and to the
sabseauent detriment Of the rest Of
europe. Repetition Of these successes
is to be guarded against very. care-
fully.
,Rress at the outset and be maintained
throughout, 1t Is said in all diplo-
matte and Official circles here. Italy's
claims, more than a century old. are
based upon history and sustained
blood descent In many genera
TONS In some previous. congresses
Austria held the role OF dictator OF
terms. relating to the disputed terri
tory: now Austria is to receive terms
and friends and allies Of Italy will
give them out.