The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-12-21

not ~lnlrequently the dominating part
ners, in the dual monarchy, they will
become nothing more than one Of the
minor states of Southeastern Europe,
weaker than either the Serbs or the
Rumanians, whom they have coerced
for centuries. Not less serious will be
their economic situation, for they will
have no direct outlet on the sea and the
Danube will be in the hands of their
hereditary enemy.
Yet no other solution Is conceivable.
A hungarian minority has ruled Slavs
ana Rumanians alike with stupidity
ana brutality for centuries, failing ut
terly to absorb the alien elements, and
have found their own unity. Occupying
rich and fertile lands, the Hungarians
Will certainly be a prosperous nation
IN Ihe tHture, but their. great period
seems definitely over. AS Spain was
overpassed, by France and Italy, Hun
gary has been distanced by Rumania
and Serbia, probably for all time here
coincident with the expansion of the
Serb and Rumanian states and the
shrinking of Hungary has come the
birth Of a new nation. that OF the
Czecho- Slovaks. In a certain sense this
Is a renascence, for there was a Bohe-
mian kingdom three centuries ago and
thirty years war. Through these CEN
turtles the Czechs have kept alive the
memories OF former greatness, n now
they are erecting a new state in the
very heart, of Europe, a sort Of Slav-
Switzerland, which is almost an island
in the sea Of German tribes.
The new Czecho-S lovakia, which is a
geographical fact and a political reality,
Includes the Austrian provinces OF
Bohemia, Silesla and Moravia, with an
population a little under II, 000, 900, and
the Hungarian uplands south Of the
Carpathians, with an area Of about 90
wv square miles and a population in
excess OF 1000, 900, The new state has
a population of 10, 900, 900. But of this
population at least 5000, 900 are Ger
mans, and these Germans, ~inhabiting
the frontier districts joining the ter
r%ttories Of Germany and of the Ger
transporting Austrian states, consti-
tute a very serious problem.
No Sea Access.
Like Hungary, too, the new Slav
state has NO direct access to the sea,
and all Of its natural routes to the
coast will be held by enemies or rivals
by the Germans. the Hungarians and
unity and thereby again become
the greatest nation on the con
tinent Of Europe, the position OF
the Szechs promises TO be one Of ex-
treme peril. But this is for the future
at the moment these gallant Slavs, hav-
ing thrown off the Austrian and Hun
garian Jokes, are proceeding to create
a strong and stable nation, relying upon
the future organization Of international
relations to guarantee their independ-
ence. At Versailles they will have to
encounter German claims, both with re-
spect to Bohemia n to Silesia, where
German-speaking districts will seek
Incorporation with Germany rather than
with the new state. But these offer no
dispute Of the Southern slavs and
Italians, andAthe FCzecho- Slovaks have
already won The sympathy and support
of the western nations by their cour-
age, Intelligence and moderation,
Such In substance Is the transforma-
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
a state, which has already sought. to
be admitted into the German nation,
Rather less than 1000, 900 people are in
Guided in this surviving fragment Of
Hapsburg Austria, but should their
Germany precious aid, largely il moi
wholly replacing the numbers lost By
cessions to France. Poland and Den
mark and completing the unification OF
the German tribes.
IuN a. NllS iilplAAVAlI@ liz AdAS VI llS
German Austrians is less interesting
than the fact OF the rise Of three new
nations, with combined population OF
nearly 81. 900, 900, with an area greater
than that OF France, even with Alsace.
Lorraine; three nations with great eco.
nomic possibilities, created out OF ter.
ritories mainly inhabited by people whC
have sought this transformation, Across
the pathway of any new German ad
venture toward the east these three
states rise as impressive obstacles
Given half n century OF peaceful devel'
opment, nothing is more certain thar
that there will be a natural term I,
ali German hope of expansion in Europe
toward Asia and Africa,
II was to abolish just this danger
that Germany, with Austria, risked tn,
world war. The Jugo-Slavia which
must remain the foundation of the new
system was the peril that Berlin ant
future, once Serbia had shared in tn,
successful war against Turkey and will
Greek aid oyerthrown Bulgaria, Wha
they fought to prevent the Austrians
Germans and Hungarians see accom-
plished now the war has been lost, ant
In seeing what has happened we a
better understand why Vienna and Der
lin invited the whirlwind,
Union Possible.
II is conceivable that in some future
not necessarily remote, the Jugo-Slavs
the Czecho- Slovaks, the Rumanians an
the Hungarians win form some fedora
ton, economic IL not political, possibl,
both, since only In this way could TIL
Czecho- Slovaks and the Hungarisns b.
s snsSr q state the Hungarisns win be bu
the lesser partner. The day of Maya
! d~ornination Is passed. 1t Is far iron