The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-11

The Eastern Que Sti0n-THat Final STAGE
BY FRANK II lMoNDs AuMQr of n oREAT WAR;" THEY SHALL lot PAssT

In two recent articles have dis
oussed the situation In Northeastern
and southeastern Europe, the problems
which must he solved at the Versailles
congress-. In these, discussions have
sought to indicate the question pre-
scented by Poland, the Baltic provinces.
the new Jugo-SlRvic n Caecho-Slo-
wax states, together with tho changed
condition of Rumania. In the present
article | mean to deal with the old
familiar Eastern question, which for
more than two centuries has plagued
Europe and produced wars innumer
able, OF which the recent struggle Is
only the most terrible.
Once moro, as at Vienna and again
at Berlin. Europe. this time with
America sitting as a full partner, is 10
strive to renov the old obstacle to-
ward peace. At Vienna not the small
est thought was paid TO the demands
or even tho rights Of the peoples of
the Near East, that they had rights,
that there were wen nationalities. as
contrasted with subjects In this re-
mote region, was not recognized by
those who laid down the constitution
OF the New Europe follow with the
upheaval OF the French Revolution and
OF the Napoleonic wars. Nor did the
congress OF Berlin pay more real at
tentton TO this phase Of its task, al
though the demands of n%ationalities had
already made themselves heard.
AS a consequence of the failure of the
Berlin congress, we have had, in re-
cent years, in the last decade, an un-
interrupted succession of wars and
threats OF var growing out OF the
Eastern question and beginning with
tho annexation OF Bosnia and Herxego-
vina by Austria In 1908, From the con-
gross Of Berlin to the outbreak OF the
world war the Balkans have been the
fighting ground OF Austrian and Rus
sian intrigue and in this time Germany
has more and more completely directed
n shared In Viennese policies.
In all this time the battle for the
possession of the straits, with Con-
s~tantinople, has been the moving mo-
tive OF the Russian statesmen, while
Austria has sought to push her em-
two purposes, which were not directly
opposed and might have been realized
by cooperation, were brought into rom
Met by the German determination to
create Mltteleuropa and extend German
domination from the Baltic to ue1 and
the Persian gulf,
German policy thus aimed at prevent
Ing Russia from reaching the Golden
Horn. This was the traditional Brit.
ish policy, surviving from the Beacons-
field era, but growing weaker after the
occupation of Egypt and the constitute
ton Of the Sueg canal changed the
whole face Of the situation in the Neal
East Britain withdrew from Coustau-
tinople and was becoming reconciled &c
Russian supremacy, while Germany sue,
ceeded England AS the first friend and
defender OF the Osmanli against Tho
hereditary enemy,
In the present war one OF the many
secret agreements between the allie.
recognised the right Of Russia to have
and to hold Constantinople and all o
the shores on either side Of the strait,
and the sea OF Marmora. A final com
promise between British and Russian
policies was arranged and Britain
abandoned a policy which from tn,
Crimean war onward had denied Rus
STA an outlet on the open sea. But tn,
fall OF Russia abolished this under
standing and rescinded this agreement
There Ia no longer any need to recog
nige Russian claims because they haV,
been abandoned by the Russians them
selves.
AS Il result there exists today an ad
mirable opportunity to dispose of tn
main difficulty In the Eastern ques
tton, the possession of ~Constantinopl
and the straits, Russia and Austria, tn,
immediate rivals In the Balkans hay,
disappeared ms factors. one by com
plete obliteIation, the other by the fal
to anarchy and B~oishevism, Europ,
can today deal with the whole matte
without having to take INTO considera
ton the hereditary rivalrles OF Roman
off or Hapsburg, while the Germa'
power 10 influence the situation ha
gone, MS has German prestige at STAN
houl.
1t is for Europe, for the allies a
Versailles, to determine the fate OF Con
st~antinuple. The solution Of the prob
lem may take one Of three course,
The Turk, under some sort OF inter
national direction nay be permitted I
remain In his present capital. TIL
Greek may be permitted to revive tn
memories Of the great Byzantine perio
and reoccupy regions once entirely He
e. lenic and Sttll inhabited by a very larR
Greek population, Finally, the gres
, powers may set up some form of IN
| ternational control, outside the limit
of any existing nation. they may NAH
Constanttnople an international stat
ruled by the league OF nations or |
some machinery devised by the Vel
sailles conference.
OF the three resolutions, the first Is b
{ all odds the least desirable. IL II
Turk stays In Constantinople, eve
- though his power be reduced. his for.
destroyed, the old intrigue and the o.
rivalry will return, For half a centui
the Turk played the different poweI
OF Europe off against each other NJ
thus maintained his own existence Al
held on TO the European provinCu
Y which he misgoNerned and periodical
laid In waste. AS an administrator Il
Turk is impossible. Nor can he lay al
claim to the shores of the straits nj
the Sea OF Marmofa based upon race
self -determination. outside of Consta
:, tinople the Greek is In a clear majorit
L. within the city the Greeks are the mo