El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-09-01

and the Turks in defiance Of the
rights OF the peoples would col
lapse once a strong Greece arose
about the Aegean.
Actually, then. the United States as
represented in Paris, in deliberately
seeking for itself the mandatory for
Constantinople. is interposing a bar
rier between a legitimate objective
and millions Of people. for while II is
still uncertain whether congress will
permit the United states 10 under
take responsibility inconceivably
vast, our representatives in Paris are
at work so changing the boundaries
in Thrace as TO erect obstacles in the
pathway OF the Greeks, on the wholly
missionary DreteXt that the BulEa-
rians viii precipitate a new Balkan
war II they are not permitted to hold
strip OF Aegea sea coast. thus cut
aing Greek territories in half Hold
ing TO this argument. American rep
resentatives have for a time halted
the whole progress OF negotiations.
But the slightest reference TO history
shows that for 1907 years the Bulga-
rians have consistently and without
interruption been provoking Balkan
wars without regard to whether they
did CT not hold sea frontage on the
Aegean. There never was a history
OF people which runs with a more
steady stream OF aggresslons, assaults
wars, than that Of the Bulgarians
from the moment when the advance
guard Of the tribe crossed the
Danube.
Greeks Would BE Power In world.
Possession Of Constantinople by the
Greeks would mean that Greece would
take her place Immediately among
the more considerable Of the second
class powers OF the world She would
have at once population Of 10000.
600, while Greek influence might be
expected once more TO repeat the his
tory OF remoter axes and penetrate
far through Asia Minor. In any event,
the construction OF a strong Ruma-
MIA. a unified southern Slavdom. to-
gethcr with the transfer OF the straits
to Greece. would be a long forward
step towards eliminating the eastern
question from among the problems
out Of which European and world
conflicts might arise.
BY contrast, the American assume
ton at Paris that the Bulgars could
be placated does violence to all the
history Of this people. For 1900 wears
their ambition has been TO dominate
the Balkans. Possession Of Adriano-
pie and Of the Thracian coast Of the
Aegean as Tar as the Struma river.
assured them by the victories Of 1912
did not prevent them from attacking
their allies treacherously IN 1913 in
Monastir. Still IN possessing the strip
on the Aegean. now proclaimed by
American representatives IN Paris as
essential 70 persuade Bulgaria to
keep the peace. did not prevent her
from attacking SerTia in 1913 as the
agent Of Germany.
BUlenr Is Prussian OF Balkans.
BY the end OF the world war the
friends OF Bulgaria In Britain, and
she had many, like her friends in
Russia at an earlier period. had at
last recognized the fact that IL was
useless TO hope that Bulgaria would
lay aside her ambitions 10 be the
Prussia Of the Balkans and domin-
ate the Serbs, the Greeks and the Ru-
manlans as Prussia dominated the
varians. The Serbs, the Greeks, the
Rumanians have been willing 10 com
promise their difficulties and all three
recognize the rights OF the |
others 10 existence independent and |
self-sustaininE The BULGARIAN. on :
the contrary, has ever held for himself I
the role OF the Prussian in the Bal {
sans. To sustain this role he has in /
The last seven years fought the Turk, :
he Greek, the Serb. the Rumanian. /
and large temporary acquisitions OF I
territory has been only an incentive I
Tor further hostilities.
There is something almost naive in !
he American policy at Paris with re-
meet to the Greek and the Bulgar /
The effort to compromise a quarrel p.
80 years old by the ALLEGATION OF a
imau strip Of territory which has
)een held by each nation during this .
line affecting the general morals IS
hat kind OF literal Interpretation of /
he IA points which can only lead 70 4
homogeneous failure. The question /
which one has 10 ask in the near east. l
he question that Americans must ask 4
nd a 81 " 9 : r n. J.
inople or shall We lend our assist
ince to the erection OF a Greek state
n those regions which were once ]
'uled by Hellenized empire
byzantine Empire Held Off Invaders.
It is worth recalling that. whatever
we're the weaknesses and failures OF I
he Byzantine empire, II did succeed
or a thousand years IN holding back
he various inYaHions originating IN /