Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-01
BY FRANK H. SIMONDs.

BY FRANK II. SIMONDS.
Y HILE the Germans are still
AN/ debating the peace terms
served upon them. the Aus
troHungarian empire Is
in its turn passing before the con-
ference of Paris and. in fact. submit
ting to final dissolution. No single
change following the war can have
more far-reaching effects for the flu
ture in Europe than the total liquida-
tion of that empire which only a few
brief months ago was, next to Rus
STA. the largest in area on the con-
tinent, and. next to Russia and Ger
many. the largest in population.
Today, as a result of the settle
ment which was made in the treaty
of st. German, the Austrians and
Hungarians, who combined to rule
an empire of 100000 square miles,
with a population of more than
51.000.000, will find themselves re-
stricted to an area of a little more
than 100000 square miles and a pop
ulation of hardly 100000. This pop
ulation and this area will be fairly
evenly divided between the two ruling
races of the old Austro Hungarian
empire, the Germans and the Magyars
We have. then. a complete disrup-
ton of one of the great empires of
modern history. A hundred years
ago. at the congress Of Vienna. Aus
tria, represented by Metternich, had
decisive influence. For forty years
thereafter this influence remained.
Prior to the congress Of Vienna,
France and Austria for two centuries
had been rivals for the rebirth of
national aspirations among the sub
ject peoples of the Hapsburg empire.
Above all. the pan-Slav aspirations
OF the Serbs, Poles, Czechs, Croats
and Slovaks have combined to de-
stroy utterly what has been one of
the most powerful forces in European
history.
War Opened in Hapsburg Domain.
1t is worth recalling again that this
world war which We are now lioui-
dating had it's occasion in the as
sassination of the Austrian archduke
at Serajevo just five years ago. 1t is
worth remembering that this war
had it's origin in the conviction, held
alike lin Vienna, Budapest and Ber-
lin. that the result of the Balkan
wars had doomed the Hapsburg edi-
fee unless preventive war could post
pone the evil day. The majority of
the subjects of Francis Joseph were
Slav. At no distant time this ma
jority would assert it's right and
change the whole course of Austro-
Hungarian policy. Archduke Francis
Ferdinand himself. foreseeing the in
evitable change, was preparing to
admit the Slavs into the new Austro-
hungarian federation when an as
sassin's bullet terminated his life
and the last hope Of salvati for the
empire which would have been his.
The Austrians challenged the Serbs
because the ruling race believed that
II Serbia were crushed the Slavs
within the empire would be cowed
and forced to abandon separatist as
pirations. Germany supported Aus
tr1a because German hopes and am
billions rested squarely upon the
preservation Of the existing rulers
in the Austro-Hungarian empire.
When Russia took up the cause of
the Serbs, when France and Great
Britain were brought inevitably into
the struggle, when Italy finally en-
listed, then it became clear that.
whatever were the other issues of
the war, only German victory could
save Austria. With the fall of Rus
STA, allied plans for the partition of
Hungary were temporarily
laid aside. but with the sudden
change in the situation last
summer and the collapse of Austria
at Piave last autumn the Hapsburg
suddenly dissolved; it fell
apart into fragments. and now it is
to determine the frontiers between
these fragments.
Mass of Incoherent Fragments"
The collapse of SO great an empire
must necessarily produce conse-
quences too far-reaching to be fully
appreciated at the moment Five
years ago the three great empires
occupying central and eastern Europe
were dominating factors in all Euro
pean calculations. Today, Austria is
a mass of incoherent fragments, Rus
STA is in state of anarchy, and Ger
many. for the moment at least. lies
PROSTATE. In all three great states,
dynasty has disappeared and repub-
lies have replaced royalty
1t has been said of Austria in the
olden times that if there were no
such state it would be necessary to
create one to preserve the peace of
Europe. The truth Of this observa-
ton is being brought home again
when the Paris conference is strug-
Cling with the conflicting national
aspirations Of the Inhabitants of the
Did empire. with the full realization
that even were insoluble chronological
satisfactorily adjusted.
problems even more serious
FOR the future would remain.
1t is no little operation to divide
100000 square miles of territory and
ifty-one millions of peoples belonging
% at least dozen races in such fashion
IS to satisfy the people thus separated
and preserve for all Of them some
of economic possibility in
the future. In the old Austro-H Hun
yarian empire there were Germans,
Magyars, Rumanians, Italians, Czechs.
5lovaks, Poles, Slovenes. Croats, Jews.
In the long course of it's history, the
aapsburg dynasty had acquired ter
ritory in all directions, inhabited by
/ population incapable of fusion, and
:hese populations. through centuries
If oppression. had acquired animosi-
les and hostilities indescribably acute.
When Austria Hungary fell, there
we're Immediately formed certain
number of states. In the north. the
Poles in Galicia made common cause
With their brethren in Russia. The
Czechs of Austria joined hands with
he Slovaks Of Hungary; Serbs. Croats
Ind Slovenes united with the Serbs to
he south: Italy laid hands unon her