The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-01-22

event the entente would be able TO
negotiate with that body
IT. however, the Spartacans gain
aFcendency, what are We TO do The
difficulty Is not small one. But
even surprising 1t Is reduced TO
minimum, even supposing that Russia
and sAnst&js s45u ,Dnt b. wesces~et.,t
1,rft' *7-.rnrsnSSis me- principal member
~ the enemy coalition. is adequately
represented what problems would
SIN confront the allies in endeavor-
ing to establish n wise and enduring
poace--a peace worthy OF the gigantic
sacrifices made by all nations con
cernede
Most of these difficulties are due to
one of two causes:
/, Absence OF stable criteria which
would assist in solving Alright the most
critical problems raised by the war
>. The difference between the
standards which will he applied to
the solutiSn OF no less important
problems|diTerence due partly 10
ihe hazihess of thought. partly to the
complicated nature of the situation
created by the war. and partly to the
conflicting theories and interests
The war swept away the existing
order OF things in Europe: new
order, therefore, is required. How
- ltlI@ ~ ~ accom- DllSflSN thaI is
tho question on which the European
they have no clear idea; on others
their ideas clash
Let us look more closely into the
salient problems Of both these cate
guriee
The most serious of these questions.
for whose solution. moreover. we have
no Stable criteria 30 help us, is that
Of nationality. The great war has
caused the disa ppcarance Of the two
great empires Of Russia and Austria
Hungary. nor their ruins tho peace
congress Will have to raise several
now national states. besides romplet-
ing various other national states al
ready existing Poland bohemia. the
! kraine and JuEo -Slavia-beIong to
inc former category; Italy and
Rumania belong to the latter.
" these states are to he formed or
completed in accordance with the
principles Of nationality those attend
ing the peace congress must have a
clear conception OF what constitutes
nationality. and must know what are
It's distinguished characteristics
Are religion. language, race and
history to be counted among them ?
Is geographical position to be CON
Sidered or is the will of the people to
decide the matter. thus allowing "A
people 10 cast its lot with another OF
diHerent language and race
The Burning Questions.
IL nationality is to be identified
with the will Of tho people. how is
this viii TO he recognized? All the
burning questions which caused the
european conHagration may be
solved IN widely different ways accord
ing 10 which these various principles
are 70 hc adopted
II race and language are the only
deciding factors, Germany is justified
in claiming AlSaCe as German. and
Rumania is justified in demanding
Bcss- Arabia.
If, on the other hand nationality
depends upon history and the will Of
the people. then France has every
right to Alsace. whereas Rumania' s
claims 10 Bess-Arabia are at least du-
bious.
1t is possible 10 give many similar
instances. and 1t is therefore obvious
that the reorganization OF European
upon basis of nationalities cannot
be attempted without some agreement
as to what constitutes nationality.
Unfortunately there exists the wild :
est possible difference of opinion on
these essential points During the
thirty years preceding the war. dur
ing which period the principle Of ma
tionalttv should have triumphed no
question was more consistently neg
lected by lawyers, historians and phil
os@rfaers than this very question OF
','..1z -,
inc Few serious works on The sub
toct are forty or fifty years old
Hence, there is no generally accent