The Washington herald., 1919-08-17

balancing coalitions formed, OF ap-
proximately equal strength, which
acted together to prevent war be-
tween small countries that might drag
all Europe into strife The object of
these coalitions was peace, although
Prussia, afterwards Germany. used
them to prepare her own hour to
strike for world mastery.
Balance Is Gone.
We are now witnessing a revival of
the wars of the Middle Agees. The
balance of power has broken down;
the three last autocratic empires, sole
survivors of the imperial tradition.
have dissolved. For the first time
since Augustus assumed the purple
there Is no longer a European Caesar
Gear and Kaiser were both cor
ruptions of the Roman title. Europe
has again dissolved into small states.
Germany and France and Italy are
the largest left; but Germany is pros
trate and Italy, facing a revolution
airy crisis. is drawing away from
France
There is no balance" between COM
petlng groups OF nations; thus one
weak but partial safeguard of peace
has gone. There Is no unity. Much
depends on France, for France. how
ever exhausted, remains the strongest
military and economic power on the
continent. But at the last these days
everything comes back TO labor; and
soaring prices and business paralysis
in France have not left that gallant
country. who sacrificed 100000 lives
against Germany. in any position to
I assume unaided the task OF policing
Europe. Moreover. If the wishes OF
a section of French politicians and
financiers should be followed ana
France should attempt to dictate to
the continent while keeping on good
terms with England and America. the
old cry would go up that one power
was seeking to rule alone.
who'll Prevent warsf
The world has never since Charlie
magne permitted this. No doubt a
coalition would be formed against
France If she sought to revive the die
tatorship Of Napoleon. which at pres
ent Is unlikely.
But as things stand. with no dc
tator and no balance OF power. who
or what Is to restore peace and pre-
vent constant struggles between Poles.
Russians, Ruthenians, Rumanians.
Hungarians, Austrians, Bulsars ana
Bohemians and Southern Slavs? These
struggles are at present moderated by
the blockade threat; but once Eng
land and America have fed the starv-
ing and the new countries think their
food supply is assured. all the records
of history indicate they will fly at
each other unless prevented. And
who is going to stop them?
No doubt in time. by a cycle Of
dGNa ting tho balapca NJ
power can be restored, new empires
or soviet republics arising and absorb
ing their neighbors until an equil-
ibrium is reached again. But such a
process Of natural selection will take
generations and depopulate Europe
Unless this hopeless prospect is to
be realized, one OF two alternatives
must be brought about A hegemony
of one power over the world might
revive the old Roman peace" and
this power can hardly be France. for
sea power means economic strength,
and France lacks sea power. Japan
IS too small, too weak and too far
away to dream Of ruling the whole
world; she will confine herself to Asia.
There remain America and England
as candidates. I ill not pursue these
speculat.ons further.
IN" oiher alter H''lNe Is realza-
ton of President WILSON'S dream of a
community of power" United
States OF the world. OF this at pres
ent the selfish interest of individual
powers affords no hope, and that part
of Wilson's program was either de-
feated or indefinitely postponed by the
Peace Conference.
II this story seems unduly pessimis-
tic, the writer can only plead an hon
est effort to present the situation as II
seems. Conditions in the past, and,
perhaps. by substituting economic for
military pressure, we can restore and
maintain peace.