Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-21
BE GUGLIELMO FERRiSRO.
(Thc Famous italian Historian, }

This article might wei be entitled
Great. obstacles in the Path of
1t appears TO be desirable. to pre-.
face this article on the problems of
peace which confront Italy, with a few
reflections on the difficulties which all
European powers and the United
states face. and upon their gigantic
as These GTdeT TO he word
tial to a correct understanding, since
It is impossible TO comprehend the
towards It's own peace problems unless
the difficulties which all powers must
face are borne in mind
NOT ONLY VAN0UISHED
| BUT ANNIHILATED FOE
The first of these difficulties is due
to the manner in which the war end
cd. The entente not only vanqulsAsd
the central powers, they annihiIa(cd
with Russia.
I In the wars OF former centuries a
| vanquished state was Weakened, but
not destroyed. 1t remained sufficient
| ~ powerful 10 enter into pehce nego-
tiations and fulfill the stipulated con-
To-day we see 2 dfferen, state Of
German empires lave simply ceased to
exist. Hence the question: With
whom is the peace to be negotiated?'
With the Bolsheviki. Russia S. IS 9' ape
parently not represented at the peace
| conference.
IlcICe VIC Will nave Inc unDrGCe-
denied instance of a state which may
| be. regarded as victorious--sincc the
t,liance Of which i was member
/ fore, be entitled to an important
voice in the negotiations. having no
place at the peace table.
| NOT CLEAR BY WHOM
AUSTRIA WILL NEGOTIATE;
Neither is it clear by whom the
ancient ancient Austrian empire will be rep
|. Germany's case. on the other hand,
| should the constitutional assembly
succeed in establishing II stable gov
event the entente would be able TO
negotiate With that body.
If; however, the Spartacans gain as
difficulty is not small one. But even
Supposing 1T Is reduced to "a mini
mum. even .supposing that Russia and
! Germany. the principal member OF tho
enemy coalition, is adequately repre-
| front the allies in, endeavoring to es-
tablish wise and enduring pGace--a
peace worthy of the gigantic sncri-
| fees made by all nations concerned!
DIFFICULTIES ARE
DUE TO TWO CAUSES
| Most OF these difficulties are due to
| l. Absence OF stable criteria which
most critical problems lfaised by the
!
ards which will be applied to the solu-
! ton of no less important problems
difference due partly TO tho haziness OF
thought partly TO the complicated ma
ture 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; a new
order: therefore. is required; How is
question on which the European pow
have no clear idea on others their
Let us look more closely into the
salient problems OF both these cate
gories.
NAT1ONALITY PROVES
MOST SERIOUS QUESTION
The most serious OF these questions
for whose solution. moreover, we have
no Stable criteria to help us, is that
of nationality.
The great war has caused the dis
| appearance of the two great empires
OF Russia and Austria Hungary.
Upon their ruins the peace congress
| VIII have to raise several new national
states, besides completing various
other national states already existing
Poland. Bohemia, the Ukraine and
JuGo-Slavia belong TO the former cate
CORY: Italy and Roumania belong 10
Ii these states are to be formed or
completed in accordance with the prin-
ciplcs OF nationality those attending
inc peace congress must have a clear
conception of what constitutes nation
ality, and must know what are its dis
tinguishinE characteristics
Are relisi ion. language. race and his
tory to be counted among them IL
geographical position TO be considered
or is the will of the people to decide
inc matter thus allowing people
TO cast its lot with another OF differ
EN-; language and race?
HOW is WILL OF PEOPLE
TO BE MADE CLEAR
If nationality is to be identified with
the Will of the people, how is this
will to be recognized? All the burn
ing questions which caused the Euro
pean connagration may be solved in
widely different ways according to
which these various principles are to
he adopted.
If race and language are the only
deciding factors. Germany is justified
in claiming Alsace as German, and
Roumania is justified in demanding
Bessarabia.
n, on the other hand. nationality
depends upon history and the Will OF
the people. then France has every right
10 Alsace. whereas Roumania's claims
TO Bessarabia are at least dubious.
III is possible to give many similar
instances, and it is therefore obvious
that the reorganization OF Europe upon
a basis OF nationalities cannot be at
tempted without some agreement as
10 what constitutes nationality
WIDEST DIFFERENCES
OF OPINION PREVAIL
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 tho principle OF ma
| tionality should liave triumphed no
! question was more consistently ne
| elected by lawyers, historians and
! pniiosophers than this very question
| OF nationality.
! The few serious works on tho sub
! Ject arc forty or nifty years old Hence,
! dhere is no generally accepted theory
! winch might guide the deliberations
| Of the pcaccmakers.
Each nation adopts principles which
best serve its own turn and enable il,
| 10 lay claim to the greatest possible
( extent OF territory especially along.
| frontiers where nationality, which
should insure the peace Of Europe,
! 4 La .Itn Ia -