New-York tribune., 1920-10-31

Spain, Switzerland and Portugal are
concerned there has been no change
whatever.
Changes Resulting From War
Actually more than century Of
crowded history in western Europe
has resulted in but three changes Of
any extent, one of which is purely
PROVISIONAL The Treaty of Yer
sailles, while in the main accepting
the line Of 1915 between the Belgian
people, then Dutch subjects and now
independent, and the German, has
assigned to the former rather less
than four hundred square miles of
territory east of Liege, constituting
the districts Of Malmedy and Eupon,
with the one and half square miles
of Moresnet, overlooked q century
ago This change. moreover, does
no more than rectify mistake of
the earlier treaty, since the ajority
of the $4,000 people dwelling in this
region are not only Walloon but
have recently signified their salts
faction with the transfer to Belgian
rule.
In the second place, while accept
ing the frontier drawn between
France and Germany--that is, be-
tween the French monarchy and the
Prussian and Bavarian kingdoms of
18l5--the Treaty Of Versailles has
reopened q dispute which filled the
records Of the negotiations Of q GEN.
tury ago, by creating the Sarre dis
trict and bestowing upon the inhab.
itants the right, fifteen years hence
to vote for French, German or inde.
pendent status More than half Of
this Sarre basin was French before
the revolution, half of it was
assigned to France following the
first abdication Of Napoleon, and this
half was not actually taken from
France until after Waterloo.
As between tho German people
and their western neighbors, then,
the recent settlement accepts the
settlement of century ago, except
las to 1000 square miles and approx
mately three-quarters Of a million
of people. AS to these, it leaves the
decision with the people themselves,
and the districts adjoining the Bel
gian frontiers have already accepted
the Belgian nationality, while those
adjoining the French have still to
vote four years hence.
French and Italian Frontiers
Looking now to the frontiers be-
tween Italy and France, and recall
ing that a century ago it was Sar-
dlnia, not Italy, which touched
France, one must note very con-
siderable change from the situation
recognized century ago. France
has extended her frontiers to the
Alps, annexing Savoy and Nice, with
the major fraction of the old prin-
cipality Of the Grimaldi, the lesser
portion of which still endures In the
principality Of Monaco. But this
change was the result, not Of war be-
tween the French and Italians. but
amicable agreement, following
French assistance in lberating Italy.
Moreover, the inhabitants are
French; sixty years ago they de-
oided almost unanimously for the
French association, and both peoples
have accepted the decision as final.
We are bound to recognize, then,
that the decisions of 1915, as far as
the territorial adjustment between
The Western nations of Europe was
concerned have stood the test of
hundred years, and the sole changes
cue to war do not exceed 400 square
miles, with the possible Increase to
slightly more than 1000 if the Sarre
decides later to separate from Ger
many.
Norway and Sweden
Looking to the north of Europe, it