davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1920-01-25

action for a long time. With them
Belgium must be reckoned for OBJ
vlous reasons. But Italian adher-
ence to this Anglo-F'rench bloc is
tar from certain. Looking eastward.
Poland and Rumania, natural mem-
bers of the Western Alliance, have
been weakened and, in the case of
Rumania, alienated. In case of Boil
shevist attack upon Poland, the
Al..es have so wrought that Poland
may be unable to resist the attack,
while Rumania is bound to consult
her own interests rather than act
in conformity with Western powers
which have consistently sacrificed
her rights to Russian ambitions. AS
for the group Of states on old Hua-
garian territory, Hungary and Aus
tria are defnitively hostile and nee
essarily driven to a future German
alliance, -Slovakia is isolated
and at odds with Poland, Jugo- -Slayia
is involved in fatally compromising
disputes with Italy and with Ruma-
MIA. Bulgaria, too, is forever hos
tile, while Greece has been sacrificed
to this permanently hostile Bulgaria.
Now, it is fairly plain that if
Britain, France, Italy, Poland, Ru-
mania, Jugo- -Slavia, Czccho- -Slovakia.
Belgium and Greece could be united
IN common policy Of defense of
european order and stability, the
alliance thus constituted would be
adequate to defeat any German or
Russian assault, to prevent the de-
velopment of a Russo German alli-
ance. 1t is patent that if such a
group OF nations had the United
States as moral and economic, if
not military partner, some real
system might be evolved, even Aus
tr'a and Hungary might ultimately
Dc orawn into n Danubian fedora
uons rather than into q German
New-York tribune., 1920-01-25

or associates, with the Jugo-Slavs
and with the Greeks, while her effort
to occupy a portion Of Asia Minor
has brought her into conflict with
the Turks and her mandate for AL
bania promises future expensive
military operations.
The significant fact is that the
natural alliance between Britain.
France and Italy, the logical sue
cessor of the old Triple Entente,
which might guarantee the peace
of Paris, has not yet arrived, NAV
not arrive, as a consequence of
Italian resentment at Franco-Brit-
ish policies, while the presence of
the United States as guarantor
of such an alliance, that is, of the
situation created by the peace of
Paris, is now hardly to be expected
Turning now to the center of
Europe, we see that the Allies have
endeavored to make good their
promises Of liberating the subject
natlonalities, but in doing this they
have been guided by narrow and
academic formula rather than by
economic, political or strategic
facts. They have accepted the de-
struction Of Austria-H Hungary, but
they have not sought or achieved
any stable equilibrium in its place.
They have drawn boundary lines
across the center of Europe. striv-
ing faithfully to follow ethno-
graphic circumstances, but ignoring
economic facts, thus condemniny
regions and peoples newly liberated
from tyranny to misery, famine, OK
tinction, If these boundaries are
maintained.
In ncglecting the economic con-
slderations they have been not less
careless Of the political. They have
failed to prevent tho clash between
New-York tribune., 1920-01-25
The Other Picture

Turning now to the other side
of the picture, we see, as against
an Anglo-French alliance, still
struggling to expand itself into a
European system, two enormous
facts, the one German and the
other Russian, and both necessarily
and so far as the future can be
read, permanently hostile to the
Western combination. Germany has
been conquered, but neither perma-
nently crushed nor yet conciliated.
Cancellation was at all times i'm
possible, unless the French and Bel
glans were to be made the victims
OF German outrages and condemned
to perish in vain effort to restore
German depredations without Ger
man indemnities. Permanent weak
ening was possible, only SO far as
the Allies were able to create a new
Europe which would be sufficiently
strong to make renewal of Ger
man assault impossible.
| would not be understood as ar
gulng that more territory should
have been taken from the Germans
save in certain details on the Polish
side. Germany probably would have
been able in the future to retake
such territory. and the creation Of
new sace-Lorraines would mean
only poisoning anew the system of
Europe. What do mean is that ~
Poland had been properly assured
New-York tribune., 1920-01-25

combination, thus abolishing the
economic impossibility of the pres
ent situation. But unhappily just
this firm association has been pre-
vented, perhaps permanently, by the
progress of events in Paris and the
unhappy effort to make peace with
out regard to historical, economic
or political facts and solely with re-
gard for academic principles abroad
and domestic political circumstances
at home.
New-York tribune., 1920-01-25
BY Frank II. Simonds

j 1 xs
TIME actual putting into
operation of the peace Of
Paris, to combine the sew
eral agreements OF Ver-
sailles, st. Germain and Neuilly
under the name they will doubtless
bear henceforth, and the date of
the application Of the terms OF
peace, January 10, 1920, mark one
Of the great historic moments of
modern history. If one seek paral-
lels they will be found only in the
settlements Of Westphalia, In 1913;
Of Utrecht, In 1912, and Of Vienna,
in 1915.
In each case a new Europe
emerged from a colossal struggle,
and 1t Is not less clear that a new
Europe has emerged, however
shadowy in form as yet, from the
World War, which officially ends
with the first month Of 1920. Now,
In the examination Of this new Eu-
rope. 1t is essential first Of all to
compare the present situation with
that Of the Continent at the moment
when the recent war broke out, that
*, on August 1, 1914.
At that date Europe was divided
approximately evenly between two
great groups Of states, which were
themselves nations with long tradi-
tions and we'll defined policies.
France, Russia and Great Britain
confronted Germany, Austria and
italy. But the adherence of the
British to the Franco-Russian group
was more or less subject to a ma
tional, or at least a parliamentary
referendum, before war could be de-
clared, while the association Of
italy with the Austro-German group
vas based on positive alliance, but
only for defense.
New-York tribune., 1920-01-25
How Ii Came About

This grouping of powers had re-
suited from the rapid rise Of Ger
many to Continental domination in
the years between 1870 and 1914,
that is, between the Franco-Prus-
sian War and the World War. The
association of France, Britain and
Russia was due to the conflict be-
tween German purposes and the
policies of the three nations. In an
nexing Alsace- in 1871,
Germany had made a permanent
enemy Of France; in joining Austria
in barring Russian pathway through
the Balkans to Constantinople Ger
many had driven Russia into the
opposing camp, while the challenge
to Britain on the sea had led the
British to their historic course of
intervention on the Continent. as
the French under Louis XIV and Ma
poleon had provoked similar inter-
mixture.
By contrast, Austria, despite her
defeats Of 1866, had been drawn
into the German orbit by fear Of
Russia and by the ever growing
menace of Pan-Slavism, acting upon
her own Slavic millions Italy had
been maneuvered into a similar re-
lation by the cleverness Of Bismarck
in making use Of French occupation
of Tunis in 1881, which closed to
Italy a promised land Of colonial
expansion and Mediterranean power
In the early years Of the Triple
Alliance, when it was faced by the
Franco Russian Alliance, which was
manifestly peaceful in character, the
groupings Of powers had contributed
to the preservation Of peace. Blu,
more and moro the Germans per-
ceived that while their own rise and
development had been moro rapid
than the Russian, their future wa:
still dubious, If Russia remained
united and was able to draw to her
vast camp the smaller Slav races OF
Austria and the Balkans.
A Series of Clashes
In the years from 1906 to 1914. q
full decade, therefore, we had a
serTes Of incidents, clashes between
alliances, In Morocco, over Bosnia
and In the Balkans, which resulted
most unfavorably to the Triple AL
lance, brought Britain into line with
France and Russia, weakened Italv,s
adhersocA to the Triple Alliance and
compromised the existence Of Aus
triA BY 1919, at tho end Of the
Second Balkan War, the Germans
saw clearly that unlcss a successful
war could chapge the situation In
nhsag favor, Austria would be De-
New-York tribune., 1920-01-25

the Italian and the Jugo -Slav, the
Serb and the Rumanian, the Pole and
the Czech. Thus, instead of a new
system of states, mutually friendly
and all associated with the Western
liberators in a virtual alliance to
preserve the system created at
Paris, instead Of several states, each
possessing the necessary resources
for viable state, they have as
sisted at the erection Of a crazy
quilt Of mutually hostile states on
the foundations of the old Haps-
burg Empire, several of them
doomed to perish for economic rea-
sons, several Of them bitterly hos
tile to their liberators and ready to
make terms with the old enemy.
Poland and Rumania
Particularly in the matter of
Poland and Rumania, each now be-
come state Of considerable pro-
portions, each with an area as great
as ltaly-Poland with population
Of 90,000,000, Rumania with IT,
00O,0 O,000-the Western nations have
dealt with incredible stupidity, seek
ing to compel these two states to
conform to academic ideas Of eth
nographic frontiers, usually incor-
rectly described. Thus, instead of
having in the East and at the Rus
san boundaries two states capable
Of real development, the Western
Allies have sacrificed Poland to Ger
many and alienated Rumania by
seeking to deny Rumanlan lands be-
cause Of fear Of ultimate Russian
resentment.
In the new Europe, which wo see
at the present hour, then, tho situa-
ton is this: Franco and Great
Britain are unqucstionably bound
together by a community Of inter
ests and dangers which insure Joint
New-York tribune., 1920-01-25
A New Alliance Sure

Almost infallibly the new alli-
ance IN Europe, which will CHALLENGE
Whatever survives of the association
OF powers which won the last war
Will be a Russo German eroun
Almost equally certain this ero,,n
VIII enlist the Mahometan bloc
which extends from Cairo to Kaoul
ouch an alliance will have an enor-
NOUS population, incalculable re-
sources In men, materials and SUD-
pines, and will be beyond the reach
OF sea power. 1t could only be
checked if all the rest of the civil
lzed world stood firm against II
But would it?
Looking at Europe to-day, the
German perceives that Italv is
hardly to be counted upon by his old
enemies, ne perceives that Rumania
mas been practically lost by Anglo
American policies. He may exag-
gerate the weakness which has over
taken france as a result Of the war,
out the weakness is unmistakable.
lie may place too great value upon
the present reaction in America
against further European actian,
but the reaction is an unmistakable
fact
But what Il fmportant to noAa IN
New-York tribune., 1920-01-25
Italy's Gains

Italy, on her side, has regained
her unredeemed territory, estab-
llshed herself at last on the crests of
the Alps at the Brenner Pass and
achieved, with Allied aid, the de-
struction Of her former Austrian
cI-rcssor. She, like France and
Britain. has acquired certain colo
NAL lands, but wholly inferior ever
to those gained by France. She
has, more'~cr, quarreled with her
French. British and American allies
New-York tribune., 1920-01-25
Germany Sees Chance to Turn
Her Apparent Defeat Into
a Real Victory

Of her Baltic exit and of her East
ern frontiers, if Rumania and Jugo-
Slavia had been sufficiently strength
ened, saved from an empty quar-
rel over the Banat, if some form of
friendly federation had been built
upon the ruins Of Austria-Hungary,
the German would have found HIM
self unable, with hope of victory, to
undertake anew the battle for Con-
tinental domination, and might have
followed peaceful policies and be-
come, with time, a good European.
AS it is the German now looks
out upon the East, with Poland
whose sea gate is reached through
a corridor German cannon can close,
whose single port Of Danzig is only
in part his own, whose eastern
frontiers are open to Bolshevist at
tack, whose Ukrainian and Czech
neighbors are hostile. Looking
southwark he sees a Middle Europe
turned into chaos, Austria beckon-
ing him to come as master, Hun
cary equally sure to invite deliver
ance, economic and political, and
Bulgaria totally unreconciled and
still capable of useful aid, if the old
struggle is resumed.
Beyond Bulgaria he perceives
a Turkish and Mahometan world
eruption. Whatever he may think
of the vitality of Pan-Turanian
dreams, he sees that millions of
Turks, Tartars, Kurds, Turcomans,
Arabs, Egyptians, ali the way from
the Egean and the Nile to the
frontiers of Afghanistan, and even
beyond them in India, are restless
or even fighting against his old
allies, menacfng Egypt and India,
threatening Syria, where the French
are, menacing Mesopotamia, where
the British rule.
New-York tribune., 1920-01-25
ce Has Been Declared in a Far From Peaceful Eur0r
Mistakes Have Been Made That
Appear Certain to Result in
Future Conflicts

stroyed, the states arising on the
ruins would be hostile to Germany,
and Germany would be barred by
the British on the seas and by the
Russians on land, and would in the
next half century sink to the rank
Of second class state, as contrasted
with Britain. Russia and the United
States. In that situation Germany
risked the World War, believing that
for the moment military superiority
was hers and victory would enable
her to erect her own system in Eu-
rope and destroy the Slavic menace
by dividing the Slavs and provoking
in Russia a revolution which would
put Russia out Of the world game
for many years to come.
Cermany's Miscalculations
Germany's calculations, correct in
the main, were upset by misunder-
standing of British policy at the out
set and by the entrance Of the
United States in the final phase.
Owing to these two circumstances,
coupled with an underestimate of
the fighting capacity Of France, Ger
many lost the war, although she did
achieve the ruin of Russia and came
within an ace Of winning the strug-
gle before the United States arrived.
But in the first weeks of 1918,
when the Germans believed that
they had won the war, the Treaty
of Brest-Litovsk, followed by the
Treaty of Bucharest, clearly indi-
Gated what the German policy was
and created in fact that Mittel-
europa, that coalition Of states and
races of Central Europe under Ger
man domination which was always
in the German mind from the begin
ming. The design was to continue
and increase the servitude of the
Slav races of the east and south to
the German and Hungarian minori-
ties, occupy Poland and administer
the Baltic provinces.
No such comprehensive or we'll
reasoned policy marked Allied coun-
ellis. The wholly vague formula of
liberating enslaved races, with very
little regard for historic, strategic
or economic considerations, served
for the opponents Of Germany dur
ing the long years when they were
steadily forced to contemplate the
possibility Of losing the war out
right, and the swiftness of the deci-
sion, in the end, surprised them
without statesmanlike solution,
New-York tribune., 1920-01-25
And the Bolshevists

Finally he discovers the great
Russian Bolshevist wave rolling out
ward in all directions, marching to-
ward the Pacific, the frontiers of
India, the highlands of Asia Minor,
sweeping down to the Black Sea
and making some sort Of common
policy with the Mahometan mil
lions for attack upon Egypt and
upon India. And he can equally
clearly see that for these Russian
Bolsheyists, quite as much as for
himself, the extinction of Poland
is matter of immediate impor-
tance.
Now the German has to make q
great decision for the future. Will
he accept his defeat, will he pay
the price of losing the last war,
expressed in money and in power,
or will he seek to avoid the paw
ment Of this price by associating
himself with the Bolshevist and the
Mahometan? Will he become a
good European" accept defeat as
did the French after Napoleon fell,
associate himself with his con-
querors, permanently acknowledge
ing British naval supremacy and
commercial domination, or will he
seek by new combination to re-
open the old battle, to escape the
consequences Of defeat and renew
his struggle for world hegemony,
following European supremacy?
1t does not seem to me the an
swer is difficult to discover. No ma
ton in all history would accept the
fall Germany has suffered in the
last live years as an end to national
ambitions, unless all chance Of VIC
tory for the future, if the contest
were reopened, should be elimi-
mated. And the German can look at
contemporary Europe and see pos
sibilities of future success on all
sides. He may choose an active or
passive role for the present, i'm
mediate or ultimate association with
Russia, but in the meantime Rus
sia works for him by assailing
Britain in Egypt and in India and
IN menacing that Poland, the ex-
tlnction of which must be his own
first concern
New-York tribune., 1920-01-25
Positive Results

The result has been that the Paris
conference has proved wholly IN
capable Of creating an order or
system on the ruins Of system un-
deniably wrecked by the war. So
far as the British are concerned
they have effectively disposed of the
German challenge on the water,
both from the naval and the COM
mercial sides. The German war
fleet and the German merchant
marine have disappeared; on the
commercial and colonial sides the
victory has been more complete than
those won over Spain, Holland or
France In past centuries.
AS to the French, they have re-
gained Alsace-Lorraine, temporarily
at least escaped from the practical
terrorization and paralysis Of their
national life by German menace,
have better military frontiers, have
disarmed Germany before them,
occupy the Rhine for the pres
ent and the coal regions Of the Saar
may conceivably pass to them in
perpetuity, while for fifteen years
at least any German attack will be-
gin far within German territories
and encounter the Rhine as a bar
rfer. BY contrast both the French
and the British have paid a terrible
price for victory, the French vastly
in excess Of the British, and both
will have n long struggle to regain
national health.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-25
STEAGALL URGES
 AN EXTRA SESSION
President Wilson Promises to Earnestly Consider Relief
 for Farmers
By HUGH W. ROBERTS
 Washington Bureau The Age heraI'


 Washington, October 2l--(Special)- President Wilson. with a promise to give the subject earnest consideration, to- day acknowledges the receipt of letter from Representative Henry B. Steagali of the Third Alabama district. urging that the chief executive find some prac- tical method of extending relief to the cotton farmers of the south and suggest ing that if needs be an extraordinary ses- sion of Congress be immediately con- Vened
 MT. Steagau declared to the President that there is no reproduction of neces- sities, and that there is need for every thing our farmers have produced lie characterized the act of agencies which has been brought about the present con- dition as "unjustifiable destruction"
 Tn these extraordinary circumstances, the letter to the President reads, the country looks to you to lead in the work of securing practical relief. It is evident that the first great neec of the hour is credit to the farmers which will enable them to market their crops in their own way If our farmers can secure money at reasonable rates. they can solve their difficulties. Without this, denoralization and disaster await them, and no man can foresee the consequences.
 "Please let me urge that you under take to find a practical method to re- lieve the situation so menacing to our great deserving agricultural classes. II legislative action is necessary, as rep resentative l should be glad to see Con sress called into extraordinary session to the end that nothing may be left undone in an effort to remedy the situation and to fix responsibility for same"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-25

Colby, Secretary of State. In turn. Colby appealed to D. F. Houston. Sec retary of the Treasury Mir Houston l cplied that the embassy could have the wine provided it dispatched a rep resentative to New York to receive it. and return with it to Washington.
 Immediately thereafter Colby issued a statement in which he declared that It was expected that no official of the government would attempt to meddle with the personal effects of diplomats. He thought this would settle the con- troversy. Not sol For Houston re- piled that the officials of his depart ment would continue to search French, Belgian, Spanish and all other baggage for liquor. Colby now declares that be is right. Houston declares he is right. Unless the President takes a hand in the situation. the courts must be asked for a decision.
 There is no question but that Pres i6ent Wilson supports Colby. There is no question but that he is also sustained by international custom. and that courtesy which is due one coun- try by another. He is also sustained ty popular opinion, it is indicated Houston is supported by the literal in-
  denies the right of shipping liquor In interstate commerce. He is sustained also by the officials of the Anti-Sa- : loon League of America. who cannot see the justice in permitting French men to drink wine while Americans ahide in a constant and irritating thirst. He is also supported by a cer' tain class of politicians, in addition
 to those above referred, to, who thlns 1t highly expedient to retain the liquor
 question as an ever-living, burning issue in Americana life.
 When the difficulty between the two departments goes \ to court, there IS no question but that Secretary Colby will argue that an embassy is extrater- ritorial and that as such. American laws apply no more than they apply to the country which owns the embassy He will make the point that 1t would be folly to permit France to have wine in it's embassy. but deny France the right to procure it, and trans port it to it's embassy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-25
KNOCKOUT FIGHT ON LIQUOR ISSUE BY THE
 EMBASSY WRANGLE
Colby and Houston Lock Horns ! on Rights of Foreign En- bassies, to Receive
 Shipments
BysHUGH W. ROBERTS
 Washington Bureau The Age Herald

Washington, October Especially There is going to be, knockout fight regarding the liquor question in which two members of the Presidents cahi- ret will be engaged It is. no longer possible to adjust things quietly. The highest court of the land will eventu- ally be appealed to. according to pres ent indication.
 It all started some six weeks ago when France shipped case of wine to it's Washington embassy. Officials of the treasury department in New York. having been advised of the shipment, rried into the baggage consigned to the embassy, found the liquor and held lit. The embassy appealed to Bainbridge
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-25
HUNTSVILLE

Huntsville. October 24-(SpeciaL)-A conference of cotton growers was held here Saturday at the Elks theatre and steps were taken to more fully organize the Madison county branch of the Ameri- can Cotton Association. It was decided to canvass the county thoroughly and organize every school precinct
 The meeting was addressed by Col John H. Peebles of Limestone county. Ed G. Betts and S. L. Cobb of Hunts vile The speakers talked of the present cotton crisis and advised the farmers to organize and support each other in this emergency. If this is done, according to the speakers, it will not be long untl cotton is bringing fair price.
 The north Alabama colored fair came to a close here last night completing d very successful week An average Of 2,500 persons attended every day, 1t was stated by officials, and the enterprise has been a complete success, laying the foundation for bigger colored fair next year.
 G. c, Denton, driving an automobile in which four young lady school teachers were passengers. dashed into a wagon loaded with cordwood on Meridian lilo pike Friday night and the car turned turtle. Denton claims he did not see the