The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-31
By FRANK II. sIMONDS.

T N several recent articles I have discussed
tho Armistice of Riga-that is, the pre-
liminary peace settlement between the
Russians and tho Poles-as it affected the
latter country and as the rise of Poland was
destined to Influence the future relations of
European States. But the settlement at
Riga las a far wider significance. We are
in fact in the presence of one more the
fourth In order os those great settlements
of European territories since the close of the
Thirty Years War, which is general.- ac-
cepted marking the beginning of Modern
History.
Taken together, the treaties signed at
Paris and the Riga document % which must
be added a number of ubordinate agree
menus. like those between the Baltic States
end Russia, constitute a settlement wholly
comparable III magnitude and in Importance
to those of Westphalia Utrecht and Vienna.
The liquidation of the German war like the
liquidation of the wars of the Reformation
of Louis XIV, Of the French Revolution and
OF Napoleon. must open new page in world
history.
Europe Governed for 100 Years by Deci-
sions of the Vienna Congress-
1t is interesting and not without value for
the future then, to examine this latest Euro
pean settlement having regard to it's relation
to the last. From the fall of Napoleon in
1915 TO August, 1917-that is, from the battle
OF Waterloo To the invasion of Belgium by
the kAiser's armies hundred years later
Europe has been, in the main controlled by
the decisions of the Congress of Vienna, and
IT. history is the slow escape of certain
nations from decisions which were grossly
unfair and the futile attempt of others to
r~ttse terms which were equitable and bid
na9 - be permanent.
LOOKING now to the map of western
Europe, TO that portion of the continent
lying west Vt a line drawn from Berlin to
Rome. how does the settlement of 1919-192O
compare with that of 1S14-1S15? Consider
Ing that full century OF wars separates
tho two arrangements. the first circumstance
winch must impress every observer is the
paucsey 81 the changes as between peoples
IL II hue chat the century has seen the
separation OF che territories united under the
oruwn OF Holland In 1915 into three distinct
unica. Holland. Belgium and Luxembourg; in
tho same fashion instead of an Italy which
was . memory rather than fact in 1915,
hopeless tangie OF petty principalites,
there has emerged a united Italy, become
one OF the great Powers of Europe. Ger
many, too. has gone through the same
process.
Yet while these internal changes in the
conditions of races or nationalities have been
enormous, by contrast the mutations be-
tween the several races to which the con-
temporary map of Europe bears testimony.
are almost insignificant. To begin with so
far as Great Britain, Spain. Switzerland,
and Portugal are concerned there has been
no change whatever. AS between Belgium
and France, Holland and Gtrmauy. Italy
and Switzerland, no change.
Actually more than century of crowded
history In western Europe has resulted in
but three changes of any extent. one OF
which In purely provisional The Treaty of
Versailles, while in the main accepting the
line Of 1915 between the Belgian people,
chen Dutch subjects and now independent,
and shc German has assigned TO the former
rather less than 400 square miles Of terri
tory east of Liege, constituting the districts
Of Aaimedy and Eupen. with the one and a
HAN square miles of Moresnet, overlooked a
century ago. This change moreover, does
no more than rectify mistake of the earlier
treaty, since the majority of the $4,000 peo-
pie dwelling In this region are not only WAL
loon but have recently signiied their salts
faction with the transfer to Belgian rule.
IN the second place. while accepting the
frontier drawn between France and Ger
many--that Is, between the French mon
srchy and the Prussian and Bavarian king
doms OF 1S15-the Treaty of Versailles has
reopened dispute which filled the records
of the negotiations a century ago by cre-
ating the Sarre district and besto,ving upon
tho inhabitants the right fifteen years hence
to vote for French. German or Independent
status. More than half Of this Sarre Basin
was French before the Revolution, half OF Il