The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-31
londs Ranks Riga Settlement High in Worlds Histor,
Eastern Question Replaced by Adriatic Prob
lem, While the Old Polish Quarrel
Has Been Revived

of border provinces stolen from Poland be-
tween 1772 and 1916 and from France be-
tween 1914 and 1871. But east and south
of Germany, as east and south OF France
the changes have been momentous
New Issues Arise Which Will Make the
New Century's History.
And In these changes we must recognize
the rise of the new issues which will make
the history of the coming century. Inc
Balkan problem, the Eastern question, so rar
as Europe Is concerned, has disappeared with
the Turk; all the ambitions Of all the great
powers In the Balkans have proven equally
futile; instead, the several tribes have sue
ceeded in regaining independence and achiev-
ing frontiers roughly corresponding with
their tribal entities But In place OF the old
Eastern question we have the new dispute
on the Adriatic between the Southern Slavs
and the italians, which has already poisoned
European wells for two long years.
Moreover, in the north there has arisen
q ney problem. or rather a question which
filed the history of Europe for many CEN
turtles with the threats and realities of war,
namely, the Baltic question, has been re-
yiyed. Russia has retired from the Baltic,
save about the head of the Gulf of Finland
but who can believe that the great Slav
State of the future will permanently consent
to be separated from the sea by thin facade
OF helpless States such as Esthonia, Livland
and Lithuania, even If all three should seek
strength In unity. Yet 1t will be the policy
OF all the States interested in the Baltic, of
Sweden, Germany and Great Britain, to pre-
serve the independence Of these States and
thus prevent Russian control of the Baltic.
To the Baltic question there Is added the
Polish, also of very great antiquity. Poland
has escaped from Russian. German and Aus
TRAN, but If the disappearance of the Aus
trian makes Polish escape permanent on
this side, IL the frontiers Poland has accepted
with respect of the Russian leave open the
way for an ultimate restoration Of friendship
between both branches of the Slav family,
between the German and the Poles the from
tiers laid down at Versailles represent only
an incitation to war. Nor can Poland ever
be quite sure that the German and the Rus
sian ma not again strike hands and seek
to extinguish Polish liberties by dividing
Polish lands
AS between the new States erected as a
result of recent treaties many disputes of
a dangerous character have come with the
liberation of the smaller nationalities from
the overshadowing menace of great and
tyrannizing Powers. Thus the Poles and the
Lithuanians are at daggers drawn over Viii
ma; bitterness still survives between Czechs
and Poles over Teschen, recently divided be-
whole district. Between the Rumanians and
the Serbs there endures the acute and very
dangerous dispute over the Banat. Between
the German Austrian fragment now erected
into a separate republic and the Jugo-Slavs
there is the issue raised by the plebscite of
Klagenfurt, recently decided in favor Of the
Austrians Between the Hungarians and all
their neighbors there exist disputes having
their origin in the determination of tho
Magyars to regain all of their ancient lands,
despite the fact that all of these lands are
inhabited by people who prefer other rule
to return to Hungarian supremacy.
Wars Since the Congress of Vienna Due
to Natural Forces.
Looking back to the settlement of the Con-
gress of Vienna for a moment we perceive
that out of it grew certain distinct conflicts
which make up the history of the nineteenth
century. The age-long rivalry between the
Latin and the German on the Rhine sur
vived to make the war Of 1870 and to con-
tribute to the making Of that of 1914. France
had created in Germany and Italy a longing
for national solidarity by her effort to con-
quer and dominate AS a consequence the
German and the italian peoples struggled
upward to race and national solidarity In
the wars OF the middle of the last century.
BY refusing to undo the wrong done to the
Poles by Frederick the Great the Congress
Of Vienna preserved wound In the east of
Europe which did not heal and could not DO
cured.
But the main outcome of the settlement