Evening star., 1924-08-03
BY FRANK H. sIMONDS.

IT. HE week just ended marked the great
anniversaries of cotemporary history
Ten years ago the Germans launched
their first declaration Of war. that
against Russia. to be followed. two days later,
by that against France. August the
date of the German ultimatum to Belgium
which not only brought war with that little
state. but led directly to the British ultima
tum and the British declaration of upon
Germany as of August 4. Moreover, the same
week six years ago the decisive culmina-
tion of the second battle of the Marne. be-
ginning with the final German offensive of
July Is, and transformed by the allied counter
offensive. three days later in which two
American divisions supplied the weight of the
blow south of Soissons
We are. then. exactly 10 years from the out
break of the World War, six from the decisive
battle, which may be compared with Leipzig.
in the Napoleonic cycle. and little more than
five from the signing of the treaty of Ver-
sailles. The very temporal circumstances, then,
would suggest a retrospect and comparison,
but in addition have been watching a
momentous conference at London between
the allied nations. with the United States
playing conspicuous, If unofficial, role and
Germany awaiting summons with uncon-
cealed emotion.
At the End OF a Decade.
What then, shall say at the outset in
the comparison of Europe with that of
just a decade ago? 1t is Europe, pat
entity, Whlcn cOnIrontS you on the map: the
whole storm and stress of the wars of the
French Revolution and the Napoeonic period
left behind them after Waterloo such
transformation of the map the far briefer
period of struggle through which have
lived. new Europe has arisen;
tions exist: old nations have undergone vast
transformations within and without; physi-
cally no one could have dreamed 10 years ago
today what Europe has become.
Yet when one comes to anayze the situation
is mn sell tba
feeling that the most poignant commentary
upon the new Europe is supplied. not by the
map, not by the changes within nations, which
have transformed Europe from continent of
monarchies to of republics but by the
discussions which have just been going for
ward with such great difficulty and in an
atmosphere of alternating hope and appre-
henson in London. For, beyond all else, the
main purpose of the London conference has
been to put an end not to hostilties. whic.,
have. indeed terminated but to something
which is. on the whole, nearer to a state of
war than to a state of peace
Territorial Dispute StilIed.
The several treaties of peace made at Paris
and since Paris have in manner disposed of
territorial questions. not certainly, forever,
but for the moment. Apart from the aues-
ton of wilma, considerable territorial dis
pute vexes the statesmen of Europe, and un-
pleasant as is the Polo-Lthuanian affair. it
is not of first rank. The Bessarabian difficulty
between Russia and Rumania is perhaps more
serious yet. amidst overcoming alarums.
there has been actual conflict and none
seems imminent
Moreover, the fact has been pretty definitely
established that there be no peaceful re-
making of the treaty of Versailles or any of
the other peace treaties on the territorial
side. No nation which has acquired territory
will consent to surrender it voluntarily, and
there exists central organized force to
compel acquiescence. Whatever may be the
ultimate fate of the eastern frontier of Po-