Evening star., 1925-05-09
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL !. COLLINS.

In the face of much discussion as
to whether war should be Outlawed or
whether all lovers of peace should
agree never to serve their countries
in defense against aggression or out
rage. either by caring for wounded
soldiers or by fighting, it is note
worthy to observe what progress has
been made toward cosmopolitan paciti-
cation. There are not two sides to
the question as to the desirability OF
peace. and a review of the world to-
day does not involve taking sides.
This is a statement of conditions-not
OF theories x
The Balkans-where more world
tragedies haYe sprung forth than in
any other region-are standing upon
the verge OF a new war not merely
between two nations, with rival
thrones seeking to snatch territory
from each other. It is a grand strug-
gle between rival principles of So
ciety-with organized government on
one side and bolshevism on the other:
one defending life, property and order.
the other attacking civilization with
deadly bombs-destroying unresisting
women and children, old and young
men, bourgeoise tradesmen and Off
CialS of government, assembled in a
cathedral in solemn service for the
victim of a previous assassination.
The explosion took the lives of scores
of citizens, but what is more Signifi-
cant it precipitated the crisis of a
new military defense of Bulgaria.
Other nations protest that Bulgaria,
with increased military power. be-
comes an increased peril to their own
safety, while Russian bolSheViSm is
exposed as actively plotting disorders
centering in Bulgaria. for the avowed
campaign against all world govern
ments other than Soviet bolshevism.
The authority given to Bulgaria to
increase her military force by 10000
additional militiamen was granted by
the Council of Amba assadors of the al
lied powers for a limited time, expir-
ing June /. 1t is reported that if Bull
garia fails to ldemobiliZe this extra
anti-revolutionary force at that time
Greece Czechoslovakia and Rumania
will profess that it is a menace to
them, and in reply will demand eX-
plantations or will assume military
defense by concentrating troops along
the Bulgarian border. Yet Soviet
Russia openly plots to foment boil
shevistic revolution in Bulgaria. and
it is predicted that the Bulgarian
premier, Zankoff, will plead, June l,
that the internal danger continues,
making it impossible to demobilize
the special forces.
x X y
Russia herself. appears in unrest,
manifested by the recent return of
Trotsky, former chief of the red
army who has been in exile for q
year Trotsky, the political ally of
Lenin, lost power after Lenin's death
but his return to Moscow takes on
special significance through the
simultaneous departure of Zenovieff,
I his principal opponent, who has fled
to the Caucasus, where Trotsky spent
his exile.
While in exile Trotsky wrote a
book setting forth his bellicose faith
1t is predicted that he will regain
power, either as head of the army or
member of the cabinet of the Soviet
Republics, and will stimulate bolshe-
vilk activities against the govern.
ments of all ''capitalistic nations''-
which includes all civilized countries
| The Bulgarian bombing is alluded tc
as an index of the world plot center
| ing in Moscow.
X X
1t is generally believed that the
| election of Hindenburg to the presi-
dency of the Republic of Germany
does not mean danger of a return OF
| the Kaiser or any other royal ruler
| to the German throne. Hindenburg
! is an old man, who has seen great
| responsibilities, and the general opin
ion is that he will accept his new
responsibility with soterness and care