The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-06-24
TREND OF WORLD AFFAIRS
BY Lucy Meacham Thruston

The years since the World War
have been so full of change that they
have been comparable only to
Kaleidoscope with their glittering
bits of color changing places from
minute to minute. But now nearly
two decades have passed since cessa-
ton of such tragedy and several at
tempts at analysis are being made.
Analysis in itself must be preceded
by restatement. The World War
began in 1914 and ended in 1918,
but five more years were taken up in
considering peace terms. The treaty
of Versailles was mot the concluding
peace treaty, this was followed up by
the treaty of st. German of Neuilly.
of Trianon, of Lausanne. With the
coming of this last into force in
August 1924, peace was formally
established. Meanwhile what achieve
ments had been made, what currents
set in motion, what driftings
allowed?
The treaty of Versailles was soon
found to be full of mistakes. 1t was,
the Germans claim, dictated treaty,
as are nearly all such terms between
victor and vanquished. The Germans
were given the terms and allowed
five days in which to accept-or re-
sumo war activities-and when their.
answer was to be received, the two
signatories were brought in Like
signatories were brought in like
criminals in the dock. It is true
that this treaty was founded on
idealism. 1t provided for creation
of League of Nations, an Inter-
national Labor Organization and
mandatory system of government for
the colonies coded by Germany.
1t rearranged the map of Europe
but not always to advantage. Slav
and Teuton had lived long pressed
sideby side, with conflict and irrita-
ton, yet with some attempts at adj
justment, some necessary neighbor-
illness. But Wilson knew his history.
the ambitions and traditions of sub
merged peoples and the boundaries
in connection with ambitions CT
those submerged lost to Germany
25 900 square miles of territory and
100000 people. Czechoslovakia
was formed, Alsace-Lorraine was
given back to France, Poland was le-
made, a part of Schlesnnig-Holos-
stein was given back to Denmark;
an d these among the adjustment OF
boundary lines only
The League was established at
Geneva. Form 1924 to 1880 was the
time of it's greatest power. In those
years commissions on sanitation,
education, transportation, health, aid
to refugees were established as we'll
as negotiation successfully made
between warning countries. The
Dawes reparation plan was put
through. The Locarno treaty was
signed, and the naval treaty in Lon
don. Then came the Japanese inva-
sion of Manchuria, Italian invasion
of Ethiopia, civil war in Spain, chaos
in the Far East-Whither World?
What are charts and driftings show
ing? This skeleton of world achieve
ments holds within itself, less heed
ed than it's spectacular steps, adrift,
a stronger and stronger current to-
wardsdesire for adjustment of diff
culties as they rose between nations
and the growing organizations work
ing to this end. by intervisitations,
peace camps-this is the hopeful
movement growing stronger. The
visions of Isaiah and Micah or
swords being beaten into pillow shares
and of every man sitting under his
own vine and fig tree still stand, as
does that of Tennyson who looking
far into the future saw the flags OF
nations furled around the hall OF
the parliament of the world. To us
is the hope that this is not too far
into the future.