The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-05-29
European Postwar
Map Of Europe Sets
Up 9 Strong Nations
Proposal By DR.. George T. Renner Professor Of GeOg
raphy Of Columbia, Would Bring Balance Along
Cultural Lines

New York, May ga new post
": map Of Europe drawn along
geo-political lines was proposed to-
day by DR.. George T. Renner, pro-
lessor Of geography at Columbia
University and geographic consul
tant Of the United States Natural
Resources Commission, in an article
In Golfers Weekly In which he
warned that whether the democra-
cies Twin the peace" will depend
largely on what kind Of new map
they are prepared to enforce.
DR.. Renner describes in detail,
and illustrates with colored maps,
how he would divide Europe into
nine strong nations without dis
r.ption Of cultural lines, achieving
stability where political union Is
impossible. These nine countries
would replace the 40 political units
set up by the Treaty Of Versailles.
~ Europe consisting Of nipe
strong nations would constitute It's
own frame work for achieving sta
bility," he writes. 1.-THE first Of
these would be the FennoScandic
Union consisting Of Iceland, Nor
way, Denmark, Sweden, Finland
and Esthonia. All of these are
culturally similar and have at times
enjoyed union with one another.
"A second bloc, West Slavic or
Czechco-Polska state, is already be-
ing planned by the Czech and Po-
lish governments-in-ex If this
be expanded to include Lithuania,
with which Poland has been associ-
ated in the past, fairly compact
state with ocean frontage would re-
suit.
I'm the southeast, the thoroughly
chastened Balkan states are now
more nearly ripe for federal UNI
ion than ever before in history.
Such a state would unite the South
Slavs, the partially Latinized Slavs
of Rumania, the Albanians and the
Greeks. Some trouble may be ex-
pected from the Bulgars but even
they can be expected to fall In line.
"Italy should be given Dalmatia,
Tunis, Corsica and Greece, so that
she would be secure from attack
within the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian
seas. A strengthened French Repub-
lie should include all Frenchc speak
ing peoples Of Europe. An 1berian
union should be set up on republican
principles. Russia should be compen-
stated for losses Of territory to Fin
land by an outlet to the Gulf Of
Riga and to the Dardanelles in the
south. Germany should include all
the German speaking peoples OF
Europe, and Its perennial ally Hun
gary should be attached to 1t. Hun
gary, however, should be accorded
full cultural autonomy
Finally, q new Dutch-Flemish
state should be invited to full Do
minion status in the British Com
monwealth Of Nations. This would
accomplish two ends: It would pro-
tect England's continentalu flank
and would save Holland from Ger
man aggression. It Is not at all in
compatible with facts either. For
more than a century England has
protected Hollands vast colonial
holdings. Politically, religiously, ra-
cially and commercially the Dutch
are closer to the British than any
other European nation.
"A Europe Of this kind would
thwart no one, not even the Ger
mans. 1t cuts across no major cul-
tural lines. It would be long step
geographically toward peace on the
worlds bloodiest continent. 1t would
be doubly successful If 1t were pre-
coded by a redrawing Of provincial
or state boundaries and transfer Of
minority populations"
DR.. Renner also presents new
peace" maps Of Africa and Asia and
Of the Pacific, drawn in the same
balanced fashion. The only chang
es he suggests In the Western Hem
isphere involve elimination of Eu-
ropean colonies.