Evening star., 1945-12-23

IN the person OF Louis XVIII. There is
little likelihood OF a parallel decision
today In the case OF Germany, although
a few writers have from time to time
suggested the establishment of a con-
late Kaiser Wilhelm's grandsons on the
throne. 1t is probable, however, that
the political restoration of Germany will
require much longer than that of
France in 1916 partly because the coun-
try has ben divided into Russian and
Anglo American French zones where
widely differing political policies are be-
ing followed
The Congress of Vienna gave birth to
League of Nations tor a United Ma
tions Organization), too. although in
view of later history it may seem odd to
give that description to the Holy AL
lance of the Emperors of Russia and
Austria and the King of Prussia Yet,
In its inception by Car Alexander, the
alliance was designed for the same pur-
pose as the League or the UNO-that is,
to preserve peace and order and pro-
mote the application of Christian prin-
ciples to world affairs
That the Holy Alliance later became
an instrument of repression against all
democratic movements was not so much
the fault of Alexander, who conceived
it, as of Prince Metternich. the Austrian
Foreign Minister, who seized on it as
an instrument TO bulwark the power
of the European monarchies. Similar
allegations have been made against the
League of Nations which, until the rise
of Hitler, proved an effective instrument
for the maintenance of Anglo French
power in Europe.
Doubt Three-fOwer Rule.
Today some writer's foresee the posi-
bility that the UNO, unless its constitu-
ton is changed to give a more powerful
voice to the small nations, may prove
to be method of maintaining an
Anglo American Russian hegemony over
the entire world. In view of the pre-
ponderant military power of the three,
that seems theoretical possibility. But
their own rival interests make such a
development unlikely
At Vienna in 1915, all major decisions
were made by the Big -Four of that day
Russia, Prussia, Austria and Britain
while the smaller nations of Europe
were merely pawns to be shifted about
as these players chose. For example.
Belgium was annexed to Holland and
Norway to Sweden without either coun-
tn
wishes. AS noted earlier. Saxony, Po-
land, Finland and Rumania were cut
up or assigned to new rulers without so
much as "by your leave"
The treatment so far accorded to Po-
land, Finland, the Baltic states and the
Balkans as result of the present war
indicates that in this respect Russian
policy has not changed materially.
One detailed difference between the
territorial settlements reached at Vienna
and those likely today is that there will
be no reallocation of the foreign colo.
nies of European powers. That is because
Germany was Shorn of her overseas
possessions after the World War and
they already are in the possession OF
the victorious nations. In this respect
the 1915 settlement may find a more
striking parallel in the Far East, where
the former japanese colonies, acquired
by aggression, are to be stripped from
her
Philosophers have argued for CEN
turies as to whether history repeats
itself Perhaps it never does in precise
detail. But the similarity of the diplo-
matte and military situation in Europe
today and that which followed the fall
of Napoleon is sufficiently marked to
be highly arreSting.