The reconstruction of South-Eastern Europe

THE RECONSTRUCTION OF

of each one of these national independent States would more than balance such an increase of Germany. But the greatest loss for Germany will consist in her losing the command of 35,000,000 Slavs and Latins, who are fighting her battles to-day.

Peace in Central Europe can be secured in two different ways: by German conquest—and it would be a peace of graveyards—or by setting free the trodden-down nationalities in Austria and uniting them with their kinsmen in Italy, Serbia and Roumania. Such a peace would be the peace of progress and liberty. The Allies have pledged their word to obtain such a peace, and have given solemn assurances that the rights of the smaller nations shall be recognised. But such a peace cannot be achieved without the complete dismemberment of Austria-Hungary. By it Great Britain would not only redeem her word and do Justice to her Allies, Italy, Serbia, and Roumania, but would do justice to her own interests, as the creation of free independent national States will form a strong living wall against any scheme for conquest and dominion.

Now every citizen in the Allied countries expects that Bohemia will be resuscitated, that Italy will achieve her national unity, that the Hungarian provinces inhabited by the Roumanlans will be incorporated with Roumania, but few are acquainted with the position, which the Southern Slavs occupy in the Danubian Monarchy.

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