The reconstruction of South-Eastern Europe

THE RECONSTRUCTION OF

expect that the other will do the same, and that the principle “‘ Balkan to the Balkan nation ” will be upheld with respect to Albania.

What are the aspirations of the Southern Slavs with respect to Bulgaria we have said in another chapter. But the aspirations of the Southern Slavs rightly go beyond the Southern Serbian frontier. The existing Serbo-Greek frontier, was drawn in 1913 and confirmed by the Treaty of Bucharest. But every one felt that this treaty settled nothing and was from the very outset considered as a makeshift and a temporary solution. Large numbers of Southern Slavs remained outside the Serbian Southern frontier, and were incorporated with Greece in 1913. Some rectification of the frontier appears here necessary. The development of the future Southern Slay State is not to be thought of without a free access to the Aigean. Salonica by its mixed population of Greeks, Turks, Jews and Slavs belongs to none of them ethnographically. But geographically and economically Salonica belongs to Serbia. The valleys of the Morava and the Vardar constitute a geographical and economic unit extending naturally to the Gulf of Salonica. The main commercial artery which unites West and East, passing by way of Ljubljana (Laibach)-Zagreb, Belgrade, Nish and Skoplje finds a natural outlet in Salonica. The prosperity of Salonica depends entirely upon the development of the future Southern Slav State. Greece has no need of it, she already has too much

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