The reconstruction of South-Eastern Europe

THE RECONSTRUCTION OF

She is well aware that the Slav grievances are a mighty weapon of her policy. She does not appear ready to divest herself of that armour. Perhaps it is with her the instinctive fear of an often disillusioned race that her sacrifices will not receive the legitimate reward, and obtain for her the position she is entitled to. But Great Britain, in promoting the complete unity and freedom of the Southern Slavs, would cure Russia of the dangerous disease of distrust, help her definitely to take the path of liberty and peace, and the Russian nation would be all the happier for it.

The strategic and military advantages which Great Britain might acquire by such a policy are obvious. The Serbo-Croats, united in their ethnographical frontiers, would be strong enough to resist for a long time any power which should try to incorporate their country in a world empire, or to use the Adriatic ports as a basis for a policy of conquest. The position of Great Britain, which should and must remain the paramount naval power in the Mediterranean, can never be imperilled by the Southern Slav State, which possesses no navy and no means to build one in the future. But their ports would remain within the range of British guns, so that Great Britain can give to them most valuable assistance or exercise upon them most effective pressure, as the case may be. The position of Great Britain as a Mediterranean power with regard to the Southern

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