The reconstruction of South-Eastern Europe

THE RECONSTRUCTION OF

British, French, or American capital be forthcoming for the Serbo-Croatian ports when their wharves and docks would be at the mercy of Italian guns, and when all ships to reach them must pass through narrow Italian channels?

The Serbo-Croatian patriots will appeal to Russia and the Slavonic world at large against Italian injustice. There will be at least one portion of the nation ready to listen to their grievances. It is of no small concern to Italy and to Europe which road the future Russian policy will take—that of Western Democracy or of the German Imperialism. Will she develop like a sincere, broad-minded, peaceful, and tolerant democracy, or be eaten by the canKerous desires of world-dominion? Much of that will depend on the issues and solution of the many problems which have arisen in connection with the present war. Chiefly it will depend upon the spirit by which the Europe of to-morrow will be animated. Will it be the spirit taught by Junkers and State philosophers of the last fifty years in Germany? Or will it be the spirit preached by Kant, Mazzini, Ruskin, and Pope Leo XIII?

In vain Italians would say to-morrow that Russia has consented to their occupation of those Slav lands. Russia has also consented to the Austrian occupation of Bosnia and Hercegovina; nevertheless she was on the brink of war in 1908-9, owing to the annexation of

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