The reconstruction of South-Eastern Europe

SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE

united in one national State, will number about 14,000,000. They can be no danger to any neighbour, but can be a mighty wall against any State or coalition of States which should wish to upset the established balance in the Mediterranean and to use the Adriatic as a basis for a policy of domination and conquest. The intensity of their national feeling and the uncompromising desire for independence, together with the fighting qualities of the Southern Slavs, are the best guarantee for the freedom and independence of their neighbours, as the Southern Slavs, jealous of their own liberty, will be the first to fight any new attempt at a conquest of the Balkans, no matter from what quarter.

But there is a very grave question before Great Britain. To whom shall the islands of the Dalmatian Archipelago in the Adriatic belong? Poor, without any world industry and commerce, the Southern Slavs will have neither the means nor the ambition to build a strong navy. The Dalmatian Archipelago in the hands of the Southern Slavs State would be the best guarantee for Great Britain that these islands and channels will never be used against British sea power, as may easily be the case in the hands of a commercial and more powerful nation. In the present war Great Britain has suffered enough from lack of foresight and for her readiness to serve the interests of other nations. A little more businesslike policy and sound egotism would be useful to

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