The reconstruction of South-Eastern Europe

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THE RECONSTRUCTION OF

Great Britain in this case, if she thinks to retain her present position in the Mediterranean. Fortunately both a business-like policy and sound egotism are in perfect harmony with the moral principles so solemnly proclaimed by the Triple Entente Powers at the beginning of the war, viz. that the national rights of small nations will be at last fully recognised. The Dalmatian Islands ethnographically and commercially belong to the Southern Slays, and what would be the results of the Italian occupation of them we have already dealt with in a previous chapter: ‘“ The problem of the Adriatic ” from the point of view of Italian and Southern Slav relations. But it is the duty of British politicians to think well over what would be the consequences of such an occupation for the British naval position in the Mediterranean.

Humanity would be far more happy and progressive if the nations would keep alive the memory of the evils and miseries of which their history is full. It is the pious desire of every friend of humanity that the present war should be the last, and that the European nations should find out better means for settling their differences than by sword and fire. But let us have no illusions; however sweeping may be the changes of the political map of Europe, her nations cannot be cured at once of evil thoughts dictated by Fear and Hatred, inspired by ambitious desire for wealth and dominion under which they have suffered and worked until now. It would be

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