THE LIQUIDATION OF AN EMPIRE

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 130, 4 June 1919, Page 6

THE LIQUIDATION OF AN EMPIRE

Reduced to less than an eighth of the population-strength of the former Hapsburg Empire, the new Austria, as defined by the Peace Treaty, has ceased to be a Power with a frontage on the Adriatic Sea, but is guaranteed access thereto. The nature of this guarantee, and the location of the sea-outlet, are matters undisclosed, for the sufficient reason (among others) that Italy's frontage,claims on the Adriatic, which profoundly afiect Jugo-Slavia as well as other landlocked States, are still a matter of negotiation. Jugo-Slavia,'- struggle for an outlet at Fiume is being followed keenly by Austria and by Czecho-Slovakia, and probably by Hungary too, for though these four States have access to the Danube or its tributaries, that fact does not reduce the importance for them of the Adriatic highway and its several ports. An important omission from the published summary of the Treaty is the inland boundaries of Jugo-Slavia, or, to use the more explicit name contained in the document, of the Serbo-Croat-Slovene State. It is,-however, intimated that tho latter will include Marburg and Raakersburg, which allocation will carry its boundaries, at Austria's expense, beyond tho Drave. Hungary also is bound to yield to the Serbo-Croat-Slovene State substantial territory north, of the Danube, but the published summary sheds no light as to the demarcation. Silence also surrounds the allocation of tho Austro-Hungarian debt and tho reparation bill. Russia's reparation claims against Austria-Hungary, like her similar claims against Germany, are expressly reserved by tho Allied Powers. When will Russia secure a Government willing to take up these claims, and at thr, *_me tim. t_ ».!it>ijl_nr Rum.'- S.bt to tho Allies?