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Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1923, Page 2

Tun war was fought for the safety of nations, and as a result there was hope for many smaller nations. As u reviewer remarked a large portion of post-war Europe can he truly described as the cradle of many newly-born nations who, since the war, and the defeat of their lords and masters, have been granted the independence and freedom which was theirs in the bygone ages. Not the least interest of such Powers is Yugoslavia the land of the Southern Slavs —and history describes how tliis people, brothers and neighhours, tragically separated trom one another for so many centuries, made various efforts to unite. For about fifteen centuries, the greater number of Yugoslavs were unable to free themselves fiom their alien rulers, and it was not until the end of the war that the dreams of these people the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes—were realized. In discussing the hopes placed in the Little Entente—ail association in the first place between Yugoslavia and the kindred Czeehoslavkia, and altcrwards between thorn and Rnumania a writer states that the first impulse which moved the creators of the Entente 'vaunt constructive hut defensive, the three Slates recognizing that ii they tried to swallow more of the late Aus-tro-Hungarian monarchy they would suffer “from chronic' indigestion.” As to the future, “it is no exaggeration to say that there can ho no real peace in Central Europe until normal intercourse with Russia is re-established, hut lei it in the meantime he the task of the Little Entente to guard the temporary peace, from being shattered. Apart from this defensive object the countries of the Little Entente have the positive aim of a resumption of normal economic conditions and the institution of a new order of things in accordance with the new political construction of Central and Eastern Europe. Tt is obvious that these three States have Humorous interests in common. which make thoir co-operntion very natural, if not indeed indispensable.” How far the now situation being created by France in regard to the people of Europe will net. remains to be seen.