NEW EUROPE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 June 1940, Page 9

NEW EUROPE

RUSSIA COMES TO WINDOW BOGEY OF STATESMEN. INTENTIONS WHEN PEACE COMES. Russia has made it crystal clear that she intends to count, and to count a great deal, in the New Europe which will develop with peace. Already men are discussing tiie new balance of power, and Italy is endeavouring to bring together the Balkan States lest Russia should again attempt to force her way to the shores of the Mediterranean. The Soviet, it may be said, is once more becoming the bogey of European statesmen, and we must believe that Hitler's sleep is disturbed every night by the thought of this great empire pressing on his east-’ ern flank. As Mr Churchill said in his famous broadcast, the bear has one paw on the Baltic and the other on the shores of the Black Sea.' HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. History, after all, is repeating itself, and Russia, having renewed her martial strength and realised that the force of arms rather than of ideas is ruling for a time, is treading the paths she laid down for herself when she emerged from her barbaric beginnings at Novgorol on the Volga. What Russians then sought was a window into Europe, and as she expanded she wanted far more than a window; she wanted gateways for trade from the western world. "Ports I want, not land.” was the cry of the most famous of her Tsars. Peter the Great, by whose iron will St Petersburg was raised as the capital, above the marshes of the Neva. Already 1 ’ in the 16th century the rapidly expanding State had reached the Arctic coast, and trade with England had begun through Archangel in the White Sea. It was the- ice-free ports of the Baltic, however, that Peter coveted, and before he died he won from the Swedes the Baltic provinces of Estonia and Livonia, and part of Finland. He failed, however, in winning from the Turks access to the Black Sea. A BARRED GATEWAY. Fifty years after Peter's . death one of the most powerful women who ever sat on a throne. Catherine the Great, waged successful wars against Turkey. Sweden and Poland, and established Russia firmly in the Crimea and on the northern shores of the Black Sea. as well as absorbing Lithuania. Catherine’s grandson Alexander lived through the turmoil caused by Napoleon’s marches through Europe, and won for his country all Finland's Baltic coast and the rich province of Bessarabia, which looks out on the Black Sea between the mouths of Dniester and the Danube. He also won from Turkey a province in the farthest east of the Black Sea.

So, when peace had come to Europe after the struggle with Napoleon, and industrial progress was expanding by leaps and bounds across the world, Russia had many windows and gateways toward the west and could pour her rich produce through them for the general good. But there was an obstacle in the Black Sea, and this was its gateway of the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles, which Turkey held in full strength. The Great Powers in Europe were glad this obstacle existed, for they feared the growing power of an empire with such resources as Russia. Austria especially was hoping to benefit from the weakening power of the Turk in South-East Europe and wished to establish herself on the Mediterranean.

Russia proclaimed herself champion of the Christian subjects of the Turks, and the Czar suggested to Britain that they should divide between themselves the possessions of the Sick Man of Europe as he called the'fSultan. There were long negotiations, and Russia began by invading Moldavia and Wallachia. whereupon Britain decided that Turkev rather than ambitious Russia should be supported, and the Crimean War was lotight. The only thing it is famous for is the charge of the Light Brigade and the triumphant work of Florence Nightingale. But the war had one good result, for it ended in a treaty which opened the Straits and the Danube to international commerce and forbade the Black Sea to any warships. This happy state of affairs lasted for 15 years. Russia using the period to free her serfs and improve conditions at home. At the same time she continued to develop her power in Asia, and this caused anxiety in Britain, fearing for India. THE CONGRESS OF BERLIN. During the Franco-German War

Russia successfully claimed the right of having a fleet in the Black Sea, and a few years later she was again fighting the Turks because they were being cruel to the Balkan Christians. Russia actually reached the gates of Constantinople, to the consternation o± other European Powers, who assembled at the Congress of Berlin, from which Disraeli brought back to London what he called Peace with Honour, and Russia won only a few small territoi - ies instead of Constantinople. It was for no love for Turkey that Britain acted as she did. but. because it has always been her policy to prevent any single power becoming master of Europe. Russia remained a British bogey until the end of the 19th century, when Germany began to show signs of dominating Europe. RUSSIA'S OLD ENEMY. The collapse of Russia in the Great War. her revolution, and the distrust felt by other nations for the Bolshevik form of government led the victorious Allies to support the claims of the Balkan States for freedom. As to the Dardanelles, they were made free to ■lll, and it was not until Turkey was allowed to fortify them, three years ago. that Russia felt herself restricted Many stones are being thrown at Russia now. and Russia is throwing many, but it should be remembered that she was one of the strongest advocates of peace until Hiller decided on war. and, war being again the arbiter of events, she has thought it wisdom to secure the Baltic flank against the most dangerous Power in Europe, Russian’s old enemy—Germany.