Beptember 25, 1915. LAND AND W.ATER. 
yive that condition unchanged. For that matter, solely from the point of view of their sti-ict corn- 
it is very improbable that when the war is over pliance with the code of law framed when the 
the views that America will put forward will be conditions of warfare were very diiTerent from 
identical with those she may feel bound to urge what they are to-day. But it is no less certain 
while still a neutral, with her traders clamouring that no single one of our acts at sea has been 
for release from the trammels our sea-power must morally indefensible. Each act has had for its 
impose. So long as the war goes on, and the object a purpose exactly similar to that which die- 
United States remain neutral, it is impossible for tated the action of the Federal Government in the 
the Washington Government to concede anything war against the South. The war in which we are 
to us in consideration of the fact that we are fight- engaged has, certainly so far as Great Britain is 
ing for the sake of ideals which are quite as much concerned, no less high an object. Indeed, as we 
American as British. But when the war is over have seen, the appeal to this country has been on 
things will be seen in their true perspective, and a higher ground even than self-preservation. Our 
then, perhaps, the sea-power of Great Britain and interference with neutral trade and with enemy 
the use we have made of it will not appear the trade arises solely from our resolve that civilisa- 
terrible thing that German diplomacy represents, tion shall be saved, and that the freedom of 
countries too weak to defend themselves shall be 
UNITY OF THE ALLIES. secured. It is an object which every American, 
And, finally, is it disrespectful to the Foreign except a small and disloyal minority, enthusiastic- 
Office to suggest that all our controversies with ally applauds. When victory has finally crowned 
America, either present or prospective, could be our arms there will be nothing in our sea record 
put on a plane far more advantageous to ourselves of which we need be ashamed or to which the 
if, both in acting at sea and in defending that great majority of Americans will be able to object, 
action diplomatically, we represented not our- And in the meantime, as spokesmen for our Allies, 
selves alone but were duly and properly consti- as well as for ourselves, we put a stronger case to 
tuted as agents and spokesmen of all the Allied Washington. If the Dacia controversy was 
Powers? We have already seen that the obliga- settled, as it was, by the critical action being 
tion of the Allies to the British Fleet is identical taken by France, is it not certain that the whole 
with our own. No single one of them is likely to question of sea-power in this war and after caB 
dispute our view of sea law. Many of our acts, be put upon a surer basis if the Allies act as onel 
no doubt, are open to question if they are viewed A. H. POLLEN. 
THE BALKAN PUZZLE. 
By Dr. E. J. Dillon. 
THE Balkan puzzle, which still continues to many replies have been offered but no adequate 
exercise and baffle the ingenuity of con- answer. It looks as though it can be solved only 
temporary diplom.acy, brings to mind by events. The Bulgarian Opposition assures the 
the fable of the lion and the mouse, world that their country will take its place by the 
Until the war broke out Balcania was a land upon side of the Powers to which it owes everything it 
whose destinies it would have been demed waste- has and is, once its just claims have been satisfied 
ful to spend strenuous effort or devote concen- by the revision of the Treaty of Bucharest. But 
trated thought. To-day it is well within the the Government has over and over again affirmed 
means of those petty States— nay, of a single one that Bulgaria will keep neutral until the end of 
of them — to rescue their mighty protectors from an the war. The Premier has unofficially told foreign 
awkward plight. Hence the tardy and somewhat journalists that he is waiting only for the union 
fitful exertions put forward by the Governments of the " unredeemed " Bulgarians now under the 
of the Entente Powers to restore to the Peninsula sway of Serbia, Gi-eece, and Roumania, and that 
conditions which would end their mutual jealousies once effected, his country will join the Allies, 
and revive the union of 1912. A twelvemonth ago And King Ferdinand acts significantly in a dif- 
it would have been a relatively easy matter to draw ferent sense, but says nothing. 
Bulgaria within the orbit of the Entente, if the Misgivings have arisen that the King's per- 
members of that international concern had but sistent silence and symptomatic acts connote an 
exerted themselves proportionately to their influ- intention diametrically opposite to that which the 
ence and congruously with the hugeness of the Government and the Opposition announce as 
interests potentially involved. But it is worse desirable and, under the conditions mentioned, 
than useless to cry over spilt milk. certain. A kindred view held by the initiated on 
grounds which it is inadvisable to discuss here is 
BULGARIA'S POSITION that Bulgaria is and has been tied to the Central 
To-day Bulgaria holds the key of the Balkan Empires by obligations contracted a considerable 
situation and of much else. Indeed, for purposes time ago, but that their force is not considered by 
of the reconstitution of the League she is the the Sofia Cabinet binding enough to stand in the 
Balkan Peninsula. For on the decision which way of an understanding with the Allies, if that 
will be taken in Sofia depend very largely the happened to be to the interests of the country. 
action or the quiescence of Greece and Roumania, Whatever may be thought of these conjectures, the 
and also the progress of the Eastern campaign in Entente Governments have to act on the assump- 
80 far as it can be influenced by tliose States. And tion that Bulgaria is free to strike up an alliance 
Bulgaria's decision — on what does it depend? That, with either group of belligerents as she may deem 
to my mind, is the really crucial question, to which fit. Bulgaria's demands turn upon territory in- 
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