Balkanized Europe

The defensive treaty between Czecho-Slovakia and Yugo-Slavia was renewed for three years. The treaty existing between Yugo-Slavia and Rumania is about to be prolonged. The two treaties constitute what is known as the Little Entente.

There is more than meets the eye in the prolongation of the Little Entente's life. The three countries between them command a standing army of more than half a million men. While the Greco-Turkish impasse at Lausanne lasts, Yugo-Slavia is keeping an army on the Greek frontier. If hostilities should commence, the other two members of the Little Entente might be dragged into another Balkan War. It is vain to point out that this is a result of the Balkanization of Central Europe.

There is another aspect to the case. The Little Entente has been growing more and more hostile to Great Britain and France, especially to France, whose interference in Poland and elsewhere has been much resented. The recent disruption of diplomatic negotiations designed to induce Poland to join the Little Entente, was considered the work of France. The growing independence of the three principal Central European states is viewed with no little misgiving by the " Big " Entente. France is particularly anxious. This anxiety is seen in the hectic way in which she has tried to appease the indifference of the Little Entente nations: the sending of Marshall Foch to Prague, an invitation to the King and Queen of Yugo-Slavia to visit France, the withdrawal of General Leronde from Bucharest to undertake a diplomatic mission to Belgrade. Great political significance is attached to this last move.