ing gained. But, of course, when it is an
affair between Allies one scarcely likes to behave in that stubborn and
unyielding manner which is apparently the right--at all events, the
successful--conduct for a whilom foe. If the Yugoslavs, in simply
accepting the judgment of their Allies, acted against their own ultimate
advantage, they can, at any rate, believe that their complaisance, their
extraordinary lack of chauvinism, will be recognized. It is true that
when, on former occasions, such as during the prolonged d'Annunzio farce
at Rieka, they displayed a similar and wonderful forbearance, they did
not manage to free themselves from this foolish charge. There happen to
be a good many people abroad who insist that the new States are, every
one of them, chauvinist; they think it is the natural thing for a young
country to be, and especially if part of it lies in the Balkans. But if
Yugoslavia repeatedly acts in the most correct fashion the day may come
when she will be able to put a lasting polish on to the reputation which
her Allies have tarnished.

15. THE PROSPECT

We may look forward to seeing the majority of this frontier population
resolved that the links between themselves and the Yugoslavs shall not
be broken. Very little will they care for the edicts of European
Ambassadors. It would not have been surprising to hear that on the
withdrawal of the Yugoslavs to the prescribed frontier their resourceful
friends beyond it had procured from Serbia a few volunteers to take the
place of the official Serbs. And failing this, that rough-and-ready
people might simply declare themselves to be in Yugoslavia. This time
they will be unable to persuade the Yugoslav Government to move its
excise posts more to the west. But if these tenacious men have made up
their minds to join their brethren on the right bank of the Drin and
enter Yugoslavia, the Ambassadors' Conference would preserve more of
their dignity in accepting with a good grace that which they are
powerless to hinder.... The minority of the border population will go
raiding in Yugoslavia. If they had been consulted they would have drawn
the frontier very much as it is. With large areas lying at their mercy
they will keep the border villages in constant dread. And that is the
other reason which should induce the Ambassadors' Conference to cancel
their unwise decision.

It is better when the politicians do not come with advice to the
battlefield; and in those prim