scribers there are to each paper in the same districts, and the third gives the increase in the number of subscribers in the 11 years from 1901 to 1912. The war created an unusual situation and the Danish press has been the victim of a great deal of chicanery, merciless censorship, and numerous confiscations. Taken together, the three maps give an idea of the extent and intensity of Danish feelings towards the South. In the rural districts of Northern Schleswig each copy of a paper is read by between 6.9 and 12.9 individuals, including immigrated Germans and persons of German sympathies speaking the Danish language who, not knowing German, read the Danish newspapers. In how many countries, even the most civilized, is this proportion attained? In the towns, whose inhabitants number many German officials, the corresponding figures are lower (between 7.9 and 25.9 [5.97]). Danish newspapers also penetrate into the districts of Central Schleswig adjoining Northern Schleswig. Further South, in the Angel region, and towards the town of Schleswig, Dannevirke and the Schleswig fjord (the Sli), where the Danish language disappeared many generations since, and in Friesland, where Danish has never been spoken, the Danish newspapers have no subscribers. The three maps show clearly what is the southernmost limit of the territory in which there is any possibility of restoring Danish nationality. In Schleswig, the Dane-Schleswig press had 12,678 subscribers in 1901 and 19,278 in 1912.

As it was almost entirely impossible to assemble for meetings and lectures at the inns and other public halls, the Danes built 52 clubhouses, their strongholds, which for the most part have been erected during the last few years, as shown by the annexed map. Four new houses were being built when the war broke out. Vast club-houses have, moreover, existed for many years at Haderslev and Flensburg, but none in other parts of Schleswig. The Schleswiger population itself subscribed one million Marks for the construction of these houses.

Map No.- shows the growing number of libraries during the last few years. Out of 170 libraries, those founded since 1909 are underlined. They have been founded by the "Association for the Preservation of the Danish Language in Northern Schleswig", and number approximately 100,000 volumes. Between 1890 and 1911 the said Association also distributed 255,000 books, maps and pictures.

When the Danish language was completely prohibited in the schools, the "School Association" was founded with the object of sending youths and girls without means to schools in Denmark after they had passed through the German schools. The parents teach them to read Danish, and in Denmark they learn to write it and to know the history and geography of their own country. It was from the parents of these young scholars that the Prussian Govern

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ment wished to take the right of guardianship; it recognised the danger to the germanisation of the younger generation of these studies in Denmark, since they stultified all the work of German teachers and were both superior in their methods of instruction and liked by the young people for the very reason that they were Danish. The pupils who left the Danish schools formed the armament of the rampart raised against Germanism.

These two great Associations and the "Association of Electors" numbered 26,000 members in 1914, that is to say, one out of every six inhabitants in Northern Schleswig, including the officials and the German population.

When danger directly menaced their own country, the Danes of Schleswig gave a final proof of their energy and self-sacrifice. A portion of the sum destined to rob the Poles of their land was placed at the disposal of the Prussian authorities in Schleswig. The Prussian Government purchased estates; the system of "Rentegüter" was established, under which land was purchased by a society corresponding to the "Hakatist" society in Prussian Poland. The Danes however faced the danger and (in their usual unostentatious way) founded a rival organisation, which in 1910 became a public institution, and took the form of an Agrarian Bank. They were not unsuccessful in the struggle. The Prussian Government then adopted the same line of action as in Poland. It took measures to prevent any estate purchased by a German from returning into Danish hands. The Schleswigers themselves founded in every parish a new Association, the members of which pledged themselves not to sell their land to Germans. When war broke out these parochial associations were banded together in one large Association with 402 confidential agents. Thus nearly the whole of Northern Schleswig was secured against Prussian designs upon the land.

Such was the defensive organisation of the Danes of Northern Schleswig at the outbreak of the war; taking effect in the economic sphere through their Banks, Savings Banks, Agricultural Associations and Co-operative Societies, founded on the Danish model; politically through the "Associations of Electors"; on the land, both politically and economically, through the Association for preventing the re-purchase of land and the Agrarian Bank; in the intellectual sphere through the Association for the Preservation of the Danish Language, the School Association and the club-houses and finally through the press.

After half a century's struggle against a powerful and unscrupulous Government, this small peasant population emerged with all the greater consciousness of nationality, well organised, and subject to its own self-imposed discipline, thanks to a will-power which affords

splendid proof of the vitality of the Danish race and its capacity for development.

Was the object of the efforts above described merely that of defence against German supremacy within German territory? No, the struggle was maintained by the Schleswigers in order to preserve their Danish nationality until the day when they should see a possibility of returning to their own country. Never during the 55 long years since the separation have they ceased to hope for the eventual triumph of justice. To-day the realisation of their hopes is assured through the victory of the Allied and Associated peoples, and the Peace Conference has summoned all oppressed peoples before its tribunal. The Danes of Schleswig confidently submit their righteous cause to its decision. They have experienced the tragic fate of shedding their blood on behalf of their oppressors, thirty thousandhaving been forced to fight by the side of those whom they felt to be their enemies and more than five thousand having fallen for a cause, the defeat of which they desired. All those who were able to do so fled to Denmark, but the majority shared the cruel fate of so many Poles, Czechs, Serbs, Croats, Italians and Roumanians, who were forced to bear arms against those whom they considered their friends. The noble peoples of France and England understood that the small isolated population of Schleswig was entitled to their sympathy, which they showed by granting Schleswig prisoners special treatment in separate camps. For this Denmark of the future, which will include Schleswig, will always owe them a debt of gratitude. The Association of Electors of Northern Schleswig has itself defined the boundaries of that country (Kortet)" which extends over an area of 3,994 square kilometres, and contains a population of 166,966. It includes the districts of Haderslev, Aabenraa, Sonderborg, half the district of Toender, and a small portion of the district of Flensborg. The rural districts North of this line are Danish, and most undoubtedly they desire re-union with Denmark (Kort)." In the towns of Haderslev, Aabenraa, Toender and Sonderborg, Danish is the language of the majority. According to Danish statistics Danish is the native tongue of three-quarters of the population (not including the officials) and is understood by everyone. According to German statistics, the Danish language predominates in the following towns: Haderslev, 5,679 as against 3,448, and Aabenraa, 3,489 as against 3,405. At Toender according to German Statistics, German speaking inhabitants number 2,953 as against 1,117 speaking Danish, but such statistics must be accepted with caution considering the manner in which they are compiled; at Toender the majority of the population speak Danish and all understand it. At Sonder"The maps referred to are not filled with the minutes.

borg, German is at present predominant owing to the fact that a Naval station has been established there, but this preponderance will disappear when the said station is abandoned.

At the elections of 1867, 27,488 Danish votes were recorded, of which some 23,000 were from North Schleswig. At the elections of August, 1867, Danish majorities were returned in all the towns (except Toender), all the boroughs (except Hoyer), and in all the rural constituencies.

In 1884 by reason of emigration and of inclination only 14,447 Danish votes were recorded, but from 1884 onwards a Danish reaction set in which has continued up to the present day. In 1912, 17,293 Danish votes were recorded, 16,500 of which were from Northern Schleswig, this being the most favourable election since 1877. The elections of 1912 resulted in a German majority in the four towns, some of the boroughs, and two or three rural constituencies, and a German majority is driving in a wedge between Toender and Flensborg. An analysis of the election results shows that the German majority is due to the German officials; if these are excluded, the votes are about equal; when the votes of Danish officials were included and those of persons now calling themselves German but who would assuredly welcome Danish rule, only a German minority would remain. Even at Toender where the richer citizens have always been Germans, a Danish nucleus has persisted, and there has never been so large a number of Danish voters at Toender as during the last few years. By way of recapitulation, it may be stated that German voters have never had a majority in rural constituencies. A really German majority among the owners of the soil only exists in the town of Toender, and the borough of Augustenborg (Als) the home of the family of the German ex-Empress.

The position of Northern Schleswig is so clear that there seems nothing to prevent the immediate institution of a plebiscite there. At least three-quarters of the voters may be relied on to declare in favour of returning to Denmark. The Danish population is becoming anxious and the Germans have recovered from their first despondency and are resuming their former arrogance of manner. Soldiers' Councils and officials annoy the population, requisitions impoverish the country, heavy war taxes threaten its prosperity at a time when the people of Schleswig consider that they are de facto separated from Germany. On the other hand, the Germans are already endeavouring to meet the loss of Schleswig by placing their capital there and by establishing commercial branches, in the hope of escaping to some extent from the financial ruin of Germany. We therefore earnestly commend to the Conference the desire of the Danes of Northern Schleswig to be allowed their plebiscite as soon as possible.

It might perhaps be said that Denmark could accept Northern Schleswig without a plebiscite, since there is no doubt of the Danish. sympathies of its population. But the Danes of Northern Schleswig are eager to give themselves freely to Denmark; they long for the day of that great manifestation of their nationality, of their triumph over the Germans who will then have no excuse for attempting annexation in the future.

Middle Schleswig includes those regions south of Northern Schleswig in which Danish is spoken, or partly spoken, or in which Danish sympathies still exist. These two standards exist separately or together. These districts differ from Northern Schleswig in that they were subjected to German influence much earlier and on a much larger scale. Danish sympathies are not so widespread. A display of them may lead to unpleasantness, and as German has been used for several centuries in churches and schools, Danish culture has not been able to penetrate. But while the Danish language is still known, or Danish sympathies still exist as a tradition dating from before 1864, it is possible for the population to become pro-] -Danish once more, even in a country where German is spoken. The Danish Government, as well as the Danes of Northern Schleswig, desire therefore that central Schleswig may be allowed to vote, if it expresses a desire to do so. This desire has been expressed in petitions signed by 4,277 persons. All the petitions have not yet come to hand. The resolution of Aabenraa, of 16th November states:

"It is evident that the districts adjoining central Schleswig be entitled, if they claim the right, to proclaim by separate vote if they desire to return to Denmark";

and, in a subsequent resolution of 30th December the Association of Electors of Northern Schleswig declared (inter alia) as follows:

1. "The German authorities in Central Schleswig are endeavouring to oppose liberty of assembly and of petition, and also to prevent the Danish population of those districts from establishing the conditions necessary for a free ballot; we protest energetically against this conduct.

2. "We affirm that these proceedings of the Germans render the right of self-determination a fallacy for the time being in Central Schleswig. 3. "We request the Danish Government, when it lays our interests before the Peace Conference, to call the attention of the Conference to the fact that, in these conditions, the Danish population of Central Schleswig cannot hope to obtain its national right by means of ballot."

Thus the conditions necessary for a plebiscite are already present in Northern, but not in Central, Schleswig. There are good reasons for holding the plebiscite immediately in Northern Schleswig, while