The sun., 1916-11-16
CZAR INSISTS ON
ARUSSIAN POLAND
Germany Charged With Great
ing Independent state for
Military Purposes.

rETRoGRAD, Nov. 15.-Russias inten-
ton to create n Poland which shall en-
brace all Polish territory and to main
tain II on the basis Of autonomy under
Russian sovereignty remains unaltered.
says an official announcement issued to-
day dcnouncing the Austro-German
proclamation of an independent Polish
state as an effort to swell the ranks of
the Teutonic armies. The statement
reads.
'The German and Austro- Hungarian
Governments. taking advantage OF the
temporary occupation by their armies OF
a portion of Russian territory. have pro-
claimed the separation OF Polish DIS
tricts from the Russian empire and their
constitution as an Independent State
The object OF our enemies evidently is To
obtain an addition to their armies. The
imperial Government regards this action
on the part OF Germany and Austria
Hungary as "a fresh, gross infringement
by our enemies of the fundamental prin-
ciples of international law which pro-
hibit the population in militarily occu-
pied territory being forced To raise
armies against its own country. The
imperial Government regards this action
as null and void.
Russia, since the beginning of the
war. has twice previously expressed her
views on the entire Polish question. Her
intention Is to create complete Poland.
embracing all Polish territories, which
will enjoy tire right. when the war Is
ended. of freely regulating their ma
ttonal, iptellcctual and economic life on
the basis OF autonomy under the SOW
ereignty OF Russia and maintaining the
principle OF united state. This de-
| cision by his gracious Majesty remains
unshakable."
The diplomatic representatives of
Russia have been instructed to hand to
the Governments to which they are ac-
credited the following protest against
the Austro-Gernan proclamation sstab-
fishing the Polish kingdom
"In defiance OF the laws OF nations
| the German and Austro-Hungaran mill
tary authorities at Warsaw and at
Lublin have proclaimed the Russian
provinces of Poland henceforth to form
| "a separate State.
THE imperial Russian Government
protests against this act as "A fresh vio-
lation OF an international convention
solemnlv sworn to by Austria-Hunsary
and Germany and declares It null and
void. II resffirms that the provinces OF
the kingdom of Poland have not ceased
To form an integral part of the Russian
| empire, and that their innabitantS VIII
be bound by The oath OF fidelity which
they took to the Emperor. my august
master
At the opening session Of the Duma
NJ Garusseviz. leader OF the Polish par
| liamentary party. delivered the reply %
the Russian Poles to Germany's procla
| nation.
In the very midst of the war n
said. "thc Germanic Powers have ha,
the audacity 10 anticipate the destiny no
only Of Poland but OF all central Europe
The Polish kingdom founded by the Ger
mans will depend in many respects o'
the Germanic Powers. and will certainl
become "A weapon of German imperial
ism.
| THE German action evidently IL in
tended TO create conflict between Polan
and Russia and her allies and to just!f
in the eyes OF the world her revoltin
method OF recruiting. We are sure tn
Polish people will not lie abandoned /
this tragic plight and that Russia an
her allies will declare To- the world tina
the Polish question will be solved In II
entirety"
The semi official Russian news agenc
has issued denial OF rumors in cir
culation to the effect that subsidies I
Polish refugees in Russia have bee
discontinued.