Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-11-19
BY CHARLES M. PEPPER.
~

~ ERMANY and Austria have
n placed Poland on the map of
" 81 Europe. Russia and the en-
tente allies refuse to see it.
Disinterested observers may be inclined
to regard it as a paper kingdom.
Yet. the outcome of the great war
there is certain to be a new Poland
The question is how far it will be
genuinely independent country. Be
fore the alliance with Russia. British
public opinion. in a sentimental way.
might have favored a real Polish ma
ton. independent in every respect
British public opinion now, however. is
not matter of sentiment. but of calcu-
lation to material and political ad-
yvantages and also of obligation to an
ally who has withstood all the over
lures from the central powers for
separate peace.
The manifesto issued at Warsaw in
the name Of his majesty. the German
emperor. and his majesty, the Emperor
of Austria and apostolic King of Hun
gary" was generous enough In its
terms. 1t purported to create new
kingdom with a hereditary monarchy
and n constitutional government. This
was in terms the proclamation of an
independent state.
Berlin dispatches declared that Ger
many and Austria Hungary by joint
action re-established the right of the
Polish nation to control its own des-
tiny, to live an independent national
life and to govern itself by chosen rep
resentatives of the nation. This has
been the aspiration of Poles at home
and of Poles who have sought homes
in the United States and in other parts
of the world.
1t is a practical question, neverthe-
less, how far the aspirations are to be
realized. and in what manner. The
military and political situation un-
doubtedly has been the uppermost con-
sidefation with Germany and Hungary
The creation of an army Is to be the
first step. and it is assumed. of course.
that this Polish army will fight against
Russia.
No account seems to have been taken
of the Industrial army which comprises
the bulk of the Polish population and
the relation Of industry and trade to
the establishment of the new kingdom
really Independent state which de-
termines it's own destiny must have
complete control of it's own foreign at
fairs. including trade and tariff rela-
tons
If the ancient Poland is to be re-
stored as nation some interesting
problems are presented. 1t must be en-
tirely free to make commercial treaties
and to regulate trade Intercourse.
buffer state, such as Germany seems to
contemplate, might be able to do this
Just as Belgium previous to the war did,
and as Switzerland always has done.
Yet in the case of the proposed king
dom of Poland there would be the
question of which group OF powers
really dominated at Warsaw and thus
shaped the fiscal policy Of the country.
Should the new kingdom stand, the cen
trail powers would expect to be the
dominating influence and to arrange
trade intercourse on their own terms.
The actual subtraction of Poland
from Russia. If ever 1t should take
place. would mean a serious economic
loss to the great empire. both In rev.
enues and resources. Poland has re-
sources which are the basis of many
industries. in addition to furnishing ing
1900. 900 inhabitants Of the territory.
There are 100000 acres Of forest land.
There is flax and wool and hides for
textile and leather Industries. BESIDES
the other agricultural products there
are enormous quantities Of potatoes,
which once were used in making vodka.
An Independent state Of Poland. hay
ing experienced the oenent OF .ne
return to the old brutalizing practice
of turning the potatoes into bad liquor.
Poland has some zinc and copper.
but these are not very important. In
dustrial Poland was largely the crea-
ton Of de Witte, who. under the abso-
lutist government. carried out his pol
icy of establishing an Industrial Rus
s;. h., ,,oLfne a beginning in Poland
The cotton and wooden mills Of War
saw are the outcome Of his vision. So
are the leather and chemical industries
n4 I ~. ,xzall tina feXfila Dnilla