Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-21
POLAND INDEPENDENT AFTER WAR

and Prussia on their Polish subjects
has followed an ascending scale il was
the contrary in Austria. Austria ousted
by Prussia from the Germanic hege-
mony. went out almost unhurt by her
defeat, due to the moderation of the
terms imposed on the conqueror by
Napoleon Ill Austria found recon-
pense in Galicia, where she offered to
Poles an autonomy large and liberal
enough to live their proper life. The
Poles of Galicia. in return, kept Loyalty
their pact of peace with Austria dur
ing a half century. The war of 1914
came, and Poles in the German, Rus
sian and Austrian armies bravely per-
formed their duties which cruel des-
tiny had imposed. Notwithstanding,
one unique and fervent desire never
ceased to animate and dominate this
twenty millions of people under the
flags they serve-the desire to be free
and to show themselves worthy of
freedom.
The present war has tried roland
still more cruelty than Belgium and
Serbia, II possible. The ruin effected
in the latter countries is due to the
enemy. who has ruined and desolated
only the districts through which he
passed. Serbia was freed from inva-
sion during more than nine months.
while Poland has seen the German and
Russian armies advance and retire
over her territory without either of
ate the condition of the inhabitants.
who suffered as much from the Ger
mans as from the Russians.
The role of Poland since her origin
down to the last half of the eighteenth
century has been triple-role deter
mined both by her geographical situa-
ton and by the Polish spirit itself.
First. her role interdicted the ex-
tension of Prussia and of Germany-to
block the constant tendency to spread
toward the center of EsurOpe.
Second. to defend Europe against
Asiatic invasions from Turkey or from
Russia under Tartar or Mongol.
Third. to develop toward the north
and east, southern and western Euro
pean ideas-that is to say. the spirit
of Rome. then the spirit of liberal and
democratic ideas.
Toward the end of the eighteenth
century. overcharged with their inte-
rior difficulties. occi-
Axis of Policy dental nations per-
Changed. test the successive
partitions of Poland. Not only their
prestige was thus diminished: not only
an important nation disappeared from
the map of Europe, but one may say
was changed. The axis of European
equilibrium found itself displaced
toward the east and the north. Neither
England nor France continued to hold
control of the diplomatic elements of
the European situations 1t was in vain
that Napoleon endeavored to counter
balance that state of things, in vain
that England endeavored to interdict
all hegemony from whatever source.
@ -
Prussia and that of Russia increased
and necessitated a game of alliances
Infinitely more complex than any or
those which had produced the coali-
tions, the holy alliance of others.
To suppress Poland was to withdraw
the sentinel posted in eastern Europe
to prevent Asiatic attempts; it was to
render more acute and more delicate
the solution Of the question OF the
orient: it was to throw down the bar
rier between Europe and Asia: it was,
above all, to open the gates wide to the
Germanic influence.
Weakened in the occident by long
and bloody wars, the house of Austria
recovered to the detriment of Poland a
territorial Importance and prestige
susceptible of extending her ambitions
toward the Balkans. In whatever way
the future could be considered. it was
for France and England to annul at
one stroke all the efforts and all the
realizations effected by the statesmen
who had succeeded by the treaties OF
Utrecht and Westphalia, including
these dangers England and France. it
should be said. were confronted at the
partition of Poland. England by her
colonial wars, France by the revolu-
ton
In suppressing a state placed between
Prussia and Russia and Austria. it nee
essarily rendered the frictions more
acute between these three countries. all
ambitious and DESTROYS Of preponder-
ance. Poland had served since centu-
ries, according to the consecrated ex-
preston. I'd 'etat tampon," or buffer
state: her suppression did not give to
either of the three rival states more
logical frontiers; on the contrary. they
substituted for a real nation arbitrary
limits, veritable permanent temptations
for ambitious dynasties.
The grandeur of Prussia is due ex-
tensively to the ruin of Poland. Prus-
STA acquired an In
Austria Woe crease of territory, in
crease of population
economical and strategic. Austria re-
ceived no real profit by the Polish ac-
cession 1t deformed Austria's natural
frontier by the wall of the Carpathians,
but graver still Austria found herself
embarrassed by Poland's redoubt"lle
rivalry in the domain of agriculture.
Russia in aiding in the partition of
Poland gave herself definite place in
the concert of nations. Otherwise the
partition complicated Russia's interior
situation by the Introduction into the
bosom of the empire of an irreductible
foyer of liberal ideas: finally, in giving