New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-20
A Free Poland.

A Free Poland.
Such a state might for some years re-
main Russian protectorate, but it is
pretty clear that at some time 1t would
assert its own independence and it might
then find support from Germany and from
Austria Hungary. because it would become
a real buffer state and a true bulwark
against the Russians. Conceivably it
might seek an alliance with the Czechs Of
Bohemia, and two Slav states, independent
OF Russian influence, but freed from Ger
man tyranny, whether Hohenzollern or
Hapsburg, might occupy Central Europe.
But free Bohemia, like free Poland,
would mean the submerging of some mill
lions Of Germans in Sav region, n
which they are maintained by the political
supremacy of their race in the country
as a whole. The problem of the Sla -
west Of the Carpathians would also be
raised But it is unnecessary to extend
the discussion of the other Slav questions
here.
What it is essential to note is that the
fate of the Poles is now hardly to be
settled by this war without a very ma
terial change in their estate. 1t is wholly
inconceivable that Poland, after the war,
will be the same thing it was before; that
the three fragments, separated by the
three Partition Treaties and by the super
vening agreement in the Congress OF
Vienna, will still be separated by artificial
frontier and by three separate allegiances.
If Germany wins, if the Germans are
able 10 have their way in the East, while
consenting 70 restoration of the ante
bellum conditions in the West, as they
seem willing to do now, then Austrian and
Russian Polish populations are likely to
be united into a state under German con-
troll To this may be added some small
districts now Prussiap which have a ma
jority of their population Polish. But
there can be no actual restoration of Po-
land under German direction, because this
would entail an actual destruction of Prus-
sian unity and undo the work Of Fred
erick the Great.
But if the Allies win and Russia has
her way in the East-a way that will
not be opposed by any of her allies-then
- Ill h
under Russian protection, and there will
S DC added 10 Russian Poland the Galician
. districts west of the San and the Prussian
: provinces of Posen, East and West Prus-
} STA and a portion OF the Province of
; Silesia. Some 6,500,000 people, consider
ably more than half Savs, Will be taken
from Prussia and added to the new Po-
land, which will remain a Russian pro-
tectorate for the first few years st least.
But either way the Poles stand to make
some progress toward a national reinte-
, gr alton A Russian victory would, from
their point of view, conceivably give them
f the greatest profit. But it should be recog-
nized that it is the Austrians who have
: treated the Poles with the greatest con-
y sideration. Under the Prussians and he
Russians the Polish suferings have been
I about the same, but the Hapsburgs have
e no more loyal subjects than the Poles Of
Galicia. These Poles have no desire to
exchange Austrian for German or Rus
sian rule. This makes one more complica-
ton. But if they are added, either to a
Prussan or "a Prussian Poland, they are
bound TO become the dominating force and
. 70 be the real architects of new Polish
edifce.
Terrible as have been the Polish suffer-
ings so far in the war, it is now incon-
ceivable that they should not profit by the
conflict The only thing that they have
actually TO fear is that the war may end
. in complete draw and the status quo
ante be restored in the East. This would
i but postpone the day Of settlement Of the
Polish question and leave Europe with one
of its gravest problems still to be disposed
OF. A German victory would be prefera-
! BILE TO this, but Russian victory, with the
e reconstruction of P-lish state including
, all the districts populated by Poles and
e some OF the German inhabited districts be-
{ tween the Baltic and the present region Of
5 Russian Poland, would perhaps be the solu-
a tion mos. "a no daSiraI Even THE mould
n be but a step toward the complete freeing
e of Poland but it would be l2ng step.