The Washington herald., 1917-02-26
WILSON'S FREEPOLAND'
LOOKED UPON AS DREAM
Only Hope for Stiaed Nation Lies in
Cars Getting Constantinople.
ny JOHN L. BALDERsrON.
Copyright. lsl7, by the Mcclure Newspaper
SVndieakal

terms" laid down by President Wilson In
his speech to the Senate this phrase has
attracted more attention among serious
students of political affairs than any
other. 1t Is clear and definite and can
hardly be taken to mean less than that
the President demands. as a condition to
Americas guaranteeing the settlement,
new independent state comprising not
only Russian, but also Austrian and Ger
man Poland.
There Is probably no supporter Of
democracy in Europe who will not re-
joice IL this aspiration Is achieved. but
diplomats would thank the President to
no man In London who will say that he
links a really independent and united
Poland probable.
Al present Austrian and Prussian Po-
land. the former comprising most Of
Galicia and the old Polish capital of Cra-
COW, the latter Silesia and Posen, are in
the hands Of Austria and Germany. The
remainder OF Poland in international law
Is Russian territory, but is occupied by
Austro-German troops, and the central
powers have proclaimed its ''independ-
ence'' without settling the boundaries to
the new state.
Frankly Explain Reasons.
Germany and Austria have frankly ex-
plained the reasons for this move. What
ever they say in their coming peace
note. they desire during me war a Polish
army to fight for them: they expect q
vassal state after the war, with q meas
ure Of home rule but In foreign affairs
as much under their thumb as Bavaria
Is under the control Of Prussia. Neither
Germany nor Austria has the slightest
intention Of giving up to the new state
any Of the parts OF the old Poland
within their boundaries. II Is admittedly
possible that Austria might be coercec
into giving up Galicia, but II the peace
without victory" which the President de-
sired Is achieved 1t Is absolutely certain
that Germany will not cede Posen to
really independent and autonomous
foreign country.
On the other side Of the central powers.
the only support for the ideal solution
Of the problem comes from the minority
parties in Hungary. Both Count
Andrassy and Count Apponyi, the lead
ers Of the two parties in opposition TO
Count Tisza's government. have declared
that they favor "a united. independent
and autonomous Poland They foresee
a great future for an independent
Hungary in central Europe by weaken
ing Russia, Austria and Germany and
setting I'D a new buffer state between
Hungary and Russia.
But the reasons for this program OF
the Hungarian independence faction nave
only to be stated to make clear the ap-
parently insuperable obstacles: Austrla'
which controls sAustro-Hungarian foreign
affairs, opposes an independent Hungary
and does not want to weaken hersei,
proportionateiy to Hungary. whose grow
ing characterization Is watched anxiousiy
In Vienna Germany, which controis
Vienna, is still less likely to give up one
of her most valuable industrial districts
10 nlease Hungarians. And. finally. there
"a Russia. who must sacrince most IL
Poland is to be independent, and VINO Is
the enemy Of all three Of the otner
political organizations In the prooiem'
Belongs to Russia.
Russian Poland. after all, oeionss 70
Russia. II is said here, as mucn as tno
invaded provinces of France oeiohs "
France and there Is no warrant lot SUP
posing that Russia IL prepared 10 sSe
up ali control over her most VaiuaDle
manufacturing regions. Al the peslh-
nina ~ the war the Grand Duke Nicho-
Ia. In a proclamation promised to re-
unite the polish race by conquerins Gan
cIa and Posen, and in rather vague terms
promised autonomy to the new Foiano
under the Russian sceptre. ana Stlet
President Wilson's peace note the Gar
in a proclamation to the army announced
his intention to free" Poland and unite
the three divided parts. In the aineo re-
ply to President Wilson, the only men
tion Of Poland was reference 70 tns
proclamation OF the Car.
Every diplomat in Europe. and 1t Is
supposed here in America also. knows
that Russia has never had the slightest
intention of relinquishing sovereignty
over Poland. The whole question, from
the beginning of the war, in Russia has
been how much autonomy could sarey
be granted to the Poles, and the Duma
and the Liberal element In Petrosrad
have tried to obtain definite assurances
on this point from the government with
out success.
The problem was summed UP for me
bv an exiled Pole in these words: The
President says peace without victory Is
desirable. He also says Poland must be
united, independent and autonomous. II
Russia wins, she will take Galicia and
Posen and Poland will be united and
possibly autonomous, as has been prom
ised, but certainly not independent. II
Germany wins, Poland may be nominally
independent. though really German vas,
sal, but she certainly will not be united
even in name.
Little Hope for Free Poland.
IF the war 10 q draw, as the President
desires, presumably Russian Poland will
be restored and Austrian and Prussian
Poland remain under their present mas
tiers. So the Presidents Polish program
cannot be realized by a peace without
victory What the President said Is alb
solutely inexplicable excepting on the as
sumption that he had not really thought
the problem out when he spoke"
There appears, then, no hope for q free
Poland under Austro-German control, in
the opinion of those best qualified here
to Judge of the problem. but It IL regarded
as possible that the crime committed in
the eighteenth century when Poland was
partitioned might be rectihed IL some
great concession were made to Russia
elsewhere. The only prize big enough to
tempt the Gar would be Constantinople.
But here also peace without victory
would rob Poland Of any hope, for Con-
stantinople and the Straits in Russian
hands would end Germany's dream Of
eastern empire, and will never be granted
by Germany unless she is beaten.
When, therefore, President Wilson
spoke OF "a direct outlet to the great
highways OF the sea- for every great
people" It is supposed he had in mind the