The sun., 1918-08-19
A Poland Founded on an Austro-
German Compromise.

A Poland Founded on an Austro-
German Compromise.
The Lokol AnzeI0cr Of Berlin re-
ports that Germany and Austria have
reached compromise upon the Polish
question by which Germany has
agreed to the selection Of an Austrian
Archduke as ruler Of the restored
Kingdom of Poland.
The Teutonic plan for the rebuild
ing of Poland into a State has been
almost from its inception a matter Of
dispute between the Central Powers.
1t was one Of the chief considerations
that led to the retirement Of Count
CzERNIN from the Austrian Premier
ship and to the attempts Of Berlin to
control the policy Of his successor.
CzEsNIN yielded to the German mas
terry in many dictations of policy, but
he insisted that an Austrian adjust
ment Of the Polish situation was
matter In which Austria should have
the lead.
Germany's plan for Poland was to
create a subservient vassal State, an
adjunct to East Prussia, province
with much the same privileges Of
nationality that existed in Posen or
other portions Of the Polish provinces
which fell to Prussia In the dismem-
berment Of the ancient kingdom. She
had attempted to cut of the Poles
from access to sea and to place such
restrictions on their boundaries that
they could exist as separate State
only through sufferance Of Prussia
To Austria this plan was intoler-
able for two reasons. In the first
place 1t fortified Germany on her
eastern border and increased her
power at Austria's expense. In the
next place Austria has a strong and
aggressive Polish party, a party which
has frequently during the war shown
its strength either by siding with or
opposing the Government. This party
has steadfastly opposed any compro-
mise which would give Germany a
predominance In control of Polish az
fairs. Its extremists favored the for
nation of a new Polsnd by the addi-
ton Of Galicia and other ancient Po-
lsh provinces which Germany used
in building up the present State Of
Ukraine. This would make the south
ern boundaries Of new Poland almost
the same as those Of the old kingdom.
1t would create a State that would
be less likely to fall prey to Prus-
sian aggression.
That Germany abandoned the plan
to which she had so tenaciously chung
is significant Of the need that she at
present feels Of Austrian assistance.
1t discloses, too, the reason that Aus
tria has made no effort at an often
sive on either the italian or Albanian
front since her failure on the Piave.
The help demanded from Austria,
according to the statements Of Hague
correspondents, was fifteen divisions
Of picked troops for service on the
French front. The opposition of the
Austrian people to a transfer Of their
troops to the front in France evil
IDENTIFY defeated the Kaiser's scheme
for obtaining requirements for his
army on the western front. The re-
newal Of an Italian offensive he, no
doubt, believes will result in a d.
version Of Allied forces. But from
the complete failure Of the previous
efforts Of the Austrians 1t Is doubt
full IL the situation will cause any
great uneaslness to the Allied COM
manders. The Italians have not only
shown a willingness, but at the same
time an ability, to hold their line in
tact. And 1t yet remains a question
If the Polish people will not insist
upon choosing their own ruler and II
they will not refuse to accept Haps-
burg forced upon them by an Austro-
German compromise.