Evening star., 1919-04-26
BY FRANK H. sIMoNDs.

PARIS, April 23.-As we approach
the end Of the Paris conference it
becomes more and more unmistakable
that the crowning tragedy of the con-
gress Of Vienna is to be repeated. A
century ago the conquerors Of Napo-
leon perpetrated crime against Po-
land which was contained in several
partitions begun by Frederick the
Great in the interests Of Prussia. To-
day under the direct fmpulsion Of
Lloyd George, Poland ts again to be
saeriHc6d, hAs been sSacriAce4+ 90 sfar
as the present draft Of the treaty ct
peace is concerned. :.
Erena the very outset Of the war II
has been the conception OF all sthose
who knew eastern Europe we'll that the
erection of q strong Poland WAS not
merely necessary as an act OF Justice,
of people, but also thAt it was the first
step in restoring conditions created by
the downfall Of Russia, by erecting
barrier both against German expansion
into Russia and bolshevist progress
from Russia into central Europe.
Necessities as to Poland.
To create such a Poland it was plain
that it would not be suficient TO join
tho Polish territories Of Russia and
of Austria. 1t was clear that even
an act Of Justice which would be the
restoration of Prussian Posen to it's
old Polish association would not suf-
flee Poland thus constituted would
have no outlet upon the sea, and
would be economically as completely
at the mercy of Germany as Serbia
was at the mercy Of Austria before
the Balkan WAR. Such Poland
would, in the nature of things. be no
more than dependent of the Ger
man empire, and, inevitably, subor-
dinate in the new mittel Europa. To
make a real Poland, it was plain that
there must also be added districts
along the Vistula. taken by Frederick
the Great in the first partition. and
containing a very considerable Poilsh
population. together with the city OF
Dantzig, historically the Pollsr gate
This solution, which justice and
common sense alike demanded was
recommended unanimously by the al
lied commission appointed by the con
Polish question. This commission
fixed the frontiers Of Poland in such
a fashion as to provide q Polish corr
ridor on either side Of the Vistu1a:
placing this river out OF range OF
anu a certain stretch Of the coas,
Internationally to the Poles. Poland
thus. created would have a popula-
tion Of more than twenty-five mill
lions Of people. and all necessary cir
ctiinstances Of national life. This
Recommendation of the commission
was Professionally approved by the
conference.
But, to the amazement Of every
body, no sooner. had Lloyd. George
come to Paris than he demanded that
the Polish solution should be aban-
doned. He personally assailed Presi-
dent Wilson, who up to this moment
had given no attention to the matter,
as having sacrificed his principle OF
self-determination of people because
in certain areas German population
prevailed. AS g. consequence the
whole subject was sent back to the
allied. commission, but this commits
sion steadfastly refused to. modify
its decision and reported in favor OF
its old solution. t-'
4Thereupon Lloyd George renewed
his attack. and after long and intri-
posing q solution which, in fact, will
not only deprive Poland of her outlet
to the sea, but exposes her to imme-
date and continuing attacks from
Germany All the corridor from the
old Russian frontier to the sea is
now to be placed under the control
of the league Of nations, which Will
delegate some of its powers to- Po-
land, but certain areas, including the
city Of Dantzig, will preserve auton-
omy, and since, the league, Of nations
has no method of imposing its de-
cisions or defending its principles