The sun., 1919-04-16


and the Prussians are anxio, to hold
some security that will enabl them q
fulfl thipsl pledge. In the sec, VI place
the Prusso-Germans aspire to establish
themselves in eastern Europe as the sole
dispensers and controllers OF the access
to the sea. not only for Poland but fol-
Lithuania and any future Lettish. state
In view OF the part which the disposed
Lettish pcasantry and soldiery are still
compelled TO play in this Bolshevist dis
pensntion II ID to be hoped that the Allies
have by this time taken the necessary
steps to enlist their interest against these
designs upon their native land.
situation In Lithuania.
In regard to Lithuania the situation is
as follows.
After the evacuation Of wilma under
Bolshevist pressure, both the German
Lithuanian authorities removed 10 Kov-
no, where n Joint scot Of Government
has been established. This is supported
by q bayonet reserve corps which was
formed out of the remnants OF the Tenth
German Field Army Corps. On the
civilian eide the Prusso Germans profess
to be demobilizing preparatory to trans
ferrIng the administration to the native
Government under the recently elected
president of the new Lithuanian republic
But before sanctioning this transfer
the Berlin wire pullers have instructed
their agent. the German Governor Of
Kovno. to conclude with the Lithuanian
Government a convention whereby tho
latter shall undertake to refrain from
any irredentist agitation among the
Let's In East Prussia. In return for
this assurance the Prusso-GerInans
would DO prepared to offer Lithuania n
measure OF controlled access TO the sea
via Niemen and Mt Mamel similar to
that Poland is to enjoy via the Vistula
and Danxig.
As an additional induoement the
Courland and the harbor Of Polangen
also are TO be offered Lithuania. These
facilities would of course entail certain
economic obligations, railway customs
and other things which now are being
formulated In Berlin.
Not content with cutting Oft Poland
from free access to the sea and envel-
oping her through Lithuania from the
rear, the Prusso-Germans by tho fourth
point OF their programme purpose to rem
der her impotent within her own bor-
GERS. Hermann Struck, the painter and
Zionist. has been included with the Ger
man expert delegates to the conference,
not from any philanthropic motives, but
10 raise III fdTlb the lnbiuiOub Quortioii
OF the status Of the Jews in Poland and
to PROFOUND the Berlin solution on the
ground that they are German Jews.
Struck. who during the war acted as a
Jewish expert in the political section In
German Eastern Headquarters, Is in
structed to press for the cultural au-
tonomy for the Jews In Poland, Bo-
hemia and Jugo-Slavia and national au-
toncmy for the Jews in Lithuania, East
ern Galicia. Ukrania and Great Russia.
The Germans win consider they have
done a good days work II they succeed
in starting a discussion as to the hypo-
thciical boundaries OF this differentiation.
VIII Demand Posen.
Similarly. regarding the protsstants in
Poland, the ground Is being proposed
on the lines laid down during tho Ger
man occupation when Count Pilsudsky's
son was in charge of q gang OF bisoted
secretariea
Equally purposeful is the Prusso-G Ger
man determination to contest every inch
of ground In Posen. With supreme Al.
dacity the Prussian national and other
societies OF that province have memori-
allied the Berlin Government to the eff.
feet that since Poland will not have
free access to the sea she will be eco
nomically dependent on her neighbors
and as this economic dependence will re-
tard her political development, Possn
must be restored to Prussia who alone
can extract the full value from this
granary OF the Empire, without which
Germany must starve
According to the ofY,cial minutes Of the
proceedings Of Count Won Bsrnstorn o
peace bureau. this agency, in the pres
erce OF Won Bernstorff and the pacinst,
Prof. Schucking. one OF the principal
delegates to the Peace Conference, have
just completed an inquiry into the whole
Eastern question, This inquiry Is said TO
have disclosed a strong current of patri-
otto sentiment against the surrender of
any part OF the eastern marshes. which
include Poeen and West Prussia. The
Prussian Government accordingly urges
the most resolute defence of these east
ern interests at the conference.
Finally 1t Is being represented--all
his in strictly official quarters-that in
the Teschen district the welfare Of
10000 Germans. as compared to 10000
Czechs and 230, 900 Poles, can be secured
only by the naturalization OF the whole
region. This arrangement would above
all insure the maintenance of the local
coal production export within Its exist
ing channels.
In ErZberger's estlma ton. the Danzig
Issue was the first occasion after the war
upon which the Entente respected the
national will Of the Germans He Ia
right II he means this ia the Allies first
hand to hand encounter with the still
unsubdued spirit Of Prussianism.
The Danzig controversy has revealed
aspirations which threaten TO find their