Evening star., 1919-03-30

.. French and Luxembourg boundaries
on the west. it is now proposed to
create a Rhenish republic, which. for
a considerable period of time-for
that time during which the allied
armies will occupy German territory
is a guarantee for the payment of
German oblieations. This Rhenish re-
public will have an area of approxi-
mately 10000 square miles and pop
ulation of between 100000 and S.
of the period of occupation it chooses
independence rather than a return to
Germany this population will be lost
to the empire permanently. but In
any case it will be lost for a period
of years and German military re-
duced.
Finally we face the possibility ex-
pressed in the demand OF President
, Wilson in his fourteen points that
Poland should have access to the
sea. Three solutions OF this problem
are possible. The first would simply
give the Poles rights in Danzig COM
patible with those which the Serbs
now possess with respect to the Greek
port of Salonik:-rights which do not
conflict with Greek sovereignty and
on the other hand guarantee the
Serbs against any interference with
the free egress and ingress of their
commerce. 1t is the simplest solution
The second solution suggests the be-
stowal upon Poland of considerable
of the Vistuia river from the old Rus
sian frontier to the Baltic constituting
perhaps a half of the Prussian prov
ince of East Prussia. inhabited main
! ly. but not entirely. by Polish-speak-
ing peoples. The third solution con-
templated the annexation and acces-
sion to Poland of all the German ter
ritory between the old Russian from
tier and the German province of
Posen on the south, which is to be
Joined to Poland and the sea. This
would mean the cession of some
$4,000 square miles of German terri
tory, with population of 3.750.000,
OF which at least two-thirds would be
German.
Peril in Polish Corridor.
AS between the three solutions only
the first and the last are possible, it
would seem. Either of them would
create a situation which might en-
dure, although it is clear that Ger
close Danzig to the Poles, and thus
strangle Polish commerce. But to
give Poland narrow strip, the So
called corridor, would simply mean
separating two portions of German
territory by narrow and indefensi-
moment the only real question with
respect to the frontiers Of Germany
which has not been decided is this
last. and. like all the other difficult
problems in Paris, that Of the sea-
coast Of Poland has been left to the
last, but it cannot be avoided much
longer. and in all probability before
this article has been printed an an
nouncement will be mads in Paris of
the, new frontiers of Germany on all
sides.
Summing it all up, it will be seen
that Germany Is to lose by perma-
nent cession and by the surrender of
the Rhenish regions. which is at least
temporary. upward of $4,000 square
miles. more than 20 per cent Of her
old area, with a population of at least
10 0.060. 600. more than one-seventh of
her ante-war population. But Of this
Poles and 1000, 900 Alsatians and Lor-
rainers. who were unwilling, German
subjects. To offset this Germany may
gain an area two-thirds as large in
old Austria, with 100000 German
speaking people.
The loss, then. to Germany would
not be serious were 1t not for the
fact that the regions to be separated
include all the more valuable iron
| deposits and at least one Of the great
coal fields. and as a consequence will
result in the permanent weakening Of
German industry. Germany will lose
| approximately all that portion of her
iron and coal production which was
! in excess of her own domestic con-
| sumption. and this may be a very
grave problem for the future when
we come to consider how Germany
| is to pay.