The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-04-28
POLISH STATE
IS SACRIFICED.
STATES SIMONDS
Declares Lloyd George is to
Blame for Decision Against
Poles.
BY FRANK II. SIMONDS

the end Of the Paris conference, 1t
becomes more and more unmistakable
that the GROWING tragedy Of the. con-
gress of Vienna is to be repeated. A
century ago the conquerers of Napo.
leon perpetrated q crime against Pc.
land which was contained In several
partitions begun by Frederick the
Great In the interests of Prussia. To-
day under the direct impulsion of
Lloyd George, Poland Is again to be
sacrificed, has been sacrificed SO far
as the present draft of the treaty OF
peace is concerned.
From the very outset of the war 1t
has been the conception of all those
who knew Eastern Europe we'll that
the erection of strong Poland was
not merely necessary as an act of
Justice, giving freedom to more than
twenty millions of people. but also
that 1t was the first step in restoring
conditions created by the downfall of
Russia, by erecting barrier both
against German expansion into Rus
STA and Bolshevist progress from Rus
sia into central Europe.
Added Territory Needed
{. To create such a Poland 1t was
plain that II would not be sufficient
to join the Polish territories of Rus
STA and OF Austria. II was clear that
then an act OF justice which would
be the restoration Of Prussian Posen
to its old Polish association would not
suffice. Poland thus constituted would
have noputlet upon the sea and would
be economically as completely at the
mercy OF Germany as Serbia was at
the mercy OF Austria before the Bal
kan war. Such Poland would in the
nature of things be no more than 4
dependent OF the German empire and,
inevitably subordinate in the new
Mittel Europa. To make real Po-
land, II was plain that there must also
be added districts along the Vistula
taken by Frederick the Great in the
first partition and containing very
considerable Polish population. to-
gether with the city of Danzig, his
torically the Polish gateway to the
sea.
This solution, which justice and
common sense alike demanded, was
recommended unanimously by the AL
lied commission appointed by the con-
ference Of Paris to investigate the Pol
ish question. This commission fixed
the frontiers Of Poland in such fash
ion as to provide Polish corridor on
either side of the Vistula, placing this
river out of range Of German artillery,
and gave Dantzig and a certain stretch
OF the coast Internationally to the
Poles. Poland thus created would
have a population Of more than twenty
FIVE millions of people, and all neces-
sary circumstances of national life.
This recommendation of the commits.
sion was Professionally approved by the
conference.
, But to the amazement of everybody.
no sooner had Lloyd George come to
Paris than he demanded that the Poles
solution should be abandoned. He per-
sonally assailed President Wilson, who
had up to this moment given no at
tention to the matter as having sacri-
feed his principle of self determine
ton of people because in certain areas
a German population prevailed. AS a
consequence the whole subject was
sent back to the Allied commission,
but this commission steadfastly refus
ed to modify its decision and reported
in favor Of its old solution.
Exposed to Germans.
Thereupon, Lloyd George renewed
his attack and after long and intri-
cate discussion has succeeded in i'm
posing 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 Poland, but GER
tain areas including the city of Dant-
zig will preserve autonomy. and since
the League OF Nations has no method
of imposing its decisions nor defend
ing its principles the speedy collapse
of the Polish corridor must now be
expected.
The purpose Of Lloyd George in
this persistent attack upon Poland is
plain. The desire to pla cate Germany,
to provide peace terms which Ger
many will accept, fears stimulated by
the growth OF Bolshevism and It's ad-
vance to Budapest, these have COM
bined to produce the sacrifice OF Pc
land to Germany. If Poland does not
receive her gateway to the sea, then
there Is a much greater chance that
the Germans will sign the treaty OF
peace. If the Germans sign the
treaty of peace, political profit is ap-
parent.
But there can be no mistaking the
meaning of this sacrifice. More than
twenty millions of Poles will be left
at the mercy of a new Germany, with
out any economic outlet aside from
that which Germany may grant, for
no one can believe that the Polish cor
ridor will long stand against oppor-
tunities provided for German inter
ference, and the Poles will be driven
to choose between Bolshevism and
They will have to de-
eide whether to follow the example of
the Hungarians and go to Moscow, or
obey the cooler advice of other of
their statesmen and seek an under
standing with Berlin, with a sacrifice
of all their legitimate national aspira-
tons.
Unstable Compromise
The tragedy Of Poland is the out
standing circumstance in these last
hours. century ago at Vienna there
was a period when Polish hopes. sup
ported by the Russian Car, seemed
certain of result. There has been a