Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-05
POLAND AWAITING RECOGNITION

a means of combating the Ukrainian-
bolshevist movement.
Another reason for doubling a seri-
GUS military movement westward Is
that Polish forces may be required to
advance to the relief of Wilma. which
is being menaced by the bolshe-
Wiki. Wilma does not lie within strict
ly Polish boundaries. belonging to
Lithuanian Russia. 1t is. however, one
of those perplexing factors In the
land" being chiefly inhabited by
Poles. These unhappy jewellers in
wilma have sounded cry for AID,
which has been heard oy their fellow
nationals at Warsaw, who are appeal
ing for allied troops to be sent down
forces have effected a landing, to the
rescue of Wilma. ~.es
The commander of 5000 German
troops in this district-for some rea-
son not yet withdrawn from Russia
has refused to aid the Poles of wilma
with arms to defend themselves
against the Russian red guards, sayf
ing: Berlin has given US orders, ~
the contrary. We will not play
monkey to pull the chestnuts out of
the fire for the English. l am sorry
for your wives. daughters and chill
dren, but this country must be. de-
Stroyed."
Which is taken by the Poles as evi-
dence of an understanding between
the Germans and the boIshevikf that
Poland is to be prevented, il posSibfe,
from gaining any territorial soPidAr-
ity. in the hope that the new state
will be split into factions before the
peace conference can define its bounds
and take measures for its protection.
They consider that to leave Their
countrymen at wilma to the fate fefeT
Swallowed by the German commando
er'S reply would be cruel blow to
the prestige of the government at
Warsaw, beset by serious difficulties
of organization within the distinctly
Polish area.
sat
A possible object Of initiatory opera
tons westward of the old political
boundary between fRus<
PoJand,s STA and German Poland
may be to safeguard the
"nuo". approaches to Dan1dgs
Polands window on the sea-" Tho
Poles have a governmental organiza-
ton there, and have control OF the
wireless station at that port They
hope to maintain possession not only
of Danzig, but of the ''hinterlandy
southwark connecting with the idfs-
II iCl VI piosiHSc VI L OSSn- AL lhAS ySnv
deavor they are certain to meetuU with
stubborn opposition by Germany.fiA
Polish state extending to the Baltic
would separate East Prussia 81 fFppr
Prussia proper, and would moreover
throw barrier between Germany and
her expected markets in the east suf
1t is therefore the hope of the Poles
that some measure of recognition will
be granted them and their territorial
aspirations before their enemies,
Russian and German-Austria has
ceased to figure as a factor in Polish
affairs-manage to throw matters into
chaos, and to bring about further
distinctions of people and industries.
already reaching an appalling total
in the course of the war. .sefs.
They are depending for this as
surance upon the text of the thtrr
teenth of President Wilson's sour
teen points of peace: l,fr..ts
IAN independent Polish state should
be erected which should include the
territories inhabited by indisputabtx
Polish populations. which should be
assured a free and secure access TO
the sea and whose political and eco-
anteed by international covenantsn
The Poles do not want to precipit
tate another war. but 1t is evident
that they feel that il aid Ia not rem
dered them quickly they may have 70
hight again for their national exist
ence as they have fought 50 bravely
in the past.