The Washington herald., 1920-05-02
GERMANS SEEK
|, POLES DEFEAT
Egan Inteprets Poland's
Fight Against Bolshevist
Invasion from East.
JUSTICE IN POSITION
Line Must Be Held to Pre-
serve Life of the Nation,
He Declares.
JUSTICE IN POSITION
by MAURICE FRANCIS EGAN.
Late American Minister 20 Den
mark.

Late American Minister 20 Den
mark
II is folly to imagine in the light
OF recent experience that Germany
means to give up any territory that
she has ever held. Clemenceau is
right when he insists that the fu-
ture Of France shall be guaran-
teed but German propaganda in the
United States Is trying to teach US
that France has really no fear OF
Germany.
The same propaganda is trying 10
persuade the world that Poland is
mllitaristic and imperialistic in her
aims. and cites as proof Of this
that she is trying to make herself
mistress OF territory that is in
disputably Russian. In proof OF
this certain inspired writers de-
clare the Polish army is uniustIv
holding line considerably east OF
the provisional boundary OF Poland
hNed by the Supreme Council at
Paris.
white RUSSIA De.erfbed.
II is true the Polish army is &C
cupying part OF White Russia
which is not really Russian al aIJ
II means White Ruthenia, which
until $50 years ago was part OF the
great republic Of Poland. Russia
tore this province from Poland and
| since that time. in spite Of reso-
lutte attempts on the part Of tho
Russians TO change the complexion
OF its population. il has practically
remained Polish. Only a small pro-
portion among its millions Of in
haoltahts are really Russian. 10 be
exact, only about per cent.
Would Penetrate Russia.
The war having failed. Germany
now proposes to penetrate Russia
peacefully: she has lost German Po-
land. whose mineral and agricuI-
tural riches now belong to the
Poles.
The supreme council Of Paris can
not expect a country fgntinS for
her life. as Poland is, against 4 ter
ribly unscrTpulous and savage
enemy. to give up her present stra-
tegic ltlne.
The propagandists forget that
! Poland has no desire whatever 10
keep up a war with the Bolshevists,
i What she wants is a peace Of rc-
! construction. She must have tim.
/ for that She has a thrifty peonIe
and she has immense natural re-
sources.
. Want People TO Decide.
To show that the Polish de-
mands are fair. il is only necessary
/ TO state that they include the r,-
quest that the populations Of ~.
y territories between the new and
Z old Polish frontiers be allowed ~
choose their own future political
! affiliations. II they decide TO b.
! Russian. the Poles will submit.
( they wish only that the will ~
] these populations shall be fulfilled
surely II is not militaristic that
the Poles should occupy the gov
ernmeRt ard town Of SmoIeusk. an
/ important railway strategic point
! until the Russians fulfill the terms
. of peace. In this the Poles are ssL-
/ ing nothing Of Russia that the a..
/ lies today are not demanding Of
/ GERMANY
Truthful records tell u. how
White Ruthenia. reasonably fearing
! the Tartars who extended their cor-
! quest to Moscow. sought union vita
/ I-ithuania and how this greater
! Llthuania became united with Po-
land. During two centuries vari-
! Gus agreements were made between
these united countries. and in 1856
= the Grand Duke JaRallon married
the Polish Queen Jawijo and as
cended the throne Of Poland. n
| 1862 constitutional convention n
Lublin organized on the principles
of an elective monarchy made White
/ Russia and Poland one in every
sense
Geographically. because the ha-
| sins Of the Nistula, Niemen. nIIra
and Dnieper unite this terrr.Srv
! with Poland. on which its fUturr
! economic development depends. the
choice lies in favor of Poland. In
| der Russian domination aE TrG.t;5r.
! here Systematically was rolsrdcd.
and today is very backward