The Washington herald., 1920-12-18
The virtue of justice consists in modera-
ton, as regulated by wisdom.-Aristotle
Polish-German Trade Agreement.

A MERlCANS will doubtless be somewhat sur
~ prised to learn that prominent Polish
- statesman and former cabinet member is
urging his government tosconclude trade agree
ment with Germany. 1t seems particularly surpris-
ing in view of the bitter feeling against Germany in
Poland and the controversies arising from conflict
ing claims and clashes in areas formerly German.
Another cause of friction is the plebiscite area
of Upper Silesia which the Poles alege the Germans
are prepared to occupy by force. The possession of
the coal mines in this area is of course of tremen-
dous importance to both Poland and Germany and
accusations of illegal methods employed to deter
mine the outcome of the plebiscte appear almost
daily in the press of both countries.
As in others of the new or newly delimted
states of Central Europe political jealousies and
racial antagonisms have brought about the erection
of trade barriers and commercial restrictions which
have prevented the natural and desirable interchange
of commodities and thereby have seriously impeded
the establishment of stable economic conditions.
While Mr.. Grabski, the proponent OF the Ger
man trade agreement, Is leader of the National
Democratic party, which has always been anti-Ger-
man, he is keenly of the critical situation in
Poland and realizes the necessity OF commercial
relations with the neighboring states.
The food situation appears to be much worse
than last year. While by no means the majority of
the population received the full ration of flour of
US grammes last year, majority able to sup
plement what they did receive by purchase in the
free market since producers had quantities for sale
after filling government requisitions.
This year no such surplus exists and market
prices already prohibitive for most people, the
ratio to the government requsition price being
much higher than last year in spite OF sevenfold in
crease in the rcquisition price If the food sua-
ton for the urban population is to be good as
last year approximately 100000 tons of grain must be
imported; 100000 tons will be necessary to prevent
acute suffering
While the government is disposed to put food
purchases before everything else, the very limited
exports and reduced remittances make the quantity
of foreign exchange available small and coal and fer
tlizer must be purchased if food conditions are
be improved next year. The available supply OF
coal for this winter is said to be scarcely I8 per
cent of the needs.
Poland is an industrial country but it is ur-
gently in need of machinery as well as ma
terials before it produce surplus for export in
exchange for the foodstufs required for its indus
trial population. The German market is convenient
and can supply Poland with certain commercial
products especially machinery which essential to
her industries. If the two countries subordinate
their political controversies and the artificial
commercial restrictions they have made both will
be benefited.
1t is not impossible that NJ. Grabski cherishes
the hope that his announcement may not be without
its effect in Western countries whose financial in
terests have been little hesitant about advances to
Poland until they are more clearly convinced of the
soundness of the Polish governments financial pol
icy and that there is danger of Poland's becom-
ing involved in further by aggressive imperial,
lists. The former minister may hope that the posi-
bility of a commercial rapprochement with Germany
will cause Western business to take mora
active interest in Polish loan.