The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-19
PADEREWSKI SEES
! CALAMITY IN WILMA
But Gives Up Plan to Go There
and Urge Zellgouski to
Eyacuate City.
LEAGUE CAN DO NOTHING
He Also Pleads for Patience
With Poland by His
American Friends.
ny LAURENCE HILLS.

speciol Cable TO THE NEW York HERALD.
Copyright, 1920. oy THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Paris, Oct. Is.
/. lgnace Jan Paderewski. former Pre-
mier of Poland. has been here as
Poland's representative on the Council
OF the League of Nations, but he feels
that the position In which he has been
placed by the action OF the Polish Gen.
Zeligouski I'm taking Wilma not only
has rendered his personal position with
France and with the League Of Nations
almost impossible but has left his
Polish fatherland, to which he has
sacrificed all his personal affairs, in
position where even the fate OF the
nation is uncertain.
In an interview with the correspon-
dent OF THE NEW YORK HERALD Pad
erewski said he had decided not to re-
turn TO Poland when he had already
announced that his mission here on the
league council was useless in view of
the Wilma tangle.
II had intended to leave Immediately
to resign as Poland's representative
with the League OF Nations because of
the uselessness OF trying to resolve the
question by the means at hand he
said. II intended to go to wilma in psr-
son to see If could induce Zellgouski
to withdraw by means of what per-
sonal influence I possess among the
Poles and Lithuanians. Then l received
word from Warsaw that I could do
more here for my country by keeping
in touch with Leon Bourgeois, presi-
dent of the league council, and with
the council. For that reason changed
my plans at the last moment and will
remain here Indefinitely until the lot of
my poor country is decided.
1.-THE wilma affair is nothing less than
a calamity. Not only is 1t calamity
for me, but for Poland as well. There
seems to be at the moment no way out
The situation Is not like that at Fiume,
where the invasion was purely a mat
ter OF politics. At wilma 1t Is a case of
men talkins their own homes.
These men, moreover were the first
men TO take UP the defence of Warsaw
against the Bolshevists, and for that
reason it is impossible to ask the Polish
troops to attack them to force them to
leave Wilma. Furthermore. the an
nouncement In the Polish Diet that no
foreign troops would be permitted to
intervene in the situation Is q warning
to Lithuania that any attempt by Lith-
uania- would mean bloody war In
Eastern Europe.
II have given my life to advance the
interests or Poland, and just hoped the
nation was becoming a real factor In the
world, and now I see the nation running
true to form with elements within Great
ing situation such as to place in jeo-
pardy our national existence. don't
see what the League of Nations can do
The only possible cure for the situation
is time and patience. and that Is why
am remaining here to see II l can calm
the Council of the League, and help
remedy the matter The league has no
forces TO force Zellgouski from wilma.
and II there were, 1 don't see how
Poland could tolerate It under the cir
cufnstances.
LAS a friend Of the United States. and
almost an American. I trust my friends,
the Americans. will bear with me and
my country while they attempt to solve
their difficulties"
Paderewski had tears in his eyes as
he talked to the correspondent of THE
NEW YORK HERALD and seemed 10 feel
il deeply. 1t was plain to be seen that
the whole matter was very near to his
heart.