South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-04-11

has imposed on her. and which Mr.
Keynes himself describes as excess
sive, may be affected by the loss Of
territories, such as the Sarre dis
trict, Alsace- Lorraine and upper
Silesia. we absolutely refuse TO &C
knowledge that such considerations
can in any way counterbalance the
just claims we have to Upper SiIesia.
which, so to speak. was the cradle
of the Polish state. whose center il
had formed until the 14th century.
II Poland during the 18th, 18th.
18th and 18th centuries slackened
her hold on Upper Silesia. this is
due 10 the fact that the Polish king
dom in those days derived its eco
nomic strength solely from agricul-
ture. and was ruled by a powerful
class Of landed gentry, who. in their
search for new tracts of land, turned
their eyes exclusively TO the east.
But today Poland is a democratic
republic. dependent on industrial
development, supported no longer
by an ariStOCraCy OF great land
owners. but by the broad masses of
its peasants and laborers. The Pol
ish miner in the coalfelds Of Upper
Silesia must therefore be regarded
as an essential element in the re-
construction of the Polish state.
Largo Percentage of Poles.
According 10 official statistics for
1910. in the regency Of Oppeln, of
a total population amounting TO D.
20S.0O0 souls. 1855 900 were Poles
The percentage of Poles I'm the prin-
cipal mining centers was as follows:
Bytom country .......69 per cent
Gliwice ............79 per cent
Cory TarnOwskie. ......73 per cent
KatOwice country IS per cent
kozle .....- -.....7S per cent
Lubliniec ............. 10 per cent
OlesnO ............8 per cent
These figures prove that the
greater part of the coal production
Of Upper Silesia is due TO Polish la
Dor and that by the laws OF ma
tionality. which have been accepted
as binding by the peace conference
and form one Of the main principles
Of the treaty OF peace. upper Silesia
belongs TO Poland. Our claim to
this district is In no way less justi-
fed than Frances to Alsace-Lor-
Taine.
Plays Important Part.
On the upper hand, Upper Silesia
is destined to play a very important
part In Poland's future economic
life Mr.. Keynes states that OF Po-
lands pre-war annual demand for
coal. amounting 10 10.5OO.000 tons
(this figure evidently applies to
Congress Poland alone), only l..
500. 600 tons were supplied by Upper
Silesia. and that consequently the
total annual coal produce Of Upper
Snesia. amounting TO 100000
tons. is much too great for Polish
needs. This statement is likely 20
convey a false impression. Mr..
Keynes forgets that the industrial
development OF Poland is continu-
ally progressing. and that the con-
sumption Of coal Will in future be
considerably greater than il was be-
fore the war. Then he utterly over
looks the very important fact that
The districts OF Prussia. now united
10 Poland under the peace treaty.
namely, Posen and western Prussia,
with their highly developed agricul-
turaI industries tsugar factories
flour mills. etc.) viii need a large
amount OF coal. about 10 20 Is mil
lions OF tons a year. which will
equally have 10 be supplied by Upper
Silesia
Striking as these errors may be.
they are mere trihes In comparison
with the utter ignorance Of Polish
affairs. coupled with prejudiced ami