The Washington herald., 1921-03-06
DEClSIONl IN WILMA
PLEBlSCITE VITAL
TOPOLiSH PEACE
City and District Storm
Center Of Russians
And Lithuanians.
tsp.ei.i o.sl. 70 n. Herald,

WILMA. Mar. s. - 1t is generally
recognized that q settlement Of the
controversy regarding the ultimate
control Of the city. and district Of
wilma Is essential to the mainte-
nance of peace between Poland and
tithuania and Poland and Russia.
since the city was occupied by Gen.
Zeligowski and the, force of frregu-
lar troops the attitude OF the Polish
government ON this question has
changed very radically.
At first, while denying any offi-
chl connection with the Zeligowskt
forces, the Poles maintained that
the territory in question was large
ly Polish In race and sympathy. and
that a plebiscfte should be held to
determine the will Of the irIabi-
tants.
Favor Election Of Diet.
Since the decision Of the league
of nations to send q control COM
mission to wilma to conduct the
plebiscite, Zeligowski. apparently
backed by the Polish government.
has urged very strongly that the
plebiscite be abandoned. and that
there be substituted for II the eIec-
ton of q diet. which should deter
mine tuc ot&tt1 VI tHo otblttIt
Zeligowski II no longer the ma
ment, but q governing commission,
reticaliy the governing body, and.
in spite Of the known disapproval
of the league control commission,
10 making plans for the election Of
the diet. The interests Of Poland
are cared for not only by Zeligow-
ski but by an official representa-
tive Of the Polish government.
Frsntier Abolished.
A recent decree has abolished the
technical frontier between the po-
iish state and the zeligowski state
Of Middle Lithuania. and the com
mission on foreign affairs of the
Polish Diet has passed q resolution
which shows clearly enough what
Is to be the attitude Of that govern
ment. This resolution states that.
due to the actions Of the Lithuanian
government. which have delayed
the plebiscite proposed under the
league of nations, it Ia, resolved
that the Wilma district is an insep-
arabic part Of Polish national ter
ritory and without the wish of the
Polish population can not be sepaI-
ated from IL.
The Polish government does not
recognize the treaty made between
Lithuania and Soviet Russia on July
IL. 1920, since the population Of
Wilma have repeatedly expressed
their desire to unite with Poland. In
order to preserve peace with her
neighbor. however, the Polish gov
ernment agreed that the population
Of wilma shall decide to which
country they are to belong. Due to
the fact that the population OF Mid
die Lithuania. Is In need Of help, the
Diet finds that the further mainre-
nance of separate civil and military
ADMINISTRATIONS might cause COM
plications. II therefore asks the
government to take action. At the
same time the Diet asserts the Po-
lish right to the remaining part of
the wilma territory and to other
parts of the Kovno and Suwalki re-
gions. which were freed by Poland
from the Bolshevik regime and
which now form q neutral zone oc-
cupied by the Lithuanians.
Settlement Needed.
At the present moment each side
claims that the other In responsible
for the delay in carrying out the
plebiscite. The facts Of the situ-
alton should be known to the con-
troll commission which has been In
this territory for q considerable
time. and 1t would appear that. be-
Ing in possession Of this informa-
tion. the council of the league
should be able to take such action
as will bring an early settlement Of
this controversy.