Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-06
SILESlA AS A GRAB BAG

COMErlIlNG more than iron lead, zinc
- and coal mines Is at stake in the com.
pcN and dCpornblc Silcsian situation. The
principle Of the Sanrtity Of covenants Is
mpcrilcd. The Polish uprising primarily
shows contempt for solemn official engage
mcnts.
The rash conquest Of some Of the
richest portions Of the plcbisCitC area is
akin In its immortality to tho frccbooting
at Fiumc and the recent aggression of
Panama in the Costa Rican boundary dis.
putc. The policy governing both of those
offcnscs wns In effect 1T you see what you
want. take it,
Theoretically, tho treaty of Versailles was
supposed to rcpudiatc such an iniquitous
code. Practically. departures from tn,
high standard have been discovered by Il
multitude Of critics.
How serious these defects appear depends
upon the taste, temperament, ideals and po-
litical pcrsuasions. national and interna-
tional, Of the self constituted reviewers
But criticism as n whole hns dealt kindly
with the plcbiscitc principle.
Absolute justice Is elusive in this world
In seeking an approximation It Is obvious
that the doctrine of self determination is
respected by submitting questions of soy
crcignty to the wishes OF tho inhabitants of
a given territory.
II the ballot box Is not perfect medium
"f expression. 1t Is nevertheless accepted
as one of the best available. The plcbisCite
machinery worked admirably in SChleswiE
ITolstcin. The Danes, an ancient. long.
civilized nation. were wise enough TO realize
that greed and aggression are in the end
unavoidable, Their philosophy seemed to
have been understood by their German
rivals The campaiCuing in the disputed
territory was spirited. but the voting was
conducted in orderly fashion. In conse-
uuencc the SchlcswiC. Holstcir stain on the
map Of Europe is cFaccd. The issue is as
dead as the once bitter disscnSions between
the rcd rose of Lancaster and the white
rose of York.
The Slcsian question presented formi.
dablc complications chiefly because of the
mineral and industrial wealth Of the region
involved. Within an area Of 5000 square
miles there is concentrated a population of
:. 200 900 persons. 1t is asserted in War
saw that G2 per cent of this population Is
Polish.
doubt of the accuracy Of these statistics.
and particularly about the distribution of
races in the industrial mining and agricul-
tura regions. moved the makers of the
Versailles treaty to attempt the plcbiscte
solution The pact explicitly provides for
tho policing of the territory by troops of the
Allied and Associated Powers This OK
plains the presence of the Italian forces in
the region Had the United States ratified
the treaty it is probable that some American
dotachmcnts would have been present.
According to the agreement. this intcrna-
tional occupation is to end when the final
disposition of Upper Silcsa is determined
by tho special commission. The findings of
this body are, in conformity with the treaty.
to be based upon the results of the plcbiscitc.
The balloting took place last March.
Early reports emphasized an overwhelming
German victory. Notifications subsc-
qurnty appeared. and it was stated that
while the industrial districts went solidly