The Washington herald., 1922-05-15
Germany and Poland to
Sign Longest Treaty in
World Today.
WILL PUT NEW LIFE
IN INDUSTRIAL AREA
Unified Administration
By Mixed Commission
Is Agreed On.

GENEVA, May 14.-Germany and
Poland. through the good Offices of
the league of nations. have ended
their dispute over the rich Silesian
coal and iron basin. They will sign
a treaty of settlement providing for
unified administration of the great
industrial region by a mixed COM
mission, tomorrow afternoon, in the
presence of the council of the
league OF nations.
This is regarded as the greatest
achievement of the league, with the
possible exception of the Interna-
tional Court project. for il brings
to an end a dispute which nearly
leo To war between Germany and
Poland. precipitated a local reyo-
luton, almost split the allies asun-
der when Lloyd George and BRAND,
then French premier. had their ia
nous controversy. and has held
back Europe's industrial recovery
materially because of the unsettled
conditions 1t caused.
In achieving this settlement the
league of nations makes a contri
button that will remove source
Of much ill-feeling in the heart of
Europe, and will make it possible
for the Silesisn Industrial district
to be geared up to it's highest ca
pacity. This is expected to infuse
new life into the whole economic
and Industrial machinery of conti-
mental Europe.
The prestige accruing to the
league of nations as a result of the
settlement will make future ac-
complishments easier, IL is pre-
dicted.
The settlement was arrived at
voluntarily by the German and
Polish negotiators without pressure
being exerted in any direction to
torce an agreement. Former Presi-
dent Calender. of Switzerland. acted
as arbitrator between the two del
egations, but never once was he
oblig to use his arbitrsl powers
to force q decision. f'----
Longest Pnst In world.
The treaty. the longest in the
world, containing COL articles, sixty
more than the Versailles treaty
contains. is the result Of six months
labor. 1t fixes the political bound
ary on the basis OF the plebiscite,
but removes in effect the economic
boundary and consolidates the two
halVes of this great industrial area
Into solid unit once more.
This is exactly what the league
o nations council hoped would re-
suit when II suggested that Poland
and Germany send DELEGATIONS to
Geneva to work out a settlement
The league suggested formation of
the joint economic commission Gre
ated to administer the Silesian basin
and wipe out customs barriers and
other economic hindrances.
Two Commissions Planned.
Both nations accepted the pro-
posal and sent large delegations of
experts to negotiate the treaty
Twelve subcommittee were ap-
pointed covering railways. water
power and electricity. posts and
telegraphs. currency, customs. coal
and minerals, employers and miners
associations. social insurance. from
tier permits and passports, private
laws and private rights. nationality
and mine rights.
The treaty is effective for fifteen
years and the system will be adopt
ed later. Two commissions, one
mixed Polish and German with a
league representative Is chairman
to supervise carrying out the treaty.
and the other an arbitral commits
sion for the settlement of private
disputes, are provided.