Evening star., 1925-07-22
Postwar Progress of Poland
One of the Marvels of Europe

both from Germany and from Rus
sia. Pola nd has created. with French
assistance. strong army, which now
numbers just short of 100000 men on
a peace standing, which would be
doubled at mobilization. The present
minister OF war, Gen. Sikorskf, is,
moreover, by common agreement. one
of the able soldiers of Europe whose
achievements in the Battle of War
saw were very considerable.
Not only has Poland disclosed cour-
age and skill in dealing with economic
and financial problems and, by its
treaties with friendly powers, notably
France. Czechoslovakia and Ruma MIA =,
as well as certain Baltic states, con-
solidated its position, but in its do
mestic affairs il has shown an appre-
citation of the need of consideration
and tact in dealing with minorities,
and recent legislation affecting the
Jewish population has solved one of
the greatest causes of both domestic
and foreign friction.
Population Is Increasing.
Today Poland is a country of 80 .000.-
600 of people living on a territory
nearly three-auarters as large as
France. The population is. moreover,
increasing at a rate which insures
total of 80. 900 900 within a half CEN
tury. Suffering inevitably from lack
of capital due to foreign occupation
and to war, it has still fundamental re-
sources which have made it an at
tractive field for foreign investment
the United States bankers having re-
Gently lent upward of $35, 600 900 and
the British are taking an increasing gly
significant interest in Polish economic
affairs.
No country in Europe is, moreover,
more completely and necessarily COM
mitted to peaceful policies than Po-
land. Peace for the next few years,
for 10 years, was the common COM
ment in Warsaw when l was there
last Winter, will insure the safety and
permanence of present-day Poland.
And Poland is what Bismarck once
described as a satiated nation, with no
greater ambition than to retain that
which she has, all of which was hers
before she was despoiled, together with
much which she has definitely re-
nounced.
Faces German Hostility.
Yet. despite her progress, Poland
has always to face the undying hos
tility of the Germans. who are re-
solved to regain the Polish corridor,
suppress the DanZig Free State and re-
take Upper Silesia. And she has also
to consider the enduring hatred of the
Soviets, whose most dangerous attack
upon Western Europe she broke on
the field before Warsaw. In the his
tory of Europe, too, this victory may
easily prove as important as that of
Sobieski before Vienna, when Polish
arms broke the Turkish thrust and
saved Central and Western Europe
from a Moslen invasion.
Count SkrZynski comes here unof-
ficially to state the Polish case to an
American audience and to express the
gratitude of Poland for American aid
in the recent past, a gratitude which
must be felt effectively by every Amer
lean who chances to visit Poland, as
can testify from my own experience.
With the Polish foreign minister
comes NJ. Michel Kwapiszewski, at
present charge d'affaires OF Poland at
Oslo, but for several years counselor
of the Polish legation in Washington
and one of the best informed of Euro
pcans on American affairs, as well as
one Of the most sympathetic friends Of
cur country abroad.