Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-29
POLES TABOO CORRIDOR.
SEEK PEACE WITH GERMANS
Mutual Non-Aggression Aim of Warsaw,
but Berlin Favors No REINFORCEMENT
Leaving Out Boundary Issue,

promising way OF keeping the peace
in that corner of Europe. The plan
would amount to a pact of mutual
remuneration. Poland would pledge
herself never to attack East Prussia.
The Germans would agree to conduct
no military operations against Poland.
In addition to this bilateral, non-ag-
erosion compact, there would be i'm
portant economic concessions by both
countries. An agricultural East Prussia,
whose isolation from the rest of Ger
many has been marked by progressive
economic distress, would be enabled to
market its meat and dairy products
in Poland on advantageous terms. An
industrial Poland. under a free trade
agreement, would supply the coal, ircn
and petroleum which East Prussia
needs. Koenigsberg. the once thriving
commercial capital of East Prussia. is
nearly 400 miles by rail from Berlin,
but less than $50 miles from Warsaw.
Some of her old-time prosperity would
revive, the Poles claim, under their
East Prussian scheme. Various con-
siderations. the Poles argue, make 1t
more feasible for East Prussia to trade
with nearby Poland than with Western
Germany, because Of costly transport
from the center of the Reich, either
by sea or by rail through the Polish
corridor.
Would Inform America.
Alexander Lednicki, president of the
Polish branch of the Pan-European
Committee and a member of the Polish
Tribunal of State, has apparently been
chosen to acquaint American public
opinion with Poland'S project for grap-
pling with the East Prussian question
M. Lednicki eSpouseS the theory that
the Versailles treaty by neglecting to
demilitarize East Prussia, put Poland
in position really worse than
France would be in if Germany were to
hold Picardy, ArtoiS and the Depart
ment Of the Lower Seine, SuppoSing
those territories to be inhabited by
armed Prussians."
The reference to armed Prussians."
in M. Lednicki's presentation. directly
links the East PruSSian problem with
disarmament and the Geneva confer
ence. The Poles, who maintain an army
OF 10000 men, look across their from
tier upon 'militariZed" East Prussia,
and argue that such a menace" on
Poland's flank makes 1t next to i'm
possible for the Polish people to con-
slider any disarmament. Hence, author
lied Polish spokesman like M. Lednicki
are now coming forward with the pro.
posal that there be worked out plan
of international guarantees providing
% for the inviolability of East Prussia
and CD for the complete demilitariza-
ton of the province. Coincidentally
Poland and Germany would extend each
ether those economic concessions and
privileges essential to the prosperity of
both. Evidently the Polish proponents
Of the plan trust that countries. like
the United States. craving for progress
in the field of disarmament, viii see
in 1t road to practical results.
UnlwR-I
''An understanding Of this kind" says
M Lednicki, would remove the greatest
hindrance to the naturalization Of
Polish German relations and at the
same time strengthen the economic ties
developed further in the interest Of
European sterilization, as well as in the
interest of both countries"
Germany, it is not VentureSome to
predict, will have little enthusiasm for
any rapprochement with Poland that
leaves the Corridor in Polish possession.
The recovery Of that Slice of the Ger
man body and soul' is the Reich's ire
oucible minimum IN any settlement Of
the conflict. The Germans are ready
to give the Poles access to the sea by
granting liberal concessions for Polish
harborS within the ports of Hamburg,
Bremen, Stettin and other German sea
cities. CzechoSlovakia, which also has
no outlet to the sea of her own, was
granted such German harbor rights in
the peace treaties and has found them
adequate and profitable. Most Germans
are persuaded that it is not so much a
window on the Baltic that Poland
bankers for as she lusts to create the
Greater Poland" by placing East
Prussia, all of Upper Silesia and the
Free State of Danzig, like the Polish
Corridor, under Warsaws flag and DOM
nation.
(Copyrieht, 1881