The Wilmington morning star., 1945-03-03
TODAY and TOMORROW
BY WALTER LIPPMANN

ice or the peace of mankind-by
continuing a debate that can never
be settled but can only incite ha-
tired and fear?
The Yalta agreement calls for
a reorganizat ton of the Lublin gov
eminent and the holding of free
elections to establish a democrat
ic regime. We have taken moral
commitment to play a part in
bringing this about. And it is quite
understandable that we should be
aware of the fact that the Soviet
Union, which does not practice
free elections, is one of the three
guarantors of free elections in Po-
land.
But in appraising this paradox
and observing how it is resolved,
it will be the part of wisdom for
us not to begin with the illusion
that pre-war Poland was an effec-
tive democratic state, governed by
free elections, like, for example,
Sweden Or Switzerland or Great
Britain and the United States. The
truth of the matter is that if as
a result of Yalta there is estab-
lished democracy in Poland, we
shall not be restoring something
which existed before the war but
shall be creating something which
did not exist.
Poland, which had lost its in
dependence in the. eighteenth cen
fury, was reborn as an independ-
ent state in October. 1873 In jan
uary, 1919, an agreement was
reached among the Poles to form
a constituent assembly by univer-
sal suffrage. The new constitution,
enacted in 1921, was put into eff
feet in 1922, and elections to the
first parliament were held. This
constitutionally elected government
lasted for four years. In May,
1926, Marshal Pilsudski entered
Warsaw with his troops, there was
fighting III the streets for two
days, and the government was ov-
erthrown. Pilsudski made himself
Prime Minister and Minister CT
War, and the Parliament, which
was cowed. agreed. In 1885 this mil
itary dictatorship transformed it.
self into a totalitarian state. The
1921 constitution was annulled, a
new constitution was proclaimed,
and all political parties were out
lawed except one, known as the
Camp of National Unity"
The present Polish government
in London is the successor of Pill
sudski's, and its legal authority is
derived from the totalitarian con-
stitution OF 1885. 1t was not Great
ed by free elections. This record
is conveniently SUMMARIZED in Mr..
Sumner Welles's Guide to the
Peace"
The record reminds us that
while the faithful observance of
the Yalta agreement by the So
Wet Union is one necessary condi-
ton to democracy in Poland, it
is not the only condition. For pre-
war Poland had cased to be de-
mocracy at least thirteen years
before the Red Army set foot on
Polish soil.
Our duty, if we wish to be the
true friends of the Polish people,
is to turn our minds forward, fac
ing the difficulties of Polish recon-
struction and at the same time
recognizing the great future which
has been opened up to the Polish
people. Yalta is the promise of a
new Poland. Can any one contend
that. the cid Poland of 1939-with
its absurd and dangerous 'scorri-
dor" to the sea, and it's antago-
nism to. all its neighbors, not onlv
Germany and Russia. but as
Llthuania' and Czechoslovakia.
with its feudal landlordism and it's
poverty, with its military dictator
ship and totalitarian constitution
is the Poland that we are in honor
pound to restore? Unless a much
stronger s more homogeneous, and
II Poland can be created, there
- no 1uture for Poland.
copyright, 1915, New York Tribune |