The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1919. A KEY PROBLEM.

Southland Times, Issue 18078, 3 May 1919, Page 4

The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1919. A KEY PROBLEM.

A cable yesterday morning reported that Hindenburg was at at Kolberg, between Stettin and Dantzig, with a large staff and an army of 200,000 men, which he is throwing along the Dantzig-Thorn line. The message originated in Germany, and has not been corroborated yet, but the possibility of its accuracy is enhanced by many recent reports of Germany’s intention to resist the creation of a Polish corridor to the sea along the valley of the Vistula. The terms of the Peace Treaty, so far as our information goes, will provide for the internationalisation of Dantzig, but the port will be under Polish control. In order to give the Poles access to the Baltic a corridor, under international control, will be created along the Vistula between Thorn and Dantzig, a distance of 100 miles. The reason for Germany’s threat to strenuously resist by every means in her power the intention of the Allies in this connection is quite obvious. Not only does Germany oppose the creation of an independent Poland, which would effectually check her eastward ambition in the future, but she sees the consequences of losing complete control of the Boltic littoral, and she knows that the establishment of a neutral corridor separating West Prussia from East Prussia is a matter that must appreciably diminish Germany’s aggressive P9wer. But an independent Poland is a futile proposal without access to the sea. President Wilson made this clear in his fourteen points, and the Allies are deeply committed to the course which now threatens to provide one of the chief causes of friction in securing Germany’s acceptance of the Peace Treaty. The importance of the whole question was recently discussed by Mr Hilaire Belloc, in the morning Post. This noted commentator goes so far as to say that “if Dantzig and Thom remain Prussian, or if one of them remain Prussian in the terms of peace, the Allied Powers, or, at anyrate, the European interests of the Allied Powers, have lost the war.” This may seem to be a strong statement - of the case, but Mr Belloc supports it with arguments that are hard to refute. First he goes to the root of the menace imperilling European civilisation. This arose from two things:—

First, that a great body of various States, of whom about half were Germanspeaking, but among whom ' even those had no true organic unity, were combined upon the plausible promise of success under the leadership and organisation of one highly distinct and not very German people; secondly, that the not very German thing thus controlling them and launching them to the assault was Prussia.

Mr Belloc next points out that Prussia was created by artificial junction between a body of German populace lying to the west of Poland and an isolated comer of German colonisation, the centre of which was Konigsberg. Between the two lay Polish ground, through which ran the Vistula, which is “the mother and creator of Poland.” The Prussian menace commenced from the time when that strip of ground, with Thorn and Dantzig were wrested from Poland. It is agreed that if Dantzig and Thorn, and the communications for which they stand, are to remain separated from Poland the great experiment of restoring a strong Poland will fail lamentably and immediately. And not only will the Allies have failed to carry out their pledge to a sorely tried people, but they will have failed to secure one of the vital essentials of a permanent peace. A strong Poland, acting as a buffer State in the East, would be a guarantee of the peace of Europe, and is necessary to the permanent reduction of Prussian ambition and power. Certain elements in this connection are thus stated by Mr Belloc.

Unless the littoral of the Baltic, for centuries Polish, return to Polish Government, the Baltic is closed. A paper neutralisation of the Kiel Canal is worthless in the face of that. Unless that belt is erected right down to the sea, including its port, we have no barrier against the northern anarchy in Russia; no cordon against its> propaganda. Neither have we a certitude of using the’ sea for access to Russia. Unless both towns pass under the new Government Polish trade and general travel to and from the west are at the mercy of Prussia. Poland without Dantzig will become a German thing. The argument that it would be unjust to Germany to deprive her of Dantzig because the population is German does not trouble Mr Belloc. The town has never enjoyed organic unity with Germany, and it would enter upon a new lease of prosperity as the port of Poland. The main issues are to restore Poland to independence and to prevent the resurrection of that evil which nearly killed Europe. Dantzig is the touchstone, and the Allies’ decision in regard to it is vital to the future of the world. The progress of events in this theatre will therefore be watched with the keenest interest, and no demonstration of force by Germany will turn the Allies from their purpose.