SILESIAN SITUATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16539, 24 September 1921, Page 15

SILESIAN SITUATION.

THE ALLIES PERPLEXED. DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO SOLVE. Oat of the confusion of the "Middle Ages Silesia ©merged as part of Poland about the end of the tenth centuiy. Poland was always tumultuous and at time© Silesia had a dozen. or more “dukes” claiming to be independent. In 1537 Austria got it, but in 1740 Frederick th© “Great,"’ without the formality of declaring war, inarch eel in and took possession, and it has been German territory until the end of the Great War (whites Edward F. Adams in the “ San Francisco Chronicle Agriculturally, portions of Silesia arc rich, but its chief valuo is its great coal fields and deposits of iron, zinc; and lead. Its population is mixed, the towns being largely German and tlie rural districts Poles or of Polish affili ations. By the treaty of Versailles there was marked out by definite boundaries a portion of Upper Silesia whose people were empowered to determine by plebiscite whether they to belong to Germany or Poland. Tho vote was to settle nothing but only to expre66 tho wish of the people, fne decision was to bo made by a commission created by treaty bound to give consideration to the vote. TILE RESULTING PERPLEXITIES. | These provisions of tho treaty, like most others, are subject to varwflis interpretations. Among other things tho treaty says: “The result of the vote will be determined by communes according to the majority in each commune/’ Nobody can tell xvitli certainty what that means, hut when the vote was taken a majority oi the total vote was in favour of Germany and a majority of tho communes were for Poland. Both sides, therefore, claim the election, which, according to tho treaty, settles nothing anyway, dhe commission which was set up lias never had any real power. A Polish adventurer got an army together and occupied as much of the country as he could. There are plenty of Germans who would gladly do the same thing. After much trouble the “ supreme council ” or somebody scraped up a small army and sent it in to try to maintain order. More soldiers are needed.” THE PARAMOUNT AUTHORITY. The paramount authority, so far as there is any authority which is paramount, is the “ supremo council ” organised during th© war and which continues to function. It must riot be contused with the council of the League of Nations, which is not intrusted with matter which th© great Powers think important, and which has no means of enforcing any order which it may make. This eoun- ! cil is composed of representatives of i the five principal Powers, but Japan I apparently do©3 not bother with Euro- : pean affairs, and until recently 1 America has not been represented, at least since last November. At present, Ambassador Harvey sit© in, but

whether in any other capacity than that of an observer is not clear. It is highly probable, however, that the Ambassador makes “ observations,” and that they are listened to with respect. Tho major affairs seem in practice to he settled by the Governments of Paris and London, with Italy taking such part as may happen. THE PROBLEM INSOLUBLE. f No solution of the Silesian problem is possible which can approach satisfaction to tho people of Upper Silesia or to the surrounding countries. Tho district is occupied by two races, somewhat evenly divided, which hate each other with a hatred which is pungent, forceful, and undying. Whether Poland or Germany finally gets the district there will be about half the population ready to start a . revolution, with ;;n adjoining coun- i try anxious to help it on. In tho interest of Silesia and all i Europe, order must be maintained, ; and the two parties anxious to fly ; at each other’s throats, prevented j from doing so. After a few years j the passions of tho Silesians may cool j off if they are given a chance to go ! .to work and support their families. At present Silesia is a danger spot. Tho commission provided for by th© ! treaty is to be composed of one raomj ber each appointed by Great Britain, | France, Italy and the United States, j Tt was not contemplated that it should ! be permanent but may have to be- | come so.