FICTITIOUS WAR.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17222, 4 October 1927, Page 11

FICTITIOUS WAR.

POLAND AND LITHUANIA. FRONTIER tS NOW CLOSED. (From a Correspondent.) WARSAW, August 27. Although complete peace reigns on the Polish-Lithuanian frontier, the two countries theoretically are at war. The trouble centres about the beautiful old City of Vilna, scat of the famous university which before this particular Polish commonwealth was once the capital of the Lithuanian section of that State. Now,, according to a decision of the Council of Ambassadors made on March 15, 1923. it is within the borders of the Polish Republic. Lithuania, however, has refused to accept this ruling. In the League of Nations, to which both countries belong. Lithuanian representatives have challenged this verdict on several occasions without success. Nevertheless, every new Lithuanian Prime Minister, it is said, is obliged to repeat publicly when taking office the old demand, that the Lithuanian capital be shifted from Kovno to Vilna. In Poland it is asserted that Vilna is now manifestly a Polish city, as much so as Warsaw itself. As a cultural and educational centre it is second to none in Poland. The University of Vilnji, which is more than 300 years old, included among its students nine pupils of the great Polish poet Micldewicz, who with a score of friends formed one of the first secret societies for liberating both Poland and Lithuania from Russian subjugation. Lithuania, however, refuses to recognise the border line between herself and Poland and refuses to have any dealings with the Polish Government. Polish citizens are forbidden to enter Lithuania by a letter of the Government. Lithuanian territory is closed to all Polish traffic. The Niemen River, which flows through rich Polish woodland’s, therefore cannot be used for floating timber to the Baltic Sea.

Recently a prominent Lithuanian scientist, Professor Herdaczewski, representing the country’s more liberal element, obtained permission from his Prime Minister to make an extended Visit to Poland to determine what may be done to improve relations between the two nations. Before returning to Kovno Professor Herdaczewski declared:

“I believe my visit may be very' useful to the Lithuanian Government. I think it will make easier the agreement between the two nations which is bound to come. It is important that the Lithuanian Government should gain the sympathy of Vilna’s population. I leave Poland convinced that the Poles are not enemies of Lithuanian independence; that Poland has no ill intentions toward Lithuania and that she is ready to take the initiative toward political friendship. I am certain that before long these words will be understood and appreciated by my countrymen.”

One solution of the problem seen by Professor Herbaczewski and some of his Polish friends is the renewal of the historic federation of Poland and Lithuania, adapted to present-day conditions. Just after the war It was suggested that the two nations form a United States of three cantons, like Switzerland: a Lithuanian canton with Kovno as capital, a Polish canton with Vilna as capital and a White Ruthenian canton. The authors of this plan suggest now that this federation take the form of a dual Polish-Lithuanian republic. Liberals on both sides of the frontier are agreed that changes in that line, shifting the population from one State to another, can never be a solution to the problem. They say that the first step must be a formal peace between Poland and Lithuania, ending the fictitious war. Then, it is believed, a satisfactory solution may be found.