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Caption: War Publications - WWI Compilation 1923 - Article 20
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» true that have sfrom its mouth. Al ong tance be the lower course between Thorn and the Baltic, the Polish popt ation occupies a narrow tongue of land from twenty to fifty miles wide lying along the west bank of the river, while the opposite bank is occupied a'most exclusively by Germans. T h e Poles insist that this strip 0f territory is not only essential!) Polish, but is also necessary to their economic lite ami to the successful defense of their country; they demand, therefore, that it be included in the revived Polish state. This area was tor several centuries a part of the Polish kingdom but was taken by the Prussians in the partitions of Poland in the eighteenth century. To return what territory is still Polish in speech and sentiment, seems, therefore, a matter of justice merely. There are, however, certain facts and conditions that must be taken seriouslv into account before the left bank of the Vistula is definitelv handed over to the Polish state. (1) The tongue of land in question lies wholly within the territory of Prussia; if it is annexed to Poland that part of Germany east ot the Vistula will be separated completely from the rest of the Fatherland. It is inconceivable that the Germans will remain satisfied with this condition. The Poles are consequently likely to find that the possession of this strip is a danger as well as an advantage. In case of war with Germany it could not be successfully defended. (2) The territory, while largely Polish in population, is not exclusively so; it has a strong German minority which in certain sections is almost as strong as the Slavic majority. This is particularly true of the cities where the Germans are, in places, even the more numerous element. (3) The region would lose much of its economic value to Poland unless Danzig were included. But Danzig is essentially a German city, nine-tenths of the population being German in race" and speech. Through most of its history Danzig has been German rather than Polish; though for a long time it was counted as a part of the Pol*" kingdom its re ationship to that state was almost wholly nominal, as it enjoyed privileges which made it practically a self-governing republic P — — w « ^ ^ trol ,r ™ t i H T 7 T' ^ that the prosperity of Danzig is based largely on the great trade that flows toward it from the val ey of the Vistula And it must not be forgotten that the disposal of the tongue of land between Thorn a n j n • • , . Tv<.1 mV lveS the fate of more than 500,000 Pdes! **""* ° ^ * e Jt bC r e m e m b e r
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