The New York Times/1916/11/22/Will Deny Freedom to German Poles
WILL DENY FREEDOM TO GERMAN POLES
Prussian Diet Pledged to Keep Eastern Districts “Sacred and Inalienable.”
IGNORES POLISH PROTESTS
Government Carries Its Motion Against Catholic and Socialist Opposition.
LONDON, Nov. 21.—Before the Prussian Diet yesterday, Count Friedrich von Loebell, Minister of the Interior, said no part of Prussian Poland would be incorporated in the new Kingdom of Poland, Reuter’s Amsterdam correspondent cables. The Polish question was debated by the Diet, and Count von Loebell, the correspondent says, made the following declaration:
“The Government takes its part of the responsibility for this step of world-historical importance in the confident expectation it will be to the advantage of the German Empire by closely connecting the Polish State with the German Empire and with the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. We hope the German Empire’s safety will forever be secured against the east. It is unnecessary to say that every inch of ground in the eastern frontier districts of Prussia is sacred and inalienable. No Prussian can think otherwise.
“The Government confidently expects that Prussian Poles, without prejudice to the Polish national feeling, will live more and more up to their duties as Prussian citizens.”
The Minister promised for the period after the war reorganization laws concerning Prussian Poles, and said future decisions of the Government would be guided by good-will toward the Polish population.
Dr. Pachnicke said that the legal privileges which Prussians enjoyed could not be denied to Poles much longer; but “we expect from Prussian Poles close co-operation for the economic and policical prosperity of the State.”
Herr Shyczynski, a Polish member, said:
“The manifesto of the Emperors fills us with satisfaction because it acknowledges in principle the right of Polish people to be an independent State; but there still is much apprehension that only a portion of the Polish people will have national freedom, and that only nominally, according to the wishes of those submitting the motion that so many restrictions should be imposed upon the Poles in military, economic, and political affairs that their free independence would be only a pretense.”
Herr Stroebel, Socialist, said:
“We also are for liberation of the Poles, but for their self-liberation without foreign assistance. It is desired to hold the Poles firmly in hand. Such liberation means nothing but annexation. The Poles fear the new State will fill gaps in our army.”
Count von Loebell, the dispatch continues, said he would degrade himself if he answered the last speaker, adding: “It is disgraceful in such a Parliament that such speeches should be made.”
A motion of the Conservative, Independent-Conservative and National Liberal members requesting guarantees that no portion of Prussian Poland would be incorporated in the future Kingdom of Poland was adopted by a vote of 180 to 104. The Center, the Poles, the Progressives, the Socialists, and the Danes voted in the minority.
PARIS, Nov. 21.—The Swiss Government has decided not to recognize the newly created Kingdom of Poland, according to a Swiss dispatch to the Radio Agency. The dispatch adds that the decision will not, however, be made public until after the war.