The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 1915. GERMANY AND POLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 1915. GERMANY AND POLAND.

The Austro-Oermans evidently desire to convince the gullible portion of the world that the abandonment of Warsaw by the Russia us is a great Teutonic victor* which entitles the conquerors tc deal with the Polish people as they think fit. With their characteristic arrogant Muff they have announced their intention of seating an " Independent Poland,'' with bin; dual ol>je;t of seeming the sympathies of the Poles and making Poland a buffer State, with a Polish Governor, but controlled -bv a council wherein Germans, Austrian* and Poles will sit—the latter, without doubt, being in a minority. The scheme has all (lie impress ef German plausibi ty. It is quite conceivable that the Auslro-Goriiiaiis would be delighted to carry out this sthenic, which is. „f course, directed solely against Russia. The Poles are to be

mere pawns in the game, their chief, if not their Kile, duty being to act a* a buffer .State—the grain between the upper and nether millstones. Judging by the events of past history, tliere is little to entice the Poles to again place themselves under the heel of Prussia or Austria. Russia has alre;idv premise,] the Poles that their nationality and language will lie completely restored, but the Teutonic plan is only a colorable

prelext for Germanising Poland- pa!, pnbly thin that, it cannot fail to lie patent to even tlie meanest intelligence of the long-suffering nation. The Poles are perfectly cognisant of the fact that Russia is as great and powerful, if not

more sO. than ever. So fe.r from beim,' a back number, she is making herself one of the moH 'powerful nations, and the Poles will know what will be tlleir fate if they are placed between two fires just as the y are aware of the great danger of trusting their future to the Powers who-e code of honor is represented by their doctrine of violating the most sacred treaty (litigations whenever it. suits their purpose. We have too high an opinion of the intelligence and good sense of the Poles to expert that they will enter into such an open net as that which is now spread before them. The move is astute, but clumsy. Tn their hurry to strike a baekdianded blow at Russia, or in the intoxication of the barren victory that has fallen to them, the Germans have hatched this double plot for controlling the Poles ami making them play the part of the unfortu nale civilian victims in the Wed. who were made to act as a living screen for the German troops when advancing against the Allies. Moreover, it would be part of Germany's policy to select lac' Polish members of the proposed coined! from the German and Austrian Poles. It is one thing for this evil Scheme to he launched, but quite another matter for it (o take shape. Tt would be an i 1 day- fur the Pules were they to on e again be dominated bv Prussian influence.