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Woodrow Wilson and Poland’s Independence

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Tiptoeing Towards an Independent Poland
Page 10 of 15

By the end of 1917, all Allied Powers had recognized the Polish National Committee but had not committed themselves to an independent Poland. At the Inter- Allied Conference held at the end of autumn 1917, Colonel House attempted to get a firm declaration of Allied war aims, including an independent Poland. Failing to get anywhere with the Allies, the Colonel suggested that Wilson should formulate the war aims of the U.S., “which, by inference, would be the war aims of all the Allies.”(38)

In December, Colonel House had the executive committee of The Inquiry present to Wilson suggestions for U.S. war aims and peace terms. Suggested war aims included “AN INDEPENDENT AND DEMOCRATIC POLAND” with boundaries that provided for “ADEQUATE ACCESS TO THE SEA.” The Inquiry admitted access to the sea would cut East Prussia from Germany, which would cause tensions between a Polish state and Germany. The Inquiry stated that “the experiment must no doubt be made,” for without access to the sea, Poland would be economically subjected to Germany, especially if a weak Russia existed. The Inquiry suggested a democratic Poland due to reports of friction between Poles and Jews. A nation with internal divisions could not be expected to be able to survive “in the presence of Germany.”(39)

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