Poland’s Policy at Home and Abroad

The Economist, a London newspaper, speaks of the effect of the Polish renunciation of minority rights and reports how this act has affected the internal situation in Poland. The paper writes:

Public opinion in Poland is perplexed not only about foreign relations but also about the internal political outlook. Many people here feel that recent international developments have a closer connection with internal politics than is realized abroad, and that in particular the “diplomatic success” at Geneva (where Colonel Beck on September 13th announced that the Polish Government would no longer cooperate with international bodies in the protection of minorities) has been exploited for its internal effect.

While the Government can point to more tangible achievements in the foreign field than the demarche of September 13th—albeit the drift towards Germany and away from France and the League of Nations is running ahead of public opinion—its internal program is vague and hesitant. It appears, for instance, quite unable to decide what to do about the new Constitution, which passed the Sejm on January 26th last, was sent to the Senate on March 12th, four days before the session closed, and has since been apparently forgotten.

In the economic field, the Government is, on the one hand, pursuing a deflation policy by compelling the industrial cartels to keep on lowering prices, while on the other hand it is indulging in inflationary public spending appreciably in excess of ordinary revenue. The variety of interests of the Government bloc (which includes large landowners, and peasants, Jews and Nationalists, industrialists and representatives of organized labor, capitalists and Socialists) makes it extremely difficult to establish and carry through a long-range program, and no doubt accounts for the day-to-day character of internal legislation. The element which holds the Government bloc together is unquestionably loyal to Marshal Pilsudski and has complete confidence in his judgment.

EFFORTS TO REVIVE TERRITORIAL BODY

The Jewish Chronicle of London comments upon the efforts to revive the Jewish Territorial Organization, as follows:

Territorialism is again in the air. The Jewish Territorial Organization, founded by Zangwill after the rejection of the East Africa offer by the Zionists, has been virtually dead since the Balfour Declaration. But from time to time attempts have been made to revive not merely the idea underlying territorialism, but also some of the schemes connected with it.

To further the territorialist idea a new periodical has been launched; it is called by the express name Freiland. The object of the periodical, it is explained, is to give expression to both the Jewish and the general public of the thoughts and efforts in the direction of active and practical work connected with Jewish immigration and colonization in “a free land.” It is, however, added that the objective is not to form a new party in Jewry to fight the already existing parties. It is not intended to negative any positive work that was being done anywhere on behalf of the Jewish masses, but to extend new work in a domain hitherto almost neglected. The aim is to create a League for concentrated Jewish colonization, embracing all those who desire to improve the present chaotic conditions of Jewish immigration so as to transform it and regulate it in a concentrated Jewish colonization in a free land.

An admirable object, though one cannot help feeling that it is a little vague. Where one wonders, is there a spot on this planet of ours where Jewish immigration might be concentrated “in a free land”? However, it is satisfactory to know that no new party has arisen in Israel, but only a League. Even more satisfactory is the assurance that no positive work at present in progress will be negatived.