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.
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 antisemitism. A nation with
internal divisions could not be expected to be able to survive in the presence of
Germany.
©2006 Tim Sheehan