A modest proposal
Sir: Timothy Garton Ash suggests that all would be well if only Poland could be swit- ched round geographically with Germany (12 February). We once had the chance to try doing just that. Instead of regarding Germany as a prize to be divided up in 1945, might not we and the Americans have at least considered tempting the Russians with all Germany as a prize, providing we had Poland? It might not have proved prac- ticable; yet it is surely remarkable that nothing of the sort was ever considered. Think of the advantages if it had worked. Polish independence (the reason we went to war) would have been preserved; the Ger- man threat effectively neutralised; and the peace of Europe guaranteed by a unique military equilibrium.
R. E. Davies
Reform Club, Pall Mall, London SW I
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