144 EMPLOYMENT OF THE PLEBISCITE [^442 



The Allied reply reminds Germany that the present set- 

 tlement, " will preserve the character which Danzig held 

 during many centuries, and, indeed, until forcibly, and con- 

 trary' to the will of the inhabitants, it was annexed to the 

 Prussian State. . . . But Danzig, when a Hansa city, like 

 many other Hansa cities, lay outside the political frontiers 

 of Germany, and in union with Poland enjoyed a large 

 measure of local independence and great commercial pros- 

 perity. It will now be replaced in a position similar to that 

 which it held for so many centuries." As for the second 

 reason the reply states that "the economic interests of 

 Danzig and Poland are identical. For Danzig, as the great 

 port of the valley of the Vistula, the most intimate con- 

 nection with Poland is essential. The annexation of West 

 Prussia, including Danzig, to Germany deprived Poland of 

 that direct access to the sea which was hers by right. The 

 Allied and Associated Powers propose that this direct access 

 shall be restored." 



Danzig then is detached from Germany on the principle 

 of historic and economic considerations, without the con- 

 sultation of an admittedly predominant German population. 



The port and city and district of Memel are to be ceded 

 by Germany to the Principal Allied and Associated Powers, 

 and " Germany undertakes to accept the settlement made 

 by the . . . Powers in regard to these territories, particu- 

 larly insofar as concerns the nationality of the inhabitants." 



The German reply states that of the total population of 

 the district to be ceded about 68.000 are German against 

 54,000 Lithuanians. " Memel particularly is a purely Ger- 

 man town." Only in the district (Kreis) Heydekrug does 

 a slight majority of a Lithuanian speaking population exist. 

 In the Kreis Memel only forty-four per cent, in Tilsit 

 twenty-three per cent, and in Ragnit but twelve per cent 

 speak Lithuanian. All speak German besides. As a fur- 

 ther reason against cession is adduced the religious differ- 

 ences of the Catholic Lithuanians of the former Russian 

 Empire and the Protestant Lithuanians of Prussia. 



