Summary of the Views Expressed by the Polish Delegation to the Meeting of Foreign Ministers July 24, 1945, on the Subject of Poland's Western Frontiers

SUMMARY OF THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE POLISH DELEGATION TO THE MEETING OF FOREIGN MINISTERS JULY 24, 1945, ON THE SUBJECT OF POLAND'S WESTERN FRONTIERS The delegation considered that Poland'a western frontier should run from the Baltic through Swienmunde, including Stettin in Poland, along the Oder River to the Neisse, and along the Western Neisse to Czechoslo- vakia. The principal arguments they put forward were the following: 1. Poland would lose 180,000 square kilometers in the east and should be compensated for this in the west. 2. The territory under consideration was one unit from an economic point of view. 3. Under the proposed arrangement Poland would acquire less than it had lost in the east. The whole area would be reduced from 388,000 square kilometers to 309,000 square kilometers. The population would be reduced from 34,000,000 to 26,000,000 but would U.S. ARCHINESA BECORDS AND SERVICES then be homogenous. 4. There were about 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 Germans left in this area, but they would be willing to return home. This territory would enable Poland to support its population wi thout recourse to emigration. This would enable Poland to enjoy the results of the labor of Poles who had formerly emigrated to work in this area. 5. From the point of view of security, this was the shortest possible frontier between Poles and Germans and would be easy to defend. 6. The Germans had attempted to destroy the Polish population and ruin Polish culture. It would be an expression of historical justice to create a powerful Polish state which could resist any German agression. 7. Poland had ceded territory in the east for the sake of peace and it would be right that Germany should cede territory for the same purpose. 8.