Polish president praises historic declaration by Woodrow Wilson

Monday marks a century since US President Woodrow Wilson’s famous “Fourteen Points” address to Congress.

Point 13 spoke of the need to establish an independent Polish state, “which should include the territories inhabited by indisputably Polish population, which should be assured a free and secure access to the sea and whose political and economic independence and territorial integrity should be guaranteed by international covenant.”

Duda said in a telegram to US President Trump: “This declaration has been seen by all Polish people, back then and now, as a landmark event on the way to regaining our sovereignty after 123 years of enslavement.”

Poland regained independence on November 11, 1918, the day World War I ended, after 123 years of partition by Russia, Austria and Prussia.

Duda added in his telegram: “The political concept presented by the American leader one hundred years ago relied on two values, equally close to our two respective Nations; that of equality among states: big and small alike, and of their indisputable right to self-determination.

“The friendship forged between the Polish and the American Nation, founded on those two values, continues until today.”

America was the first country to recognise Poland’s independence after World War I. In 1919, President Wilson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and in 1922 Poland conferred upon him its highest state distinction, the Order of the White Eagle.

The US embassy in December launched celebrations of the centennials of Poland regaining independence and the establishment of US-Polish diplomatic relations.

Last year marked the Year of Woodrow Wilson in the Polish capital.

(pk/gs)