APPENDIX I THE INQUIRY

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• Collection: General CIA Records
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• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 5, 2012
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APPENDIX I
THE INQUIRY
?
(1)
The Inquiry originated in April 1917 when Col. E. M.
House brought a group of experts together for purposes of con-
ducting various geographic, ethnic, histrorical, economic and
political questions likely to confront the peace conference.
At its fullest it had 18 divisions each headed by a specialist.
The records include typewritten reports and memoranda fre-
quently accompanied by speciality mapsl a series of specially
drafted base maps and block diagrams of problem areas on which
were superimposed various data, often hand-colored, for inclusion
with the Inquiry reports.
On the basis of these reports recommendations were prepared
by the Intelligence Section of the American Commission to Negotiate
the Peace in two reports called the "Black Book" and the "Red Book."
1
Handbook of Federal World War Agencies and Their Records,
1917-1921, P. 271.
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The former appears in David Hunter Miller's "My Diary of
the Peace Conference", Volume IV, Pp. 209-281, as Document No.
246,"Outline of Tentative Report and Recommendations Prepared
by the Intelligence Section in Accordance with Instructions for
the President and the Plenipotentiaries, 21 January 1919", and
in the Reports of the American Commission to Negotiate the Peace,
185.112/1. The "Red Hood" was a part of Woodrow Wilson's papers
now available.at the Library of Congress.
The map titles listed below have been taken from "Inventory
'A" prepared by Mark Jefferson, Chief Cartographer to the Inquiry,
submitting the maps to the Library of Congress', 1919. The fol-
lowing maps, selected as immediately applicable tb the problem
of the frontier for ,eastern Poland, include maps constructed or
annotated by the Inquiry. Other subjects such as transportation,
climate, agriculture have been omitted.
1
The maps including hand-drawn originals, fair drawings, and
reference maps used by the Inquiry, are all stored now in the
Department of State. A selection of these are on file at the
Map Library of the Division of Geography and Cartography, De-
partment of State. The remaining maps which represent the
bulk of the Inquiry collection are in less accessible storage.
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The maps are arranged under general subject headings.
The following particulars are given where possible:
1. Title and scale.
2. Catalog number. Names of countries pre-
ceding a number refer to the regional card file
In "Inventory A."
3. Brief description, if available.
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BOUNDARY MAPS
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TITLE SCALE ;DATE NO
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DESCRIPTION
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735. Erdolanalysen:Galizien N. S. Ibid. 895 ibid., Table XV
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8 (Schulsz) Ungarn (Poland 23)
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m
0-5. Galicia, Bukowina and N. S. Ibid. 896
m North Huntary. Distri- iPoland 19)
? bution of Oil Districts
7)
m
(T.
m7. Ubersichtskarte der N. S. Ibid. 897 From Engler-Hofer:
w
m Erdolfundorte in den (Poland 20) Dar Erdol.
m Karpathian
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rt)
:-.3. Die salinen und N. S. Ibid. 898 From Jahrbuch des ?K.K.
soolequellen !Poland 25) Geologischen Reich-
?
6
th Galiziens und der anstalt 1876, V. 26
O Bukiwina mit bezug 0
auf das zugekorige
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Maps concerning the problem ofthe eastern frontier of
Poland of necessity must reflect the character of its organic
evolution. Boundary problems and their solution are not Elect-
dental phenomena in.a vacuum but rather represent an organic
historical progression of human affairs and relationships.
Upon this hypothesis this study has.organized a selective treat-
ment and analysis of selected maps. Such maps functionally may
serve purposes of illustrating reports, historical studies or
propagandistic theses, other times they may be intergral parts
of official documents serving as media supplementary to .a text
defining boundary proposais/agreements, and declarations. On
lite se_ trv s
account of such wide uses of maps this study includes ekl types
of maps in order to maintain at least that outline of organic
unity which pervades a given boundary problem.
Not the least of the phases of a boundary-map study is the
location and availability of such maps. Occasionally boundaries'
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may exist only in an official note without ever having been re-
duced to a cartographic form. Such seems to have been the case
in the Curzon Line problem; the Curzon Line existed only in the
official note which gave the line its name. Too, the inaccess-
ibility to official documents beyond one's own country may mean
an imperfect presentation of a study. In such instances semi-
official maps may fill such gaps. These are maps which, while
not a part of a formal document, are either published and/or
distributed by official governmental organizations. In this
category would be offices of information of a government, re-
search units of a foreign office, or maps published under high
governmental auspices; all of three types are included in this
study, to wit, maps distributed (and probably) published by the
Polish Ministry of Information, map published by the British
Foreign Office, and maps in the Great Soviet World Atlas (pub-
lished under the auspices of the Council of People's Commissars).
In addition, maps included are those appearing as a part of the
records of the Paris Peace Conference; maps of the Inquiry, and
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maps included in David Hunter Miller's "My Diary of the Peace
Conference" which consists of official documents, notes, MEMOS,
and private correspondence on official affairs concerning the-
Peace Conference.
The Analysis of maps which follows is organized on a his-
torical-chronological basis. Short historical summaries con-
cerning boundary lines are intended to provide an explanation of
247-P cfprApar
thekbrigin and evolution) Mary I nes. The
political forces involved in the evolution of the problem as such
are omitted, and no judgment is expressed concerning the political
implications of the various boundary proposals or lines.
The frontier problem of Poland centers on the Riga boundary
(Treaty of Riga 18 March 1921), and on the Curzon Line which has
been re-introduced by the Soviet Union to displace it. These two
frontiers have had, in the main; two separate histories, though
they were not entirely exclusive of each other. The Riga boun-
dary, however, was the result of exclusively Soviet-Polish
negotiations following the termination of the Soviet-Polish war
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of 1919-1920, while the Curzon Line was of British composition
of at least two frontier proposals evolved in the Paris Peace'
Conference. These two proposals, moreover, were evolved not
without some reference to Congress Poland and in turn, to the
Partitions of Poland,. Hence the analysis is arranged under four
sub-headings: boundary maps of Poland before World War I, maps
of the Paris Peace Conference, maps of the Curzon Line, maps of
the Riga frontier. It must be underlined that the discussion
of the maps and their organization is somewhat arbitrary. Many
maps contain various selections of lines and, therfore, could be
re-arranged under headings other than those under which they
appear.
I. SELECTED BOUNDARY MAPS OF POLAND UP TO WORLD WAR I
A. Maps of Poland Before the Partitions:
Maps of Poland before the partitioning of Poland indicate
the territorial history of the east European "shatter zone".
These serve to present the administrative delineation of the
lands in Polish possession or under its suzerainty. Conflicting
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historical claims of Poles, Ukrainians and Russians refer con-
stantly to the various interpretations advanced by each of these
claimants.
The following maps include histroioal and modern issues pre-
senting various treatments of the historical aspects. The older
maps present, within the limits of the earlier cartographic stand-
ards, the interpretation of the political constituency of Poland
for their day; the other maps present various syntheses of
historical Poland before the Partitions:
5-tarovoisk
1. Pologne. About 1635
Beauplan,
Hartnoch and other authors:
The map, by these Amsterdam cartographers, pre-
sents the component political units of Poland by
palatinates.
The location of place names, geographic grid, and
drainage pattern are not accurate.
with the following two maps.
(
The map compares well
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2. Pologne. 1696, by H. Iallot - Color.
The map was drawn for the Duke of Burgundy. The map
is accompanied with a chart presenting the political organi-
zation of the Kingdom of Poland at the close of the 17th.
Century.
3. Polen und Litauen. 1790, F. Miller of Vienna - Color.
The map shows Poland before the Second Partition. It
is interesting because it presents the voivodships of Poland
including Chelm (Kholm), the districts of Lodomeria, and
Galicia in Austrian Poland. In their claims for a Ukrainian
Republic the Ukrainians refer to these districts.
4. Vareations des Frontiers de l'Etat Polonaise du
X Siecle a 1770. 191--. ,Color. 10,000,000.
Appearing as Plate 5 in the Atlas of the French pre-
Paris Peace Conference Study "Travaux du Comite d'Etude," this
map presents a synthesis of the principal territorial changes
of Poland. It presents the following data:
1. Limits of the Germanic and Slavic Worlds
from the 9th. to the 10th. Centuries.
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2. Poland of Boleslaw the Brave, 992-1025.
3. The Kingdom of Poland at the beginning of
the 12th. Century to the death of Boleslaw III in 1139.
4. The Kingdom of Poland at the close of the 14th.
Century (death of Casimir the Great, 1370).
5. Territory re-united to the Kingdom of Poland
' in the 15th. Century (East Prussia and Podolia).
6. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania at the close of
the 15th. Century.
7. The Crown of Poland and the Grand Duchy of
Lithuania, 1509.
8. The vassal states with dates of acquisitions.
9. The frontiers of Lithuania and Mowcow in 1449,
1494, 1522, 1563, 1618 (Treaty of Deoulina) and 1667
(Treaty of d'Androusson)..
10. Livonian Poland.
These data are expertly executed in a manner that makes
------ for clarity and legibility.
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5. (Untitled). 194--. Author not indicated. Mono-
chrome. 1:6,000,000.
A historical map presenting the historical composition
of Poland outside its 1939 frontiers from the year 1001 to 1772,
distinguishing between territories belonging to it and those held
in fief. The small scale has allowed only a highly selected
identification of component political units.
The data are presented on a simple base consisting of
a full coordinate grid system drawn at two-degree intervals, a
highly selected stream pattern, and a small choice of place names.
The map was obtained from the Polish Ministry of In-
formation.
Call Number 7925(B)
6. Mapa Historyczna Polski (1770) (Historical Map of
Poland). 192--. Author not indicated. Color.
1:4,000,000.
This Polish map presents Poland just before the First
Partition. Four insets at 1:10,000,000, present Poland at the
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beginning of the 12th. Century, Poland under Casimir the Great
in mid-13th. Century, after the First Partition, and a map of
the Three Partitions.
The map also lists the political structure of earlier Poland,
its duchies and principalities in 1770.
The data are poorly executed on a base consisting of a geo-
graphical grid with two-degree intervals, a relatively detailed
stream pattern, relief through poorly.interpreted plastic-
shading, and a generous selection of place names.
Call Number 14492
(Monochrome)
7. Polska w Wieku XV (Poland in the XV Century);
192--. Author not indicated. Color.. 1:4,000,000.
This is one of a set of three Polish maps. This map
presents the territorial-political structure of Poland by a de-
lineation of the component duchies and palatinates in the 15th.
Century.
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The data are compiled on a base including a geographic
grid with a one-degree interval, a well-selected stream pattern,
and an abundant selection of place-names which become over-
crowded in places. Relief is indicated by poorly-rendered
plastic shading.
Call Number 13376
8. Polska w Wieku XVII (Poland in the XVII Century).
192---. Author not indicated. Color. 1:4,000,000.
This is the second in the Polish set of three historical
maps. Portraying Poland after its boundaries have been forced
northward from the Black Sea, it is substantially Poland before
the First Partition in 1772 with its constituent duchies and
principalities.
The base consists of a geographic grid at a one-degree
Interval, a well-selected stream pattern, and an abundant selection
of place names which become over-crowded in some places. Relief
Is indicated by poorly-rendered plastic-shading.
Call Number 13377
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9. Rzeczpospolita Polska w roku 1771 (Republic of
Poland in 1771). 1925. Professor W. Semkowicz.
Color. 1:1,000,000.
A historical wall-map of Poland by a responsible
Polish author and published by the Cartographic Institute of
Professor E. VMer. The map presents a territorial delineation
of the political organization of the Kingdom of Poland including
a consideration of the boundaries and historical places from the
beginning of the 17th. Century. The boundaries include those of
the Kingdom, the provinces of Greater and Lesser Poland, the
'Grand Duchy of Lithuania, condoinina of the Duchy and the Polish
Crown, feudal lands, vorvodships, conties and territories, with
seats of government for each administrative level. Various
historical ecclesiastical centers of the Roman Catholic, Uniate
and Orthodox Churches are also indicated.
The data are compiled on a base consisting of a selected
stream pattern, a geographic grid with two-degree intervals,
a selected road network, and a generous selection of place
names in Polish spelling.
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The map has been well executed, with clarity of exposition
obtained through use of color.' Reproduced in monochrome the
map loses much of this clarity, but retains enough through good
design and technical treatment to make the map sufficiently usable.
B. The Partitions of 1772, 1791, 1795.
The Partitions of Poland can be considered significant to
the eastern boundary problem because throughout the period of
the occupation of Poland on down through the ParisPeace Con-
ference and even to the present day the Polish attitude has
considered the partitions as an illegal act, and that Poland
of 1772 legally existed de jure. Hence the earlier claims in
1918 by Polish statesmen called for boundaries that approximated
those of 1772. Polish maps on the boundary question often in-
clude the frontiers of 1772 as a sort of datum line. The fol-
lowing are .a list of selected titles on the partitions:
1. ?Les Partages de la Pologne de 1770 a 1914.
191--. Maurice Fallex. Color. 1:3,000,000.
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The map appears as Plate 6 In the Atlas of the French
Study "Travaux du Comite d'Etude" presenting the Partitions
of 1772, 1793, 1795, the Duchy of Warsaw of 1807-1815,.the
Free City of Danzig 1807-1814, Congress Poland of the Congress
of Vienna, and the Republic of Krakow of 1815-1846.
The data are clearly presented on a base consisting of a
selected stream pattern and a good choice of place names.
This is one of the better maps presenting a synthesis of a
number of historically-significant data.
2. Regnum Polonium et Magnum Ducatum Lithuania, After
1772. T. C. Lotter.
Amap drawn after the First and before the Second
Partition presenting a cartographic interpretation of the
boundary changes within the technical limits of its time.
3. Map of the Partitions of Poland. 194---. Author
not indicated. Monochrome. 1:6,000,000.
The map distributed by the Polish Ministry of In-
formation is a generalized presentation of the partition
relative to the 1939 frontier.
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The base mapconsists of a highly-selected stream pat-
tern, and a few selected place names, as well as a geographic
grid with two-degree intervals.
Call Number 7925
C. Poland After the(3A;tt74W
The period between the Third Partition and the Congress of
Vienna saw the creation of the Duchy of Warsaw by Napoleon in
1807 and its extension in 1809. This provided an imprint out .
of which the Congress of Vienna created "Congress Poland."
The Napoleonic creation is well represented on a map discussed
in Section II, A above.
? The Congress of Vienna confirmed, with some modifications
the Austrian possession of Galicia. The Duchy of Warsaw was
abolished and a rump-state of Poland was created and placed under
Rlissian protection. Its boundaries were of direct significance
to the problem beleauSe they formed a significant point of de-
parture for the discussions in the proceedings of the Paris
Peace Conference.
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1. Mappa Krolestwa Polskiego (Map of the Kingdom
of Poland), '1865. M. 4grucz. Color.
1:504,000.
This is a general survey map including the bound-
aries of Congress Poland, as well as the provincial, district
.and judicial boundaries.
These data are compiled on a base including a geo-
graphic grid, a relatively detailed stream pattern and abundance
of place names.
2. Ziemie Polskie po Kongresie Wiedenskiw (Polish
Lands after the Congress of Vienna). 192--.
Author not indicated. Color. 1:4,000,000.
This is the third in a set of three Polish historical
maps (see Section I, A, 7 and 8) presenting Congress Poland and
its provinces, former Polish lands and their provinces, and the
Republic of Krakow. Four insets present Poland after each
Partition, and the Duchy of Warsaw.
The base map consists of a geographic grid at a one-
degree interval, a selected stream pattern and a number of place-
names, all with Polish spelling. Relief is indicated by poorly-
rendered, generalized plastic shading.
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II. SELECTED MAPS OF THE PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE
A. Maps of American pre-Conference Views.
The American views were formulated on the basis of the
studies conducted by the Inquiry. A summary of instructions was
prepared, and these together with some small maps are contained
in David Hunter Miller's "My Diary of the Peace Conference" in
Volume IV, Pp. 209-281, as Document No. 246, "Outline of Tentative
Report and Recommendations Prepared by the Intelligence Section
in Accordance with Instructions for the President and the Pleni-
potentiaries, 21 January 1919."
Two concrete proposals were envisaged: (a) Partition of
Eastern Galicia between Poland and the Ukraine, or (b) Union
of Eastern Galicia with Poland. The former proposal is signi-
ficant because it bears upon the formulation of Lines "A" and
"B", two alternative proposals for Eastern Galicia, formulated
by the Conference's Commission on Polish Affairs and its Sub-
Commission.
Three maps present these views:
?
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li7)
1. Plate IV Proposed oundaries in
Russia.
2. Plate VI Poland, Lithuania, and
Western Ukraine.
Plate VII Ukraine and Transcaucasia.
The maps are reproduced at a small scale appearing in page-
size. The lines are highly generalized on a base consisting of
a small selection of place names, a highly-selected stream pat-
tern, and relief generalized by simple hachures.
B. .Maps of Boundary Proposals at the Paris Peace Conference.
The study of the problems concerning the delineation of all
Polish boundaries at the Paris Peace Conference was made the
immediate responsibility of the Commission on Polish Affairs,
which, in turn, appointed a sub-commission for the study of
the Eastern Frontier of Poland.
The Commission found itself confronted with certain unique
problems which basically influenced the nature and character of
-- various subsequent boundary proposals. At the time of the .
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proceedings of the Paris Peace Conference, Russia was in the
midst of its revolutionary Upheaval, and the revolutionary
government of Lenin, Trotsky and Ohicherin Was unrecognized
by the Allies. As a result the Commission was faced with the
problem of disposing territory belonging to a former ally who was
without representation; any such dispositions could only be con-
sidered provisional because it would be liable to critical re-
view by any recognized future government of Russia.. In sharp
contrast to thi however, was the relationship of the Allies
and Associated Powers_to the former Austrian Crownland of
Galicia: under the Treaty of St. Germain-Austria ceded Galicia
to the Allies. These complexities created singular boundary:con-
siderations and specific proposals which became thesubjects of
maps organically related to Curzon Line. Because of these com-
plexities the Commission divided the problem of boundary de-
lineation into two separate and distinct phases: The Northern
or Russian, and the Galician.
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The northern segment was drawn so as to outline indisputable
ethnic Polish areas, such that no Russian Government could question
on legal or moral bases. But since it was recognized that a sub-
stantial Polish population accured in mixture with white Ruthenians
or Ukrainians such a line was necessarily only provisional pending
a detailed study on the ground, probably with plebiscite, to de-
limit a more equitable frontier. Report No. 2, dated 22 April
1919 and No. 6, dated 1 September 1919 by the Commission on Polish
Affairs to the Supreme Council, delimited a provisional frontier
from East Prussia southwards to a point where the former Austrian-
Russian frontier intersected the Bug River, i.e., to the northern
boundary of Austrian Galicia. These recommendations were adopted
by the Supreme Council in its Declaration of 8 December 1919
outlining a provisional frontier. This Declaration and its
frontier is especially significant to the present-day problem
because it was incorporated into the proposal of the Curzon Line.
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The following are official maps of the Paris Peace Conference
representing the developments of frontiers culminating in the
Declaration of the Supreme Council 8 December 1919.
1. Pologne. 1919. Commission on Polish Affairs.
Color. 1:3,000,000.
The map presents four proposals put before the Com-
mission for the entire frontier of Eastern Poland: claims by
the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, a French proposal, and
two proposals by the British delegate - one a minimum provisional
frontier defining areas undisputably Polish and the .other ad-
missable for discussion. The map is a part of Proceedings No:
43 of 8 April 19191. The lines are considerably at variance
one with another because of the variations in assumptions under-
lying each onOpir The Polish proposal was a frontier claim, the
French proposal granted Poles the benefit of any ethnic doubt
and strategic advantages against Russia, while the British pro-
posals were temportary conservative expedients pending a definitive
1
Recueil des Actes de la Conference, Partie IV, C(2) "Question
Territoriales, Commission de Affaires Polonaises."
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2. Pro osed Provisional?Boundary of the Eastern
Frontier of Poland. 22 April 1919. Commission
on Polish Affairs. Color. 1:1,000,000 with two
Supplements of Urban Localities at 1:100,000.
The map presents a provisional line delineated by
the Commission and submitted in its Report No 2, 22 April 1919
to the Supreme Council.
The line was basic to that defined in the Supreme Council's
Declaration of 8 December 1919, however, this map indicates it ex-
tension from East Prussia southward to the confluence of the Bug
and Naretwa Rivers at the approximate latitude of. the City of
Chelm (Kholm). This termination was caused by the separate con-
sideration involved in the settlement of the Galician question
which was delayed by the PolisO-Ukrainian-Russian hostilities.
The Line is outlined on a base consisting of a relatively
detailed stream pattern, a geographic grid, and a few place-names.
The line is refined in the vicinity of Brest-Litewsk and Grodno
on two maps of those areasa71744....,
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3. Pologne (Boundary of Supreme Council Declaration).
8 December 1919. Supreme Council of Allied and
Associated Powers. Color. 1:1,000,000.
The map presents the delineation of the provisional
frontier for the northern or Russian segment of the eastern fron-
tier of Poland as defined in detail in the Declaration of the
Supreme Council 8 December. 1919. While the Declaration dealt
wholly and exclusively with the above-mentioned frontier the
map presents plebiscite areas and other frontiers of Poland en-
tirely irrelevant to the eastern frontier. Among these was a
line indicated as a "frontier to be delimited on the ground"
in Galicia. This type of cartographic irrelevancy in an of-
ficial map is not 'only technically incorrect but is additionally
deplorable because it is believed(1) that it contributed to the
ambiguity which surrounds the evolution and character of the
Curzon Line.
1
State Department Report T.,462, March 6, 19441 P. 20-
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The map carrying a credit line of the French Service
Geographie l'Armee includes a geographic grid, relief indicated
by contours, a relatively detailed stream pattern, and a
selection of place names.
Call Number 8671
III. THE CURZON LINE
The Commission on Polish Affairs in treating the eastern
frontier problem in two distinct phases alternated the separate
proceedings of each of these phases throughout 1919. The second
of these phases, the Galician question, was complicated by
numerous political and military events. The Polish insistence
on all of Galicia, the temporarily successful Ukrainian agitation
for a Western Ukrainian Republic accompanied with a period of
Polish-Ukrainian hostilities and the Soviet-Polish hostilities
all served to complicate the problem of delineating a frontier
in Galicia. The Commission on Polish Affairs and its Sub-Com-
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mission at one time considered as many as six various proposals.
In its Third Report, 17 June 1919, to the Supreme Council the
Commission on Polish Affairs recommended a number of possible
solutions including two hypothetical lines representing a com-
promise between the British delegate on the one hand and the other
three delegates on the other. Line "A" roughly followed the San
River leaving Lwow and two-thirds of the oilfields out of Poland;
this line was preferred by the British Delegate. Line "B" fol-
lowed the Bug River and the eastern boundary of Lwow voivodship,
leaving Lwow and the oilfields of Drohobyez in Poland. This
line was preferred by the other delegates. Both of these lines,
however, were dispensed with when, for various reasons, the Supreme'
Council on 25 June 1919 authorized Poland to occupy temporarily the
whole of Galicia. The lines would hage passed into oblivion, as
they did temporarily, had they not been brought into prominence
in Polish and British maps, and had it not been for the ambiguous
delineation of the Curzon Line in Galicia.
1
Minutes No. 11, Sub-Commission to study the Eastern Frontier of
Poland in the records of the Commission to Negotiate the Peace/
181.2132101/11.
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The Curzon Line was proposed(1) as an armistice line in a
British note signed by Lord Curzon to Soviet Russia, 11 July
1920. The proposed armistice line in the note contained incon-
sistencies in the outline of the proposed armistice line; the
northern segment was the provisional frontier of the Supreme
Council Declaration of 8 December 1919. In Galicia, however,
the note first ambiguous defined Line "A" and then later speci-
fied a line of the military front at the date of the conclusion
of the Armistice. The Soviet Government in its proposal on 11
January 1944 erroneously referred to the Curzon? tine as "ac-
cepted in 1919 by the Supreme Council of the Allied Powers."
NO official map seems to have accompanied the Curzon proposal
which was transmitted, via cable, through a British official at
Reval. Because the proposal was rejected by the 44oviet Russia
the line probably was forgotten. But early in 1944 after the
Soviet proposal was made public the British Foreign Office
Research Division issued a series of maps, one of which indi-
cated the Curzon Line in Galicia to be identical With Line "A".
The following discussion of maps includes titles whose
focus is the Curzon Line proper and various lines pertinent to
the problem. The titles include those published by the British
Foreign Office Research Division, the United States Department
of State, -a map illustrating an article in the Soviet publi-
cation "IZVESTIYA" and naps either published or distributed
1
On 10 July 1920 the Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs signed
an agreement to the armistic which among other details speci-
fied the Line of 8 December 1919 and the line of the military
front at the date of the conclusion of the armistic.
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by the Polish Ministry of Information. Of particular note is
the disagreement between the British and Polish cartographic
interpretation of the Curzon Line reflecting its ambiguous
nature.
A. Maps of the Foreign Office Research Division.
The maps are drawn at various scales, in a technique which
gives them a characteristic uniformity of appearance. The data
are usually compiled on a simple base consisting of a selected
drainage pattern, a few place-ndmes, and a geographic grid with
?
one or two-degree intervals. The execution is sketchy in Cha-
racter which compiled with a paucity of place-names results
only in a generalized presentation of the various lines perti-
nent to the problem.
1. Frontiers of Poland, 1815-1940. 1944. Color.
1:3,250,000.
It presents a group of boundary lines including the
frontiers of 1921-1938, 1815-1914, the Republic of Cracow
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1818-1846, the Curzon Line, the Curzon Line in Galicia (see
Line "A"), Line "B", the General Gouvernement 1939-1940, the
boundary between the Lithuanian and White Russian S.S.R. 1940,
the provincial (voivodships) 1938 in Poland, the provincial
boundaries of Germany and Prussia, and the 1920-1921 plebiscite
areas in former Germany territory.
Call Number 100967
2. Eastern Boundaries of Poland. 1944. Color.
1:3,000,000.
The map presents the following: Frontiers of 1939,
1921-1939, 1815, the former Eastern Galician Boundary, pre-
sent provincial boundaries with their capitals Line "B" (one
of the proposed western boundaries for Galicia), and the Curzon
Line. The Curzon Line is indicated with a separate symbol in-
dicating the British recognition of the dualistic nature of the
line's history (see the Foreign Office Research Division Map
"The Curzon Line" for comparison).
Call Number 100950
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3. Polish White Russia. 1944. Color. 1:1,650,000.
The map presents selected historical boundaries: the
Polish Lithuanian.boundary 156-1795,, Congress Kingdom 1815-1914,
the Curzon Line, frontiers of 1921-1939).a4V:IlibbelYtroP-Molotov,,:
Line. Theseibounddrieblare shown within on of the problem areas:
"Polish White Russia" (Ruthenia).
Call Number 100966
4. The Curzon Line. 1944. Color. 1:3,050,000.
The map presents the Curzon Line, the two western boun-
daries for Eastern Galicia proposed by the Commission on Polish
Affairs of the Paris Peace Conference and the pre-1938 international
frontiers of Poland, the oil fields of Boryslaw, and the railway
passes east of the Curzon Line.
The map is most valuable because on it the British
Foreign Office identifies the Curzon Line with Line "A" in
Eastern Galicia.
Call Number 100951
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5. Eastern Galicia. 1944. Color. 1:815,000.
It shows the frontiers of 1938, the Molotov-Ribbentrop
Line of 1939, the Curzon Line, Line "B" (one of the Paris Peace
Conference proposals for the western boundary of Eastern Galicia)
In relationship to the language-religious composition of the pop-
ulation, and a highly generalized sketch of the oilfields of
Drohobycz.
Call NUmber 100976
B. A Map by the United States Department of State.
1. Eastern Frontiers of Polandt. 1912-1923. April 1944.
1:2,700,000.
The map presents the eastern frontier problem, achieving
a good balance between comprehensiveness of treatment and legible
presentation. The map presents the, international boundaries of
1914, province and dAtrict boundaries and names of Austrian
and Russian Poland and the judicial districts of Austrian Galicia.
Various lines are superimposed, including the boundary of the
area ceded to Ukraine in 1918, the two proposed western boundaries
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for eastern Galicia, the provisional eastern frontier of Poland
In 1919 according to the Declaration of the Supreme Council 8
December 1919, the armistice (Soviet-Polish) line proposed by
Lord Curzon, and the Riga boundary.
There is one error. The symbol for the Riga boundary is
continued along the Polish, Lithuanishand East Prussian bound-
ary; the Riga frontier established a boundary only between the
Soviet Union and Poland.
Call Number 4340
C. Polish Aps .
The Polish maps on the problem of the eastern frontier. are
distinctive because of certain data included on them Which have
not been noted on other maps, particularly the presentation of the
Curzon Line problem.
In contrast to the British depiction of the Curzon Line,
the Polish maps indicate the Curzon Line as applicable only to
the provisional frontier of the Declaration of 8 December 1919.
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. This is understandable within the Polish view which interprets
the Curzon Line in terms of the prior agreement signed by the
Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs at the Conference of Spa
10 July 1920 specifying the Line of 8 December 1919 and the
line of the Soviet-Polish Military front at the time of the
armistice conclusion. Such a combination of lines is genera-
lized on Map title'2 below.
The Borisov Line is named after the town of Borisov, which
was proposed as a meeting place for the unsuccessfully-attempted
conclusion of a Soviet-Polish armistice; an armistice line was
proposed by Lenin, Chicherin, considerably eastward of the
Curzon Line and the Riga frontier which is taken by the Poles
to indicate that the Riga frontier was not excessive and did
not take advantage of Russia. In this same vein the boundaries
of 1772 are invariably drawn to indicate the extent of Polish
de jure rights and the extent of the reduction which is accePted
a .Riga.
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A third type of line which occurs on Polish maps is the
so-called Botha Line. During 1919 when Polish-Ukrainian
hostilities were impeding the settlement of the Galician fron-
tier question the Supreme Council formed an Inter-Allied Armistice
Commission, headed by a British General Botha, proposed a frontier(1)
in May 1919 which left Lwow in Polish hands; presumably this is
taken to be added evidence of the recognition of Poland's rights
to the city and the area between it'and Line "A".
The following are selected map titles of Polish Maps.
1. (Untitle0ap). 194-... Author not indicated.
Monochrome. 1:2,800,000.
The map appeared in a monograph "About the Curzon
Line and Other Lines" by Casimir Smogorzewski, and published by
"Free Europe" of London. Six lines with lengthier legends are
presented - the provisional frontier of the Declaration of
1
Miller, David Hunter, "My Diary of the Peace Conference",
Volume X, P..321, and Map "Q" in folder of maps.
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8 December 1919, Lines "A" and "B" in Galicia, the Borisov
Line of Lenin, Trotsky, and Ghicherin, the Botha Line of May
1919, the Riga Frontier, and the Molotov-Ribbentrop Line of
1939.
The lines are compiled on a 'base consisting of a well-
selected drainage pattern, a railway net, and place-names.
Call Number 7727
2. Map of Poland. 194---. Author not indicated.
Monochrome. 1:4,000,000.
This map obtained from the Polish Ministry of In-
formation presents six lines with only the briefest identification:
the Curzon Line, Botha, and Borisov Lines as well as a composite
of lines generalizing the details of the armistice proposal to
which the Polish Minister agreed with Lloyd George at Spa 10
July 1920. These include a line. 50 km. to the east of the pro-
visional frontier of the Declaration of 8 December 1919 to which
the Soviet armies were to withdraw, the provisional frontier of
8 December 1919, and the Soviet-Polish battlefront of 11 July
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1920 which was to serve as the armistice frontier in Galicia.
This is thePolish presentation of the complex Curzon Line
based on the Polish-British agreement of 10 July 1920, and
in contrast to the ambiguous Curzon Line which the British
proposed the following day to the Soviet authorities.
The lines are highly generalized on a simple base con-
sisting of stub geographic coordinates, a highly-selected
stream pattern and a small selection of significant place-
names.
Call Number 7958
3. Map of Poland and Adjacent Countries. 1940.
Author not indicated. Monchrome. 1:6,000,000.
A boundary map of Poland,distributed by the Polish
Ministry of Information, presenting a group of lines consisting
of the international boundaries of 1938 and 1772, the Ribben-
trop-Molotov Line of 1939, the Curzon Line, and the Borisov
Line. The Curzon Line is drawn to correspond only to the line.
of the Supreme Council Declaration of 8 December 1919; the
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southern portion of the Curzon Line is entirely omitted in
keeping with the Polish view concerning the nature of the
Curzon Line.
The lines are drawn on a simple base consisting of a
highly selected stream pattern, selected place-names of the
more important towns and cities, and geographic stub coordinates.
Call Number 7957
D. A'Soviet Map of the Curzon Line..
A Soviet map illustrating an article concerning the Cur-
zoneLine appeared in the Soviet publication "Izvestiyan 13
January 1944. A description of the map follows:
1. Linya Kerzona (CurzonLine). 13 January 1944.
Izvestiya, Monochrome. 1:2,600,000.
The map shows the Ribbentrop-Molotov Line of 1.939 in
bold, generalized outline, while the Curzon Line is drawn
schematically oriented about the place-names mentioned for the
provisional frontier of the Declaration of 8 December 1919,
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and Line "A" in the Curzon note. The schematic line as drawn
does not compare either with the British or Polish versions.
In the article two erroneous remarks are made concerning the
line: (a) that the "Curzon Line (was) accepted in 1919 by the
Supreme Council, (b) that the Line "was confirMed at the Con-
ference of Allied Powers at Spa" in July 1920.
IV. The Riga Frontier.
The British armistice proposal of Lord Curzon of 11.July
1920 failed to halt Soviet-Polish hostilities which continued
until an armistice and preliminary peace conference were
opened at RigalLatvia September 1920. A definitive frontier
and final peace terms were agreed to 18 March 1921.
A. Frontiere de l'Est de la Repiadique Polonaise.
1921. Delineation Commission of the Polish
Ministry of Public Works. Monochrome. 1:500,000.
The map was compiled according to the provisions of
? the Nixed Boundary Commission for the Treaty of Riga.
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The map is compiled on a base including a ge9graphic grid
with one-degree intervals based on the Meridian of Ferro. The
line of the frontier is oriented to a large number of place-names.
V. The Ribbentrop-Molotov Line.
On September 28, 1939 Soviet Russia represented by Molotov
and Germany represented by Ribbentrop partitioned Poland for the
fourth time.
?
A quaisi-official map of the frontier is delineated on five
plates of the Great Soviet World Atlas1.1/8/a-/-77eLL
:Politiko-Administrativnoya Karta Ukrainskoy SSR.
? Politiko-Administrativnoya Karta Byelorusskoy SSR.
1:1,500,000. 1939. Color.
The line is outlined on these administrative maps
of the Ukrainian SSR and Byelorussian SSR.
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MAPS OF BOUNDARIES AND BOUNDARY PROPOSALS
-This section of the report presents an analysis of boundary
_
maps selected from reports, historical studies, propogandistic
publications, and official documents defining boundary proposals,
agreements and declarations. These include maps appearing as
part of the records of the Paris Peace Conference, maps of the
Inquiry (a research group organized under Col. E. M. House to
conduct studies for the American Commission to Negotiate the
Peace), and maps included in David Hunter Miller's "My Diary
of the Peace Conference" which consists of official documents,
notes, memoranda, and private correspondence on official affairs
concerning the Paris Peace Conference.
The inaccessibility of
foreign official documents has necessitated considerable depen-
dence on the quasi-official maps published and/or distributed by
the Polish Ministry of Information, the Council of Peo/ple's Com-
missars, U.S.S.R. (sponsor of the publication of the Great Soviet
World Atlas, the Tass News Agency, and the British foreign Office
Research Division).
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The problem of the eastern Polish boundary centers on the
Riga frontier (Soviet-Polish Treaty of Riga 18 March 1921) and
on the Curzon Line proposed by the Soviet Union 11 January 1944.
These two boundaries have had two separate histories though they
were not entirely exclusive of each other. The Riga frontier was
the result of Soviet-Polish negotiations following the termination
of the Soviet-Polish War of 1919-1920, while the Curzon Line was
the result of a British proposal incorporating among other pro-
posals the provisional frontier of the Supreme Council Declaration
of 8 December 1919 and one of two proposals of the Paris Peace
Conference. These proposals were evolved not without some
reference to Congress Poland and to the Partitions of Poland.
In order to present the evolution of the various boundaries
of Poland and the bases for the various Russian, British, and
%
Polish proposals this analysis is organized in the following his-
torical - chronological order:
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a. Boundary maps of Poland before World War I.
b. Maps of the Paris Peace Conference.
c. ? Maps of the Curzon Line.
d. Maps of the Riga Frontier.,
e. The Ribbentrop-Molotov Line.
It must be emphasized that the maps in this study are organised
in an arbitrary arrangement since many maps show more than one
VOundary line and, therefore, could be placed under several handiRgs.
?
However, each map is placed under the subject heading toward which
its major emphasis is directed.
?
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