United States of Poland
United States of Poland is an unrealized political concept of reborn Poland, created by Ignacy Jan Paderewski (born 1860, died 1941). It was first presented in Paderewski Memorial, given to US President Woodrow Wilson on 11 January 1917.
Paderewski's idea postulated rebuilding a Polish state as federation, in which constitution and law would guarantee equality to citizens, ethnic and religious groups. Territory would engulf most of pre-partitioned territory. Taking into account of that time population, the country would have 54 million citizens. On its head would be a President with a title of the King of Poland, Lithuania, Polesia and Halych.[1]
Administrative regions
United States of Poland were to be a number of autonomous states including:
- Kingdom of Poland
- Kingdom of Lithuania
- Kingdom of Polesia
- Kingdom of Galitia-Podole
- Kingdom of Volhynia
Later the concept of Galitia-Podole was supplanted by Kingdom of Halych, in separate memorial there was also postulate of incorporating a Eastern Prussia into it.[1]
Ukrainian problem
The postulate of creation of Kingdoms of Halych and Polesia on lands which were inhabited by large numbers of Ukrainians did not satisfy their appetites for creation of independent state. Paderewski did not pursue the matter due to large percentage of Ukrainian population living in those regions with a different politics and demography.