IS POLAND LOST ?

Jagello's empire grew and prospered. It was the
largest in the Europe of his time, extending from
the Baltic to the Black Sea. It was also powerful
and secure from attack. At the same time, aggres-
sion was never part of Jagello's policy, nor has it
been favoured by any Slav people, with the sole
exception of Russia. In that respect, at least, the
Poles have always been superior to the Germans,
with whom aggression has been a tradition. The
delegates whom Jagello sent to the Council of
Constanza, the great international congress of the
fifteenth century, represented the most progres-
sive, Christian, lawful and non-violent principles
in the political life of their age. When the
'Heathen3 King died in [consequence of a cold
in his small castle in the region of Lemberg, he
left behind a powerful country which was safe
from attack both on its eastern and western
frontiers.

That fact gave his dynasty an opportunity for
the consolidation and extension of its power.
. Hungary, which was now exposed to the onslaughts
of Islam, sought safety in an alliance with Poland,
and invited Jagello's son, Vladyslav, to occupy the
Hungarian throne, thus uniting the two countries
under one King.

">^This fact was destined to influence the shaping
of \European history four centuries later, for it
the foundations not only of a political but

c> a sentimental friendship between Poland and
. That was why, at the encjl of the great
when Poland was at grips with Bolshevik

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