Already the northern and southern ends of the frontier between Germany and France are neutralised by the existence of Belgium and Switzerland; why, it may be asked, should not the whole frontier be treated in the same way by neutralising the disputed territory of Alsace-Lorraine?
Perhaps, too, a neutral Poland would form a useful buffer between Germany and Russia.

Such neutralisation, it should be noted, need not necessarily carry with it independence.

Poland and Alsace-Lorraine might form part of Russia and France respectively, and still be neutralised by a guarantee of other powers.

A precedent exists for this in the terms of the cession of the Ionian Islands to Greece in 1864, while Savoy, though a province of France, is technically neutralised territory.[2] Cases like these, however, it must be admitted, are extremely anomalous and could hardly stand the strain of a serious war.

But, then, as recent experience has shown us, not even independent neutralised States are safe when all Europe is aflame.