The Dominion SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1920. THE POLISH PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 269, 7 August 1920, Page 6

The Dominion SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1920. THE POLISH PROBLEM

The tone of the latest British telegram' to Russia is more than warranted, by the evasions of th'o Soviet Government and its apparent determination—in spite of its verbal disclaimers on the subject—to overthrow Polish- independence. The lato course "of events, and in particular tho ' continued forward movement of'the Red armies in Galicia and towards Warsaw, makes it fairly clear that in pretending 'Co negotiate with the Allies in reference to la Russo-Polish armistice, the Bolshevik dictators were simply sparring for time. It now seems highly probable that the_ Allies may be compelled to''take positive action, not merely in defence of Poland, but ill the interests of European peace. Britain and the other Allied Powers were bound under the Covenant of the League of Nations to defend the integrity of Poland, though that . obligation . might be considered to have lapsed through Poland's invasion of Russian territory. It is clear enough now that the' Poles would have been wiser to content themselves with the-defence of their eastern- frontier as it was provisionally settled, by the Peace Conference, but criticism of the aggressive policy they preferred is weakened when account is taken of their-. direct contact- with the Bolshevik menace and thcir ; ever.-pre-pnnt fear of such an invasion as 4he Beds are now developing. Any harm, that Poland hasdono by_ an over-eager military policy, certainly ■yould not be remedied by allowing the Bolshevists' to deduce her once, more to the conditions of vassalage from which she was lately "redeemed. Apart from their obligations to Poland, the Allies are vitally interested on broader grounds, in tho situation that is developing so threateningly in Eastern Europe. , Poland is one link in a chain of buffer States, and if the Allies pas- ; sively • permit Poland to be overrun and" subjugated, they will inr dicate ..that they are prepared ■ to abandon "Finland ..and Lithuania —perhaps, also Czecho-Slovakia, Hungary and Rumania—-to the same evil fate, and allow_ tho Bolshevists to establish immediate "and unimpeded contact with' Germany. If they abandoned Poland the "Allies would in effect admit their inability to re-establish peace in Europe and give the Russian dictators every cncouragcment to" embark on an extended career of predatory conquest, .The outlook is , not improved by the uncertain attitude of Germany. With such issues raised the Allies can hardly be _ content . with a policy of helpless inaction. The problem is not merely to save Poland, but to..check the Bolshevik menace before it pets completelv out of hand. As tho Grand Duke Nicholas observed a few months ago, the problem before the world is that of stopping 'the Red Terror at the frontiers of Russia.

Tho policy of supporting- and reostablishine; Poland is_ admittedly a most difficult one to ?ive practical cffect to. It commends.'itself, however, as the readiest means of set-' timr limits to the frightful losses in lives and material the world has suffered since war broke out in 1914.V .Taking, .account of the clcclipn in births and the rise in tho civilian death-rote since that .year, as well, as of actual war casualties, it is estimated that forty million persons are not living to-dnv • who might have been alive had there been no world-war. The accompanying waste of material wealth is reflected : n widespread hardship, want and ndserv. The vcrv existence nf civilisation demands that this frightful drain should cease and the energies of the world should be concentrated on economic and social reconstruction, but it certainly would not be moving in this direction fr, aIW th n Bolshevists to work their will on Poland. O H" contrarv effective measures i" nid of that- unhappy country and a decisive check to Bolshevik regression are in all likelihood essential to tho re-establishment of settled peace. The British Government has not yet statedhow far it is prepared to go in assisting Poland. To-day's news includes rumours of naval mobilisation and military preparation, but according to one cablegram it is authoritatively stated that Britain has no intention of sending troops to Poland and the rumours of preparation are denied. • It may be doubted, however, whether this attitude will be maintained if the Soviet Government persists in its present tactics of diplomatic evasion and unlimited military aggression. Renewed assurances from Moscow that the Soviet is willing to recognise the independence of Poland and to conclude peace are > difficult to reconcile with what is happening i' l the fighting area. The dispatch of Allied troops to Poland would be ;• difficult matter and naturally would only be undertaken as a. last resort. The northern winter is close at hand,. typhus fever is epidemic in Poland, and transport facilities are noor and ill-oi'canised. The most hopeful' possibility is that the Bolshevik Government will be content to make use of its successes against Poland as a means of bargaining for Hie trade concessions it is seeking from the Allies.