The Sun MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1920. FRUITS OF THE POLISH DEBACLE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2029, 16 August 1920, Page 6

The Sun MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1920. FRUITS OF THE POLISH DEBACLE.

There is no saying where the consequences of the Polish debacle will end. The Bolsheviks are at the gates of Warsaw, which, declares Pilsudski, must be defended to the last. The" Poles, it is reported, are hoping that the impending battle in defence will prove another Marne. It looks the vainest of hopes. The victory at the Marne was no miracle; and nothing less can save Warsaw if the invaders are determined to enter the capital. As for the international situation: America finds herself in agreement with Fiance, while the Italian Press condemns France for having done what even Germany failed to do —broken up the Entente. The signs are that llaly is as desirous as Britain of resuming trade, with Russia. Unfortunately, France, who is ruled by the militaristic faction at present, turns the other way. If her loans to Russia are repudiated, then taxation will be necessary, and, so far, there has been no French Budget. As to whether Foch and his abettors will go on with the Wrangel proposition and complete the disruption of the Entente, there is no clear evidence. Indeed, a message received overnight suggests that France has thought better of it and will not lend Wrangel military assistance. It is added that on that point, Britain will be consulted. One suspects that the outcry in Britain and Italy against taking up arms against the Bolsheviks has had a restraining influence on the martial ardour of the French Chauvinists. It is to be hoped so, at any rate. The British policy towards Russia, as outlined by Mr Lloyd George, is eminently logical. Poland's integrity must be respected; the peace terms must he fair and reasonable. Poland, for all her foolishness, deserves no more. She has brought this trouble upon herself, and should not complain if she has lo pay the price. She may rail at Lloyd George as she will, but she is expecting too much if she expected the Allies to start a new Kuropean war on her account. If France is wrong-headed enough to throw oil on the flames, let her do so. One should have thought she had had enough of battle, bloodshed and loss to set out so soon on another expedition which would almost certainly he long-drawn-out and unsuccessful. Probably the real point of difference between Britain on the one hand and France and America on the other is that Britain is working up to a trading arrangement with the Bolsheviks; which would open the gate ultimately to official recognition of Sovictism. It will be to the general good if Russia, constituted as she is, received that recognition. Sovictism has survived many vicissitudes and, so far as can be ascertained, has come to slay. As it is such a power for evil outside its own domain, better to recognise it as a form of government and have done with it than to keep it at arm's length —an enemy to the peace and security of the rest of the civilised world. If the unlettered Russian millions are reconciled to Bolshevism, why should Western Europe interfere? To do so would be equivalent to poking a stick into a nest of hornets: the well-intentioned (perhaps) but misguided stranger would be numerously slung for his pains.