The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-02-14

regulation of conditions of employ,
ment drafted by Mr.. Barnes. British
minister without portfolio, in conferj
ence with British trade unionists and
representatives of India and the do-l
minions.
The Polish commission of the sui
preme council. made up Of representa-
tives of America. Great Britain,
France and Italy. prepared to deparu
for Warsaw. 1t would seem that this
commission has big job before 1t, for
while the Poles themselves are work
Ing fairly harmoniously under the
leadership of Paderewski, they are be-
set by enemies on three sides and are,
engaged in continual warfare. The
Russian bolsheviki and the Ukrainiansl
are unremitting in their attacks, and
now the Czechs are aSSailing the Poles
along their southern border. The for
mer have captured number of townsl
which they claim are properly within,
the boundaries of Czecho- Slovakia, and
they also have seized the mining re-
s-itiiS vi Nal Niii, upbli Niii'ii liit 4 oiiHh
state relies largely for its mineral sup
plies.
This fighting, Of course, is in direct
disobedience of the recent order of the
great powers that all hostilities must
cease everywhere, but the Polish rep
resentatives in Paris say their country
cannot stop lighting when it is under
constant military attack.
Diplomaticaiiy, Russian matters
were at standstill. awaiting replies
to the invitation to a conference of all
factions on the Princes islands in the
Sea of Marmora. The bolshevilli or
gans rather resented that plan, for
they asserted the bolsheyiki were
gaining victories in the field that en-
titled them to more recognition. The
representatives in Paris of the other
factions continued in their attitude of
passive opposition to the conference,
and General Miller, head of the north
Russia government in the absence of
President Tschaikovsky, stated that it
is not only inadyisable to hold any par
ley with the holshcviki, but it would be
physically impossible for the represen-
tatives of north Russia to reach the
Princes islands by February 10 with
out passing through bolshevik terri
tory, which he considered impossible.
The Omsk government insisted that
the campaign against the bolsheviki
must be pushed vigorously.
The claims of the bolsheviki to vic
tory in the field We're not without
foundation. In the Archangel region
they have forced the American and al
lied troops to withdraw quite Il dis
tance from their advanced positions.
and they have driven General Dutoif
out of the important city of Orenburg
on the Tral river. On the other hand,
they lost Saranpol, province of To
bolsk, to the Siberians and are report
ed to have been overthrown in Tash-
| kent. capital of itnsSian Turkestan. In
| The Ukraine the soviet forces inflicted
! severe defeat on the army of Gen
eral Petlura aad occupied Ekaterino-
slav. There is nttle to choose between
the contenders iecre.
rret why the nllied forces ara N
north Russia and what they are ex-
mystery and it engaged the attention
of the American senate last week when
Senator Johnson Of California vigor-i
ously attacked the policy, or lack OF
policy. of the administration in this
matter The course that is being pur-
sued Is equally diSpleasing to many
Britishers, and the French never did
approve of it.
one important point concerning pay.
ment by Germany is reported to have
been settled by the peace conference.
1t was decided that while Germany
must make full reparation for unjusti-
| liable damage done, she and her asso-
ciates will not be called on to pay
heavy indemnities to reimburse the vic
torious nations for their war expenses.
Nor will Germany be compelled to re-