New-York tribune., 1919-08-19
The Front Against Bolshevism

1t is generally recognized, in theory
at least, that one Of the most important
factors in combating Bolshevism in
Russia is that semicircuar fringe of
national states which, non-Russian in
race, culture and history, detached them
selves from the imperial body soon after
the fall of the ROmanoffs and have since
been engaged in a deadly struggle
against the Onrushing waves Of red
imperialism.
The peoples of Finland, Esthonia, Let
tonla (Letva), Lithuania, Poland and
the Ukraine, having rid themselves of
the political, economic and linguistic
bondage Of Czarisn1, are determined not
to submit to the centraistic tyranny
which mcnaces their newly gained free
dom. AS recent dispatch put it:
"Trotzky still dreams Of Bolshevist
hegemony throughout the world
He insists that Russia must regain her
frontiers. His policy is savagely inn
perialstic and is ruthlessy carried out
by his lieutenants in all conquered terri
tories, as in the Ukraine, by Rakovsky.
All his efforts are directed toward the
unlflcaton Of the Soviet empire and the
crushing Of all national Independence
Some efforts have been made by the
Allies to utilize this fringe of national
states III the fight against Leninsm
But the absence of clear cut Russian
policy, of which the supreme council at
Paris has made itself so notoriouslv
guilty makes impossible a full and svs
ten1atlc development of the potentalities
that lie in the reawakened national con-
sciousness Of the border peoples And
yet the consolidation of this nationalistic
front against Bolshevism, apart from its
immediate strategic advantages, would
have the virtue of bringing the ultimate
solution of the Russian problem step
nearer 1t is probable that with the ex
ceptlon of Poland and possibly Finland,
all the states formerly INCORPORATED in
the Russian Empire would be only too
wiling to recnter a confederation which.
While leaving their nationhood intact
would afford much better SAFEGUARD
of their economic future than an isolated
existence
1t is all the more regrettable that petty
]calousies and rivalrics are permitted to
Jeopardlze the stability of this "bulwark
SYSTEM This is the case notably as
between the new Polish state and the
Ukraine The very lives of both are
most 3cntpIX II
aggression. The conquest Of the one by
the Lenlne forces would inevitably lead
to the fall of the other. If Poland is
overrun, the position of petlura's
ukrainian nationalistic forces in the
marshes of Volhynia would become un-
'enable If the granaries Of the Ukraine
are acquired by the Bolsheviki. Polish
independence is doomed. And vet these
two largest nations Of Eastern Eurone
are incapable of putting aside or even
postponing their controversy about Chol,o
and Eastern Galicia, even though the
common enemy is battering down the
gates.
A characteristic piece of information
shedding light on the desperate three
cornered fight that is raging in this
corner Of Europe was contained in am
Associated Press dispatch from Warsaw.
published last week, concerninp bread
stuifs IN the Ukraine and starvation
IN Poland. Nothing would be moro
hatural and obvious than that the sur
plus of foodstutfs in the Ukraine should
go to the relief of Poland, seeing that
both countries are fighting the same
enemy for life and death. It Is an
anomaly of the gravest order that tho
two peoples, which ought to be allies
should engage in a fratricidal battle
while the common foe is ADVANCING. With
modlcum of good will and common
sense the territorial controversy scnara+-
ing Poles and Ukrainians m;oh+ ba
solved and the front of Western cjvliza-
'lon against Eastern barbarism strength
ened immensely. Without such an mn
derstandng both nations stand to lose
not single district or province but
thelr hardly gained independence itse.f
The Allied leaders at Paris might ID
worse than attempt to engineer sucb
an expedient