El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-07-15
Restored Russia, Vengeful
Germany, DISCONTINUED
Italy May Unite.

treated her snail also turn 10 the
Germans is TO provide for new war
tory by the new alliance.
Real Puzzle Mt Paris.
] The real difficulty which confronts
I the men who have to carry on the
work OF peace making is the puzzle
about Russia. We have recognized
| the independence of Finland, but
kolchak fatty refuses TO recognize 1t
on his part We have recognized the
claim OF Poland TO freedom. which
\ Kolchak also comedies. but what is
to be Poland's eastern limit? The
/ boundaries Of the old Russian PO-
/ land? But the Polish armies are in
/ Wilma. Ninsk and Kovel. fighting Boil
! shevist forces. Certainly if kOlchak
VIII not recognize the independence
/ Of Finland he VIII not consent to the
: separation of Lithuania, White Russia
and Volhynia from the old Muscoyite
state.
Nor is the dispute merely between
the Pole and the Russian here. On
the contrary. the Poles desire TO re-
store the old confederation between
Lithuania and Poland. while the
Lithuanians desire unconditional IN
dependence. and even II this were
granted there is still to be settled the
age long difference between two peo-
pies as TO their boundaries II the
Paris conference give Poland White
Russia and Lithuania. II alienates the
Russians and the Lithuanians. II II
does not II alienates the Poles. II II
returns the Lithuanians to Russia. II
aiienates both these people and the
Poles and does violence to the right Of
self determination Of peoples
mo Simple TangIe.
Then there is the problem Of Risa,
OF Libau, Of the provinces OF the
Courland, Esthonia and Livonia- with
a certain minority Of German inhae-
ltants and strong separate senti-
ment- To take these away from RUS
STA would be TO undo the work OF
Peter the Great and leave Russia
without access to the Baltic. But pre-
cisely these people are making, with
allied help, a gallant fight against the
Bolshivist Russians; shall they be re-
warded by betrayal 10 the Russians2
If they are. they will unquestionably
fight with German aid - German
troops are still there-against Russia,
until such time as Russia and Ger
many come to terms over the whole
set OF questions that concern them
II is, then. mo simple tangle, this prob
lem Of the Baltic and Polish hinter-
lands.
In the solving Of it. the main oues-
ton Will necessarily be the self in
terest OF the western powers. It
would be idle TO expect Great Britain
and France to ALLEVIATE Russia by ced-
ing her territories 10 Poland and one
or more Independent Baltic states.
thus insuring a speedy combination OF
Russia and Germany TO undo this /
work
The fact that every European
recOgnizes and most Americans
disregard ia that the German vic
tory over Russia destroyed the
balance of power in Europe.
which was restored only when we
sent great armies to the continent.
These armies have mostly DEPART
ed, their return under any eireum-
stances Is at least predetermined;
therefore, IL Is OF utmost import
anee to the western powers, IL
they are to exist. TO prevent nm
alliance between Russia and Ger
many, which would be almost ir-
resistable. This can only be
avoided. If Mt all. by so framing
the terms Of peace aS not to dis
satisfy the Russia OF tomorrow.
which they must assume, will be
strong and mindful OF its his
tOrtc greatness.
That is why the whole Russian
problem has continued TO paralyze the
backing Of the wrong horse" would
be fatal. Lloyd George and Wilson
were willing to flirt with Lenine,
some months ago, because neither was
directly exposed to Russian invasion
u the reacLonary faction regained
control but France is, has been in
vaced by Russians at least twice in
2 little more than century. and !
france was always opposed 10 that
nanueyer which ended ingloriously in
he Prinkipo fiasco.
We have. as a result OF our peace
making SO far, alienated Italy and
sreated a sullen, resentful. reyengeful
Germany. Both circumstances were
approximately inevitable; at least ;
here was no escape from the German ,
detail. To add to these a Russia. !
destined to be again the greatest
power on the continent, would be for :
France and Great Britain. with her
indian empire and her Mesopotamian
colony, 10 commit suicide.
Work Cannot BE Rapid.
therefore II is not going to be
Easy or rapid work. this settling the
eastern frontiers Of Poland and Ru-
mania and the future status OF the
5aitic provinces I should guess that
n the end Finland would be con-
irmed In her independence, Poland in
he possession Of not much more than
Ell old area Of Russian Poland, in
'luding Cholm- while Rumanian pos
ession Of Bessarabia. which exists
night be tolerated. but would hardly
le sanctioned. That is. II might be
EFT Tor Rumania to settle the dis
ute directly with Russia. without.
however, receiving in advance any
guarantee from the western powers.
Though no one disputes the fact that
he great majority Of the population
re Rumanian by race.
Even this summary retreat does not.
owever, dispose Of all the questions
ffecting Poland. Today Polish armies
re fighting the Ukrainians in eastern
ialicia and there is an historic dis 7
ute between these peoples for the q
ossession Of eastern Gaiicia. with u
iemberg. the capital, which is itself a is
'olish city. surrounded by a Ruthenfan n
peaking country Had Russia stayed -
] the war she would have annexed all "
Galicia with the consent Of the west b
m powers, but what now? lT
First Of all, will the Ukraine en-
ure as a separate state or viii It re- III
ert to Russia? Should the western oil
overs follow the German example B
nd recognize the independence of the \,
e to ALLEVIATE the Northern Russians
nd the Poles: not TO recognize might fe
e TO gueSs wrong, for the Ukrainians II
light gam liberty. But to bsstOW
lstern Galicia upon the Poles would III
ienate both the Russians and the l
krainians and lead to serious conse- III
1ences. Meantime the Poles hold "
u OF II. as result Of their victories. y.
nd mean 70 hang on. Sc
Pole CzeehO-sIov Dispute. m
Then there is the dispute between 70
le Poles and the Czecho-Slovaks over -
eschen, a tiny territory. immensely ii
ch in minerals. lying between Polish W.
I'd Czech peoples at the headwaters
the oder and the Vistula. A major D;
y Of the population is Polish. but
le CZechs have an economic neces- &c
iity TO possess the land, at least they pi
lege such a necessity. and the Paris m
inference once conceded IL to them. -
ten 1t repented. Now the question "a
open again, with the two Slav peo- nc
es at daggers drawn To give it to an
le would be to ALLEVIATE the other, 20 of