The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-07-12
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Russians and the Lithuanians, II 1t
does not it alienates the Poles. If it
returns the Lithuanians to Russia it
alienates both these people, and the
Pales and does violence to the right
OF self determination of peoples.
No Simple Tansie
Then there is the problem of Riga,
of Libau Of the provinces of the Cour
land. Esthonia and Livonia. with a
certain minority of German inhabi'
tants and a strong separatists 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. gallant fight against
the Bolshevist Russians; shall they
be rewarded by betrayal to the Rus
slams? If they are SO to be, they will
unquestionably fight with German
aid-German troops are still There
against Russia, until such time as Rus
STA and Germany come to terms over
the whole set of questions that con-
Germ them. 1t is, then, no simple
tangle, this problem of the Baltic and
Polish hinterlands.
In the solving of it, the main Ques-
ton will necessarily be self interest
of the western powers. 1t would be
idle to expect Great Britain and
France to ALLEVIATE Russia by ceding
her territories to Poland and one or
more Independent Baltic states, thus
insuring a speedy combination of Rus
STA and Germany to undo this work.
The fact that every European re-
cognizes, and most Americans disre-
gard, is that the German victory over
Russia destroyed the balance of power
in Europe, which was restored only
when We sent great armies to the
Continent. These armies have most
ly departed; their return under any
circumstances is at least problemati-
cal; therefore it is OF utmost import
ance to the western powers, if they
are to exist, to prevent an alliance
between Russia and Germany, which
would be almost irresistible. This can
only be avoided, if at all, by so franz
ing the terms of peace as not to dis
satisfy the Russia of tomorrow, which,
they must assume, will be strong and
mindful of its historic greatness.
That is why the whole Russian prob
lem has continued to paralyze the
Paris conference A mistake, the
backing of the wrong horse" would
be fatal. Lloyd George and Wilson
were willing to fiirt with Lenine, some
months ago, because neither was d.
rectly exposed to Russian invasion il
the reactionary faction regained con-
troll, but France is so exposed, has
been invaded by Russians at least
twice, in little more than a century,
and France was always opposed to
IT. 49, ,rr1<
riously in the Prinkipo fiasco.
Italy Alienated, Germany SuIIen
We have, as a result of our peace
making so far, alienated Italy and
created a sullen, resentful, revenge
were approximately inevitable; at
least there was no escape from the
German detail To add to these, Rus
STA 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, to commit suicide.
Therefore it is not going to be easy
or rapid work, this settling the east
ern frontiers of Poland and Rumania
and the future status Of the Baltic
provinces. l should guess that in
the end Finland would be confirmed
! in her independence, Poland in the
possession of not much more than
the old area of Russia Poland, in.
Guiding Cholm, while Rumanian pos
session of Bessarable, which exists.
might be tolerated but would hardly
be sanctioned. That is, it might be
! left for Rumania to settle the dispute
directly with Russia, without, how
ever, receiving in advance any guar
antee from the western powers, al
! though no one disputes the fact that
the great majority Of the population
are Rumanian by race.
! Even this summary retreat does no,
| however, dispose of all the questions
affecting Poland. Today Polish armies
are fighting the Ukrainians in Eastern
! Galicia and there is an historic dis
pute between these peoples for the
possession of Eastern Galicia, with
Lemberg, the capital, which is itself
Polish city surrounded by a Ruthen
| ian speaking country. Had Russia
stayed in the war she would have an
nexed all Of Galicia with the consent
OF the western powers, but what now
Will Ukrainia Endure?
First of all, will the Ukraine en-
dure as a separate state or will 1t re
, vert to Russia? Should the western
powers follow the German example
! and recognize the Independence O.
the Ukraine or not? To recognize
would be to- ALLEVIATE the Northern
Russians and the Poles; not to recog
nize might be to guess wrong, for the
Ukrainians might gain liberty. But tt
bestow Eastern Galicia upon the Pole:
would ALLEVIATE both the Russians ant
the Ukrainians and lead to serious
consequences. Meantime the Pole
will hold al lof it, as result OF the1
victories and mean to hand on.
Then there is the dispute with tn
Serbs over the Banat. Now the Bana
exists to confute the Fourteen points
1t has a population of 100000 AM
there is not any race in the man
who inhabit it which has a clear ma
jority. The Rumanians out numbe
the Germans, Serbs and Magyars, VIII
are all there in considerable numbers
but the Germans and the Magyar
combined would outnumber the RI
manians. Moreover. the Southwestern
districts are Serb, the Northwestern,
Magyar. but to give these district
to the Serbs and the Magyars. woul
be to deprive the Rumanians, livin
in the uplands of their natural an,