The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-12
Herself to Blame.

II will not be very consoling to Po-
land, who has informed the allies that
she is in grave peril from the Bolshevist
armies and is on the point OF moving
her capital from Warsaw, to reflect that
for her uncomfortable situation she has
mostly herself TO blame.
when the Bolsheviks made overtures
OF peace to Poland about the first OF
Febru1GY last, she was naughty and
dlsdaiuful She took counsel OF her tenn
porary successes in arms, rather than
OF the justice OF her claims and the
her, She replied to the Bolshevik note
that she could not consider any peace
that did not restore the ancient eastern
boundary OF Poland as II existed before
the first partition in 1772--the line OF
tho Dwina and tho Dnieper rivers.
At that rate It did not take long
for the dove OF peace to seek a more
congenial CLINE.
The boundaries OF Poland as they
were agreed upon at Paris by states
men presumably interested in securing
justice for an ally ran something like
zoo miles to the west OF this line. The
ntermediate territory to which Poland
now laid claim included the independent
states OF Lithuania and the Ukraine,
and parts OF Russia. The Polish de-
mand was exactly like that ambition
which was entertained by many re-
venEeful Frenchmen. but which the
French peace commissioners did not
have the nerve to put formally forward
to occupy everything for France up To
the Rhine.
When this country was on the point
OF giving a goodly sum to the Polish
relief fund last winter, It was specified
by Secretary Baker and others interest
cd that our assistance must be clearly
conditioned on the defensive and non
imperialistic attitude Of the Polish gov
eminent"
When the Polish government under
took its big offensive Of last spring,
after disposing OF the Bolshevist peace
offer. II was with the plain disapproval
OF the friends Of liberalism and a square
international deal everywhere.
The league of nations people went so
far as to beg that the league council
be convened to demonstrate with this
Poland militant, This was the only
ludicrous feature Of situation full OF
tragic prospects.
The action OF Poland in disregarding
the settlement OF Paris was just the
kind OF bad faith that makes Americans
hesitate to commit themselves to a
league OF nations. II was just the sort
Of thing that Gov. Cox had in mind
when he proposed to the covenant the
other day an amendment-tor 1t is
stronger than reservation, and in plain
contradiction to the document to which
II is added-to the effect that we should
have the right TO withdraw outright
from the league upon evidence Of the
bad faith OF any associate.
The powers permitted Poland, how
| ever, to embark on her career OF i'm
perlalism, and II is up to them to &c
her out OF the scrape Indeed, 1t Il
ossible that the readiness Of the allie
at this moment to make an economic
peace with Russia is due to their de
sire to pull Poland's sadly charred chest
nuts out Of the fire.
A reconstructed Poland was one o
the objects for which President Wilson
| led the allies TO victory against Ger
many. That object was fairly won, an'
now Il Is nearly lost again through NJ
| fault Of our own.
As we are not yet members OF thu
league OF nations, and never will be Ill
the covenant of the league is Ameri'
canized, we must say gracefully yet
firmly at this stage that the Poltst
| imbroglio Is none OF our scrap.