New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-26
Recenented

Recemented
Ten days ago the Polish crisis
threatened to break down that con-
cert of the major Allied powers
through which the war was won and
upon which the pacihcation of Eu-
rope depends. 1t has now dramati-
cally recemented that alliance. Great
Britain, Italy and France are to-day
nearer an agreement on a Polish and
Russian policy than at any time
since a certain monkey wrench was
thrown into the machinery of the
Paris peace conference.
Ten days ago Great Britain, sup
ported by Italy, seemed ready to al
low the Moscow government to i'm
pose its own peace terms on Poland
and then to make peace with the
Bolshevists themselves. 1t was a
program of surrender. dictated by
war WEAKNESS and by the exigencies
of domestic politics in Great Britain
and Italy. 1t represented a perilous
yielding to the implacable and faith
less Red dictatorship in Russia. But
Poland seemed broken. She had but
one stanch friend left in Europe
France. Why, then, not throw her
to the wolves?
Two things interviewed to save Po-
land. The first was French assist
ance; the second was Polish valor.
Then along came President Wilson's
verbal condemnation of any purpose
to recognize the Moscow regime,
whose word is worthless and whose
contempt for agreements made with
non-sovietized governments has been
unblushingly acknowledged. Amer
ica's moral support may have done
no practical aid, but for once it went
to the right side
Lloyd George and Giolitti have
now discovered that duplicity is the
favorite weapon of Bolshevist nego-
tiators, and that Poland is justified
in rejecting Moscow's oppressive
peace terms. They have agreed that
munitions ought to be shipped freely
through Danzig for the use of the
Polish armies. With their assent M.
Millerand has asked the League of
Nations High Commissioner at Dan
zig to see to it that that port is kept
open for Poland's benefit, as pro
vided by Article 104 of the Treaty
Of Versailles.
The Wilson-Smuts League didn't
60 to Poland's rescue. The league
council lapsed into inactivity More
than that, its High Commissioner in
Danzig, evidently carrying out Brit
ish policy, allowed local German or
CARNATIONS to stop the import of
munitions for Poland and pleaded in
ability to prevent such interruption
He has been advised to reverse this
policy, not by the council of the
league but by the Council of Pre-
miers. The real power to regulate
the affairs of Europe and enforce
the peace remains with the govern
ments which defeated Germany and
her allies.
In that concert the United States
can still function effectively if it
will, although making bad start by
intervening to protect the remnants
of the Bolshevik army. Washington
is apparently persuaded that Lenine
and Trotzky can be trusted after
they have reformed their armies. At
any rate, they are to be permitted
to concentrate against Wrangel.
The Bolshevik power is not to be
smashed while the smashing is good.
The new Allied policy as to Po-
land and Russia is heartening to
those who want to sec the fruits of
the war realized. To do this the
concert of the victors must be main
tanned. That is the true aim of AL
lied craftsmanship and the only
nope OF sterilization in Europe. AL
lied unity won the war. Allied dis
UNITY can easily lose TIE peace.