The Washington herald., 1920-08-11
Text of United States Note to Italy on Polish Crisis

and trustfuI relations, whether OF
nations or of individuals. The re-
sponsible leaders Of the regime have
frequently and openly boaxted that
they are willing to sign agreements
and undertakings with foreign
powers while not having the slight
est intention of observing such un-
dertskings or carrying out such
agreements. This attitude Of dis
regard of obligations voluntarily
entered into they base upon the
theory that no compact or agree
ment made with a nom -Bolshevist
| government can have any moral
| force for them. They have not only
avowed this as a doctrine, but have
exemplihed il in practice. Indeed.
| upon numerous occasions the re-
| sponsible spokesmen of this power,
and its official agencies. have de-
clared that it is their understand
ing that the very existence of Boil
shevism in Russia. the maintenance
/ OF their own rule. depends. and
must continue to depend, upon the
] occurrence OF revolutions In all
| other great civilized nations. in
! cluding the United States. which
will overthrow and destroy their
! governments and set up Bolshevist
rule in their stead. They have
! made it quite plain that they in
| tend to use every means, includ-
] ing, of course. diplomatic agencies,
Ito promote such revolutionary
I movements in other countries.
TT is true that they have in vari-
\ Gus ways expressed their willing
ness to give assurances and guar
| antees that they will not abuse the
| privileges and immunities Of diplO-
matte agencies by using them for
| this purpose. In view of their own
! declarations. already referred 10.
! such assurances and guarantees
! cannot be very seriously regarded.
! Moreover, il is within the knowl-
| edge Of the government Of the Unit
ed States that the Bolshevist govern
ment Is itself subject to the control
OF political faction with extensive
/ International ramfications through
| the Third InternationaIe, and that
| this body. which is heavily sUbsi-
| died by the Bolshevist government
from the public revenues OF Russia.
| has for its openly avowed aim :he
! promotion OF BoIshevist revolutions
!
/ OF the Bolsheviki have boasted that
their promises Of noninterference
/ with other nations would in no wise
! bind the agents OF this body There
( Is no room for reasonable doubt that
| such agents would receive the sup
! port and protection Of any diplo-
matte agencies the BoIsheviki might
| nave in other countries. Inevitably.
| therefore. the diplomatic service Of
the BolshevIst government would
| become channel for intrigUes and
the propa Eanda Of revolt against the
| institutions and laws Of countries,
! with whom it was at peace. which
would be an abuse Of friendship to
| which enlightened governments can
not subject themselves.
! In the view Of this government
! there cannot be any common ground
upon which il can stand with A
| power whose conceptions Of interna-
! tional relations are so entirely alien
to its own. so utterly repugnant to
| its moral sense. There can be no
mutual confidence or trust. no re-
spect even, II pledges are to be
! given and agreements made with 4
/ cynical reputation Of their obIiga-
, tions already in the mind OF one OF
q 70
hold official relations with. or give
! friendly reception TO the agents Of.
q government which is determined
+ and bound to co.Spire against our
I institutions: whose diplomats will
/ BE- the agitators Of dangerous revolt: =:
whose spOkesmen say that they sign
agreements with no intention OF
! keeping them.
TO summarize the position II this
! government, ] would say. therefore.
in response to your ENceIlency's in
! QUiry. that il would regard with sat
isfaction a declaration by the allied
! and associated powers, that the ter
Iitorisl integrity and true boUnds-
riess Of Russia shall be respected
| These boundaries should properly
include the whole Of the former
I Russian empire. with tho exception
Cf Finland proper. cthnic Poland.
and such territory as MAJ by agree
| ment form a nart OF the Armenian
State. The aspirations OF these ma
tions for indepe ndence are legiti-
mate. Each was forCibly annexed
and their liberation from Oppres-
sive alien rule involves no aEEres-
sions against Russia's territorial
rights. and has received the sanction
: Of tho public opinion Of all free peo-
piles. Such declaration presup-
| poses the withdrawal Of all foreign
! troops from the territory embraced
| by those boundaries. and in the oDin-
ion OF this government should be
accompani by the announcement
I that no transEreSsicn by Poland
| Finland or any other power. Of the
line so drawn and proclaimed will
! be permitted.
! Thus only can the Bolshevist
/ regime be deprived Of its false. but