The New York herald., 1920-12-26

nations. What remains to be seen Is whether
victorious Bolshevism will prefer to resume
it's military campaign, In which case we shall
have new Polish struggle in the spring, or
will seek period Of truce abroad. better to
prepare it's subsequent attack.
Aside from the Russian and German in
cidents, but closely related to The Turkish. is
the return Of King Constantine, following
the overthrow of Venizelos. For all Of the
recently allied countries this was a terrible
blow. 1t represents the bankruptcy of allied
policy in the Near East. Greece was the
foundation on which British policy rested in
the Aegean as Poland was the pivot of
French policy in middle Europe. But Greece
has declined the distinguished but expensive
mission. The Hellenic troops which were to
do the necessary fighting in Anatolia have
already begun to retire upon Smyrna. Kemal
Pacha's forces are not only overfowing
toward Smyrna, but attacking toward Cilicia.
where France Is concerned.
The return of Constantine is an intolerable
thing for France, whose sailors were muir
dered by his orders four years ago, but the
collapse of British policy gratifies both Paris
and Rome, Paris because France feels the
British share of Eastern gains dispropor-
tionate, Italy because she regards Greece as
he. rival in the Near East and has looked
with frank disfavor upon the enormous ex-
pansion Of Greece through allied largess
bestowed upon Venizelos. Actually the re-
turn Of Constantine has reopened the whole
Eastern question, and we seem as far from
settlement Of this perilous issue as before
the world war; which it precipitated.
Sees Most Significance
In Polish Frontier Case
Ii remains now to chronicle rapidly some
of the more conspicuous of the settlements
which have taken place during the year l
have already mentioned the Polish, in pass
ing. But it deserves further word: BY
the armistice of Riga, Poland acquired the
boundaries of the Second Partition. she
gained viable frontier, extending in
straight line from the Dwina to the Ru-
manian frontier and covered over half its
extent by the Pripet Marshes Poland thus
6elimited would have a population of above
$1,000, 900, little less than France after she
lost Alsace- Lorraine in 1870 and far more
considerable than that of Italy when she
attained unity in the same year. The ques-
ton as to Polish occupation of wilma re-
mains open, as does that with respect of
Upper Silesa but, provided Poland can
maintain. her rights, as established at Riga,
she becomes at once the largest of the sec
ondary Powers Of Europe and within q brief
period will exceed both France and Italy in
population as she already surpasses the lat
ter In area. In many ways this Polish cir
cumstance constitutes the most important
development of the past year.
Only less significant is the settlement
which has emerged from Rapallo, and de-
spite the intrigues Of d'Annunzio promises
to end the bitter controversy between the
italian and Jugo-Slavs in the Adriatic. BY
the terms of this treaty Italy advances her
frontier behind Trieste. establishes Fiume
as a separate State, destined to fall to her
in future not distant; she acquires severa!
islands In the Adriatic and Zara in Dali
malta BY contrast she comedies Dalmatia
to the Savs entire. BY the bargain Italy
gains most since she will incorporate not
less than half million Jugo-Slavs within
her boundaries. but the Jugo-Slavs, whose
unity and very existence depends upon
nodus Uiuendi with the Italians. have fol-
lowed the pathway of wisdom in recognizing
the possible and conforming thereto. What
President Wilson sought TO bestow upon the
Slavs was never obtainable save as the re,
suit of an American attack upon Italy and
such an attack was unthinkable. Yet 1t is