New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-26
France Looks
For Collapse
OF Soviet Rule
Officials Do Not Believe
Lenine and Trotzky Can
Maintain Their Power
After Defeat by Poles
Weygand Arrival Awaited
Paris to Lay Foundation
Of Its Policy Toward
Russia OH His Report
By Ralph Courtney
Special Cable TO The Tribuls

Copyright. 1920, New York Tribune Inc
PARIS, Aug. 25.-France hopes that
the defeat inflicted on the Reds by the
Polish armies will cause an early COL
lapse of the Bolshevik regime. In Of
fetal circles it is affirmed that conse-
quences of the highest Importance are
expected. Premier Lenine and Min
lister of War Trotzky, who rule by
success and the strength of their
armies, may not, it is said, be able to
maintain themselves in power.
1t is hoped that the spirit Of re-
volt will now gather all over Russia,
strong enough to overturn the present
government. Official reports say that
prisoners captured by the Poles show
the utmost discourageme They de-
nounce the Bolsheviki, declaring that
the Red troops who escape back to
Russia will be bitterly opposed to
the Sovets.
The French are waiting for the sit
uation to clear. No new steps will
be taken until the results of the Boil
shevik defeat develop.
Weygand on Way to Paris
General Weygand, head of the
French Military Mission to Poland, is
on the way back to Paris. He had
long conversation with President Pill
sudski of Poland before his departure,
and his report will be the founda tion
of Frances future policy. Premier
Millerand is not anxious to meet Pre-
miers Lloyd George and Giolitti until
France is able to present a program
which it is certain America also will
support.
If revolt develops in the interior
of Russia, the French are ready to
suggest supporting military action to
hasten the downfall of Lenine. Po-
land is urging France to adopt for
ward looking policy in the East.
General Weygand has become Po-
lish national hero and the French and
American support given to Poland has
caused her to pay little heed to the
desires of other countries
France has counseled moderation,
famed Polish national aspirations.
Pilsudski is particularly ambitious for
Poland. He is credited with a desire
to have Poland play leading part in
a Slav coalition, just as Russia for
merly took the lead in the days of
the Russian Empire. Poland already
is taking steps to develop close re
lationship among herself, Lithuania
and other states bordering on Russia
1t is said that if Poland now makes
peace with Russia, she will undertake
the protection of these states by re-
During guarantees from the Bolsheviki
that their boundaries will be respected.
The news reaches Paris that Fin
land is toying with the idea of march
ing on Petrograd. In the South great
prochement between Rumania and Hun
gary, which France undertook to bring
about at the request, it is said, of Take
Jonescu. The close relations between
the French and Rumanian govern
ments were expressed publicly to-day
by NJ. Jonescu at the exercises in
honor of Marshal Foch, who is now
visiting Bucharest. M. Jonescu said
"Relations between no other two
countries can become closer than those
now existing between France and Ru-
mania. Such thing would be impos-
sible."
France Prepares Sanitary Gordon
France already has agreements with
Hungary. Thus, in spite of the policy
Of England and Italy, France gradu-
ally has succeeded in encrcling the
Bolsheviki with sanitary Gordon.
Other states may enter the combine,
but even now the circle is almost
complete.
No official news has reached Paris
from Minsk, though it is reported that
the Poles have demanded that if pour
parlers with the Bolsheviki are con-
tinued, they henceforth shall take place
at Warsaw. 1t remains to be seen
whether the Bolsheviki will agree to
this condition. In former negotiations
between the Poles and Bolsheviki,
quarrels about the place where the
peace negotiations should take place
kept the two parties apart until the
time when Pilsudski loosed his famous
offensive.
Official attention is conferred on the
question whether the Soviets will have
the strength to recover from the re-
verse inflicted on them by the Poles.