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

The terms announced by the Bolshe-
visits for Poland are obviously unac-
ceptable, even if they do not contain
the provisions announced at the front
but carefully excluded from the state
ment sent from Moscow to London and
intended for British consumption Of
course, if the Polish workingmen. which
is only another maneuver, arr to be
armed with the guns which the SOL
diers are compelled to lay down, this
is but the first step in the direction of
establishing the rule of the Red revo-
luton itself. AS we'll might Lenine
and Trotzky demand that the soldiers
stationed in Ireland not alone lay down
their arms but turn them over to the
Sim Fem. Nor is the comparison quite
exact, for while Sim Fein is a present
majority in Ireland the Bolshevists are
far from predominating numerically in
Poland
What the terms, those sent to London
and those revealed in Poland, actually
mean cannot be mistaken. Territorial
integrity on the Russian side the Boil
shevists are quite prepared to assent
to, for it is not territorial ambition
which drives Lenine What the Bolshe-
visits aim at is not expanding the area
of Russia but of revolution. They de-
sire to conquer Poland economically
and morally--to make Poland a new
Bolshevist state, not province Of old
Russia.
Fundamentally. Bolshevism is inter
nationalism. 1t aims at the destruc-
ton of all frontiers, all national com
munities. 1t would create an interna-
tional super-state, made up of divisions
in each of which the same ideas and
troll in Russia. Mere consistency, then,
prevents any annexationist program
But what profit to Poland to retain her
frontiers if within those frontiers her
fortunes are directed by a group of
men the pale shadows of Trotzky and
Lcnine?
The Red maneuver y all here d.
rected at deceiving primarily the Brit
ish Labor group and in the end the rest
of the Western world. We have been
talking about imperialism and terri
torial questions for six years, ever since
the outbreak of the World War The
German program of annexation filled
the press for the whole period of the
conflict. The question Of the DISPOSE
ton of territory after the war was one
of the main discussions at Paris. The
idea of land grabbing is we'll established
in minds which as yet are far from
approaching the form of annexation
which the Reds employ.
To recognize the Polish frontiers is
mere mockery if within those frontiers,
under Red influence, Poland is, without
remedy, to be transformed into an ini-
tation Bolshevst state. Not less use
less is the recognition of Polish indie
pendence if Poland, in the terms of the
treaty, is to be forbidden the right and
capacity to defend that independence or
to receive aid from the Western world.
The underlying misapprehension lies
in the confusion of Russian purposes
with German, Russian methods with
those of Prussia. We are at war with
Russia because Russia seeks to destroy
our form of political life. 1t is the
frank purpose of Trotzky and Lenne
to overthrow the form of political life
we enjoy in the United States, quite
as much as to transform that in Pc
land. In the march toward the con-
quest of America Poland is detail,
a stepping stone. What is of Importance