Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-15
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

By OLIVER OWEN KUHN.
n RANCE has shown q great cour-
X age. France will win political
dominion and influence not
dreamed Of since the days OF
Napoleon, Or
France has marked herself for a
terrible ordeal.
These are conclusiony that safely
may be drawn from the decision of
the French government to resist the
vacillating policy of Lloyd George in
treating with the bolsheviki and tenn
PORTING where force is necessary, and
to strike in behalf of Gen. ,wrangel
In southern Russia. aiding the COM
plete overthrow of Lenin and Trotsky
and all the nefarious policies which
they today are zealously striving to
implant in the worlds social struc-
ture.
France Finds Herself.
Bound by ties that were forged dur
ing the four years of struggle against
the central powers, being more or
less tfmid in pressing it's demands, in
the Paris peace conference. France
has at last found herself, and no
longer refuses to be tied by the polit-
ical theories and precepts of Down
ing street.
France. in the Russian situation.
not only is striking for the nernetu..
ton OF French ideas in regard to the
future safety of Europe. but. in break
ing away from the Lloyd George pol
ICY of temporizing with deadly dan
gers, she is exerting typicalIy
French policy. She served notice upon
the other allies that France must he
considered with greater respect in
all future allied policies and dealings.
france pledged herself to the per-
petuatfon of the new Polish state
france is taking this pledge more
seriously than England takes hers
From the very first French influence
mas been felt in Warsaw. France ex-
tended to Poland such aid as has
been within her power during the
long months of the peace conference
and >after. and it truthfully NAV be
stated that Poland's dilemma TO-DAY
is not wholly of Frances doing. save
that the quai d'Orsay in the critical
months that have elapsed. permitting
the bolshevik menace to become real
~ acute, has temporized with the
supine policy Of Lloyd George and as
p q consequence. delayed succor to the
roles. where once little would have
been sufficient. whereas, today the
Whofe strength of the nation will be
required if effective results are
achieved and Poland saved from the
direst results of bolshevist control.
Stands Chance Of Gain.
But France stands chance of gain.
ing everything.
England. always more or less de.
sirous of seeing a weak Russia. may
see her influence throughout Europe
weakened.
France. may. become after all the
strongest political power on the con.
tinent, but only time and successful
untraveling of the present tangled
skeins will answer definitely.
France always has been more Of
less eager in cultivating Slavi,
friendship. Frances position in Rus
STA before the present war was sec
ond to none. Billions Of francs have
been poured into Russian develop.
ment. The. cordial feeling of the
old Russia regime and the French
and cultivated both in Petrograd
and Paris. Racial antipathies were
largely overcome long before the wal
began and Frances position in Rus
STA was enviable. There are millions
of Russians today who must hearken
hack to the old days despite their
present forced affiliations.
ESron
Wrangel. make this intrepid leaders
campaign a successful one. and set
in motion general rehabilitation, mil
lions of Russians today, who, under
military tyranny of the worst sort,
are helpless. will arise and not only
thank France for Russia's liberation,
but at once there will spring into be-
ing a great outlet for French diplo-
matte and commercial influence.
The stakes to be won by a course
in Russia independent of England are
great. That France may win is pos
sible by virtue of the situation within
Russia today. :
Situation In RuAsia.
Dispatches emphasize the fact that
the Russian people under soviet rule
are suffering as they have never suf-
fered before and that their woes have
been pressed upon them in overrun-
ming measure. There is general dis
content, not only with. the internal
Russian situation, but there is addi-
tional repugnance to the ruthless
manner in>which the bolshevik's per-
petuate themselves in power.
Not all Russia is bolshevik at heart,
concord in the Polish situation. The
present unity more properly can be
termed nationalistic, rather than red
or white, for the Russians are but
giving vent to their age-old antipa-
thies toward the Poles. If the people
of Russia. particularly in the more
remote sections. could be assured OF
the fact that Gen. Wrangel is to de-
liver the nation from the hands OF it's
proseliters, then Gen. Wrangel may
expect that support, the French for
eign office is so confident of. But 1T is
natural that after the failures of Dem
kline and Kolchak. Russians should
it must be proven beyond all doubt
before he will meet with any great
measure of support from the Russian
peoples as a whole.
Gen. Wrangel is one of the shreWd-
est Russian leaders daring 10 resist
the bolsheviki. The French nave rea.
sonable grounds to suppose that
should he be given proper military
assistance, funds and equipment, his
armies be co-ordinated and made Ell
fective, with French advisers ano
French tactics. Gen. Wrangel has
good chance of succeeding where
others have failed.
See Danger OF Waiting.
In lending Gen. Wrangel the proper
need of support at this juncture the
French undoubtedly are taxing INTO
the railroad will not be held-respon-
sible for.