Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-08-11
]. $. GIVES WARNING
FOR Poles FREEDOM
Americas Readiness to Aid
Allies Set Up-Just BOr-
ders Hinted
DIPLOMATIC SECRETS
Peace Conference Tending to Afford
Bolshevik Regime Sign of Reccgni-
ton.

Washington, Aug. 1.-THE Ameri-
can government declared yesterday
for the maintenance of the political
independence and territorial integrity
of Poland and against any dismem-
berment of Russia.
In note addressed to the Italian
Ambassador, Secretary Colby. speak
ling with the approval and consent of
| President Wilson, said the United
States took mo exception" to the ef-
forts to arrange an armistice between
Poland and Russia and would 're-
gard with satisfaction a declaration
by the Allied and Associated Powers
that the territorial integrity and true
boundaries" of Russia would be re-
spected.
The government flatly stated. how
ever, that it would not, "at least for
the present." participate in any plan
fer the expansion of the armistice ne
gotiations into general European
conference because it would in all
probability involve two results from
which the United States Strongly re-
coils" namely:
"The recognition of the Bolshevist
regime.
a settlement of Russian problems
almost inevitably upon the basis of a
dismemberment Of Russia"
The note was in response to an
agreeable intimation' from the Ital-
| ian Ambassador that his government
would welcome statement of the
views of the American Government on
the Polish situation. Much of it was
devoted to a statement of the SYM
pathetic feeling Of the United States
toward the Russian people. Reviewing
past events as evidence of this SYM
/ pathy, the Secretary Of State dis
closes some hitherto diplomatic Sc
crets.
Mr.. Colby revealed that the Ameri-
can Government had withheld. its ap-
proval from the decision of the Su-
preme Council at Paris recognizing
the independence of the "so-callcd re-
publics" Of Georgia and Azerbaijan
because part of them were carved out
cf the old Russian Empire.
It also was stated that the United
States had taken the position that the
| final determination of the boundaries
of Armenia. which the President has
been asked by the Allies to fix, "must
not be made without RuSsia's coop
Grafton and agreement.
1t was further disclosed that the
United States had persistcntly refused
to recognize the Baltic States. with
the exception of Finland. a once in
dependent nation. because it held that
they were rightly part of Russia and
that the territory embraced in them
should be held for the Russian people
until they should have organized a
stable government.
1--WE are unwilling" the note de-
clared. "that while it is helpless in the
grip of non-representative govern
ment whose only sanction is brutal
force Russia shall be weakened still
further by policy Of dismembcrment
conceived in other than Russian in
terests.'
Secretary Colby's statement of the
attitude of the American Government
in the face of the threatened over
throw of Poland by the Russian Boil
sheviki was unaquivocal. He declared
that the people of the United States
were earnestly solicitous" for the
maintenance of Polands territorial in
tegrity and political independence.
"From this attitude we will not dc.
part" he announced, "and the policy
of this government will be directed tt
the employment of all available means
to render it effectual."
Pillage and oppression of the Poles
, he later declared, would remove Rus
! sia wholly from out Of "the pale O.
! the friendly interests OF other na
tons
:. The Secretary's note was accepted
generally as evidence that the Unitec
States and Great Britain and France
, fwere at one in determination to pre-
vent the absorbing of the new republic
: into Soviet Russia. There apparently
, bovever was a difference as between