New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-25
SoUiet Reply May
End Grace Menace
Ssgeep OF Bolsheviki Into
Poland Has CausedCreat
Alarm A M ong Allies

Russia's reply to Poland's application
for armistice negotiations brings in
sight possible solution of one of the
most serious crises which Europe as a
whole and the Allied nations in partic-
ular have had to face since. the con
clusion of the armistice with the Ger
mans in November, 1918.
The official world or Allied Europe
has been stirred TO it's depths and un-
disguisedly alarmed over the sweep of
the Soviet armies through territory
held by the Poles, to the very borders
of Poland proper. with a menace to
Warsaw and the virtual wiping out OF
Poland as a nation looming up TO the
Allies SIS possibilities if measures were
not taken to head them off by giving
efficient and speedy aid to the Warsaw
government.
Furthermore, the close approach of
the Russians to the German border
gave additional cause for uneasiness,
there existing great uncertainty ana
apprehension as to the effect q touch
ing of German and Soviet frontier
lines might have upon the political tu-
ture If Europe,
Situation Alarming to Allies
the situation WAS becoming rather
!arning to the Allies at the time the
Sra conference was in session early
this month. and it was decided then
thai steps should be taken to bring
about peace between Russia and Poland
If possible. Poland was ADVISED on
the one hand, to endeavcr to make
peace with the Russians, while on the
other hand the Moscow government was
informed thai the Allies would not
countenance the invasion of Polish ter
rito,y proper by the Soviet armies.
Great Britain took up the armlstice
negotiations first in an effort to bring
the Soviets and Poland together, but
the Soviet government made 1t clear
that it was not inclined to accept brit
ish intervention, bat demanded direct
application from Poland. Meanwhile, 1T
was indicated in the Allied capitals
that military aid for the Poles would
be Forthcoming if the Bolshevik cam
paign were pressed too far
Entente Gets Desired Action
The action the Allies desired of Po-
land, however, was finally taken by
that nation, which Thursday sent an
ar.nistice application to Moscow and
effected cabinet reorganization
bringing the Socialist element more to
the front The reply sent by the
Soviet government to-day is the fruit
of that apolcation Poland had fought
bravelv to hold back the tremendous
Bolshevik push, and the nation, as
whole, was uniting in great defen-
sive movement, but her greatly-eX-
tended line had been stretched to the
breaking point under the Soviet at
tack by what appears to have been
her iil-advised spring offensive, and
there seemed to be no prospect that
unaided she would be able to stem the
Soviet tide.
As for giving Poland aid, the
Entente powers, while evidently decid-
ing to do so if forced by direct neces-
sity we're cutie as evidently reluctant
to take military action short of such
necess, ty, and there seems every rea-
son 20 believe the reply Of the Moscow
government will be joyfully welcomed
in the Allied capitals.
Still Face Stumbling Block
There remains the possibility, of
course, that the negotiations about to
be opened will not result satisfactorily.
1t may be recalled that Poland and
Soviet Russia previously have engaged
in neeotations for the ending Of hos
tilities but that the pourparlers came
to nothing, because of hitch over the
place of meeting, the Poles desiring a
point near the battle line and the
Soviets insisting upon some spot far
removed from the scene of hostilities.
The Russian government, IN it's
notes to-day, appears to be reserving
to itself the selection of the place of
meeting, and it remains to be seen if
this issue will again prove a stumb
ling block in the negotiations
The outcome of the negotiations now
afoot depends, in large measure, upon
what political faction in the Soviet
government will gain the upper hand.
1t is known thai Trotzky, supreme
military chief OF the Bolshevik gov
crnment, is bent upon carrying the
fight into Central Europe ard forcing
contact with the German Spartacists
and extreme radicals. That such All
cvcntualty would be acceptable to the
German iunkers and militarists is be-
lieved probable. 1t was the latter ele
ment in Germany who dealt with the
Bolsheviki prior to the German revo-
luton, and it is reasonable to suppose
that they will not be averse to enter
ing into an agreement with the Boil
shevik government which would prom
Use the nulliication of the Treaty Of
Versailles and would make them once
more an active factor in the determi-
nation of Germany's destiny.
Trotzky Faction in Ascendancy
In this connection persons familiar
with the situation recall the significant
feet that the monarchist troops led by
Kapp in the recent revolt against the
Ebert government had expressed their
Willingness to unite with the Sparta
cists for the accomplishment of their
common aim-the overthrow OF the
German government, the establishment
OF q dictatorship, composed of extrc-
mist and monarchical elements, and the
renewal Of resistance, in some form or
other, to the Allies. Trotzky has re-
pe&tedly said that Soviet Russia would
not be averse to forming alliances with
so-called bourgeois and mperialist
countries Ii such action would enhance
bolshevik power and prestige.
But opposed to Trotzky and any pol
icy OF LARGE military operations on the
borders OF Soviet Russia, with a view
to rouslng revolution on other cour-
trles by military aggression, are Lenine
and ms faction. Those who possess
expert knowledge of the situation be-
iieve that for the moment the faction
represented by Trotzky is in the as
cendancy. In addition, no doubt, this
faction has the support of the nation
ahst and conservative elements in the
Bolshevik army, including the Boil
shevik high command, composed exclu-
sively OF former Czarist generals. who
are eager to destroy Poland and to
reannex TO Russia the Baltic states