New-York tribune., 1920-01-19
Lloyd George
Opposes Using
Force in Russia
Declares War Office Project
to Crush Bolshevism in
Its Nest Might Result in
Solidifying Slav Factions

AHAA~iN, odH. 10 \Dy Inc ASSOCIATED
Press) ).-The communication concern
ing the Bolshevik menace recently
issued by, the war Office at London was
in consequence of departmental
policy divergent from that of Premier
Lloyd George. the correspondent is
Informed upon the highest authority
Winston Spencer Churchill, the British
Secretary for War, has sold Mr..
Lloyd George that he did not know
about the issuance of the commune
cation, but that he believed the Prime
Minister underestimated the danger
from the spread of armed Bolshevism
1t has been explained to the Prime
Minister that the war Office associates
of Mr.. Churchill, knowing how strongly
he felt on the subject of Bolshevism,
undertook to influence public opinion
in the direction of their chiefs con-
victions.
If Mr.. Churchilps views were ac-
cepted the Allies would invade Russia
for the purpose of destroying Bolshe-
vism in its home, while Mr.. Lloyd
Georges view is that that would
amount to war against Soviet Russia
and would only solidify the Russian
people.
Compared to France in 1898
Mr.. Lloyd George compares the situa-
ton respecting Russia to-day with that
of France after 1898 to the end lof the
century. Military pressure from with
out, the Premier affrms, united the
French people behind the revolutionary
government, so that they were able not
only to make headway against foreign
enemies, but vain victories. That is pre-
cisely what Europe might see, Mr..
Lloyd George holds, if Mr.. Churchill's
point Of view were allowed to influence
the British and French cabinets.
Hence Mr.. Lloyd George on the very
day the communication was issued by
the British War Office insisted upon
the Supreme Council partially raising
the blockade against Russia, the Allied
Prime Ministers intending to show in
direct acceptance of the changed condi-
tions in Russia by permitting free
trade in food, clothing and other non
military commodities without diplo-
matte relations.
These trade arrangements are not
yet clearly defined. They were made
through representatives Of Russian CO.
operative societies in Paris, who say
they have been informed that the Soviet
government equally countenances trade
without regard to political relation
ships
The Italians take no part in the mill
tary conferences. Field Marshall Foch
and Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson
form the inter-Allied military council
so far as consideration of middle and
Near Eastern questions are concerned
They met yesterday and to-day, and
their deliberations, the correspondent
is informed, have had more to do with
restraining Polish military operations
against Russia than with supporting
those operations by aid from abroad.
The Prime Ministers took up the
Polish question seriously Thursday and
Friday. Their information was that
the Polish armies have during recent
weeks occupied considerable territory
beyond the Polish boundaries and be-
longing formerly to Russia. The Prime
Ministers warned the Polish govern
ment that they could not support q
policy of expansion.
Poles Advised to Retire
They requested M. Padek the Polish
Foreign Minister,snow in Paris, to ad-
wise Poland to evacuate and abandon
Russian occupied territories and thus
avoid giving cause for attack by the
Soviet government. This NJ. Padek
refused to do.
One of the principal military and
political problems not yet determined
by the Supreme Council and it's mill
tary advisers is what should be done
if the Soviet forces drive the Poles
from the occupied territories and fol-
low them into Poland The Prime
Ministers admit that they are much
embarrassed by the Polish govern
ments refusal 70 retire within the
boundaries fixed by the Supreme Coun-
Gil, holding instead those based on
historical claims which are deemed
vague by the council.