New-York tribune., 1920-10-10

mlstlce of 1918, beginning
with the portentous and
almost interminable session at Paris,
that the world has obviously tired
Of such convocations and learned to
neglect the decisions of these sue
cessive assemblies. Thus, while the
military events of the Russo-Polish
war have aroused interest even in
the jaded publics of three war-weary
continents, the Russo Polish peace
negotiations at Riga attract little
attention and relatively insignificant
comment.
This is, after all, pity. for from
this conference at Riga there seems
likely to emerge new Eastern sys-
tenn which will have an almost in
calculable Importance for the world,
which may be for Eastern Europe
as important landmark as the
Treaty of Versailles for the West.
The seeds of future wars, the con-
dltions of all the great international
rlvalrles Of the next century, are
bound to be sown and fixed in any
document which receives the sig
nature of the representatives of the
TWO warring nations.
Defeat of Reds Decisive
And there is every indication. as
l write this article, that there will
be an agreement. Red Russia at
Riga seems much in the same pos-
ture as that it was forced to adopt
at Brest-Litovsk three long wears
ago. Day by day the fact is dis
closed that the Polish defeat of
Red armies has been far more deci-
slve than it was possible to hope at
first. Trotzky may talk of new
a aies and new invasions and ring
The changes on the millions Of can
non fodder available. But as he
talks the Polish armies advance in
exorably and Red resistance be-
comes more and more inconsider-
able.
The truth would seem to be that
It lies outside of the Red power to
raise new armies adequate to cope
with the Polish troops, unless the
Poles should make the objectionable
olunder of extending their advance
too far into Russia and at one time
weakening their own communica
tions and expanding their front be-
yond the capacity of their numerical
resources. To do this would be to
invite disaster and conceivablv give
The Reds a chance to appeal again.
as last spring, to the latent spirit of
Russian patriotism.
Polish Advance Well Defined
But no such Polish laundering is
likely. Rather, the Polish advance
seems to be following we'll defined
ines and seeking to attain the mill
tary frontier on which every possible
argument would urge them to stand.
Already Polish armies have occupied
Grodno, at the north, and the Vol
hynian triangle Of fortresses to the
south, and the center armies are an
preaching Pinsk and the western
shore of the Pripet Marshes, the sim
gle considerable natural obstacle to
military operations, the logical Po
lish line of defense against another
Russian invasion.
Change in Red Tactics
Meantime at Riga there is dis
closed total change in Red tactics
All the impossible demands of Minsk
have been withdrawn. To Riga has
come Joffe, who was the leading
russian representative at Brest-
'Litovsk, after Trotzky withdrew.
and actually signed the terms of the
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. And with
Jotfe has come the frank confession
on the Red side that peace must be
made, however unfayorable the
terms; that, aside from single de-
tall, Red Russia must concede every
thing. This detail is the right to
remain armed. Bolshevism will not
dIsarm, since this would insure
domestic ruin, but to keep it's arms
lo Will consent TO almost any sacri-
ice of territory.
This, in substance, is the old stu
alton of Brest-Litovsk. The first
concern of the Reds is not Rus
IAN integrity, territorial or polit;-
cal No regard for patriotic consid-
erations influences these masters of
Russian fortunes. Their concern is
20 maintain themselves in control of
as large portion Of Russia as DOS
slole, to use it as the basis for their
campaign against all the other ma
tlons in the west of Europe. But if.
TO retain control in Petrograd and
Moscow, they are compelled to cede
lerr1tory on the Niemen and the
Dwina. they will Go it now as tn
did at Rrest- Litovsk.