New-York tribune., 1920-01-02
Making Another World War

LltVlnon, the BOlSheviSt ambaSsa-
dor who has been negotiating at
Copenhagen. and who apparently en-
meshed Minister Hapgood, predicts
that the Allies will soon make peace
with Soviet Russia; that, though
formal recognition may be withheld.
the blockade will be lifted and trade
resumed.
Let US face without disillusion
ment what such action implies. The
boishevist propaganda is carried on
with an assiduity which rivals Ger
man propaganda, and many are
fooled. But it is possible to see the
main facts through the fog. What
these main facts are can be made
clear by considering the concrete
case of Poland.
Poland, despite crucifxion more
cruel than Belgium and northern
France endured, now has an army
Of 100000 men in the field. To pro-
tect Poland's eastern frontiers it has
been necessary to call men from the
work of repairing their ruined
homes. A war is in progress which
IN ordinary times would be called a
great one. Polish soldiers, with poor
arms and little ammunition, stand
in the snow with cut-up blankets for
uniforms, living wall to oppose the
Bolsheviki. The scenes of Valley
Forge are repeated on larger scale
the same bloody tracks from un-
shod feet, the same cold and hun
ger. The story of heroism is such
as to melt heart of stone.
These are our allies, and these it
Is proposed to abandon and desert.
AS part Of the pretended "peace"
Lenine will doubtless agree, verbal
~, to desist from invasion. But the
Poles know the value of Bolshevist
promises. The Poles believe that as
soon as it is deemed safe the at
tacks will be resumed. Poland,
against her will, is forced to become
militaristic. Her freedom will quick
ly go if it is not defended. Yet if
Litvinoff is accurate in his predic-
ton soon Poland is to be at the mercy
of a country which for one hundred
and fifty years enslaved her.
Not only are the Poles to be de-
serted, but if the blockade is lifted
goods and materials will flow into
Soviet Russia and be used against
Poland. Thus we will aid her en-
emy. Not to oppose Soviet Russia
is to become her ally. Again there
is case with respect to which there
can be no neutrality.
And as the Poles will be abandoned
go will be the Ukrainians, the Let's,
the Lithuanians. the Firms, the Ar
menians, the freedom-loving Cos
sacks and the peaceful Siberians, as
we'll as all in central Russia who
do not stand well with the Bolshe-
Wiki. The states bordering on Rus
sia have governments which in Boil
shevist jargon are bourgeois. Boil
shevist principles require unceasing
war against all such. Even when
military operations are not carried
on there will be persistent efforts to
"bore from within'-to foment in
dustrial troubles and to create social
hate.
Soviet Russia is a menace to the
peace of the world-as much men
ace as was the Kaiser's Germany.
If the league of peace is established
and council Of nine created to con-
slider threats of war the case of So
Wet Russia must at once come under
discussion. AS things now stand it
would be necessary to blockade and to
make military preparations. And if
this must be done why strengthen
Soviet Russia and make her more
capable Of resistance? Those who
refused to believe Germany meant
trouble were largely responsible for
the war. Are men of similar fool
ishncss to be allowed to mature an
~kL~ss ~,.~<fx