New-York tribune., 1920-08-11
Polish Attack Uniustifed

~ commons To-Day on the Polish stu
alton, Premier Lloyd George declared
the Polish attack on Russia was not
justified in the opinion of the British
government and that the Soviet govern
ment, in any conditions of peace, was
entitled to take into account the facts
of the attacks made by the Poles upon
Russia and that those attacks were de-
/ llvered despite the warnings of the AL
lies to Poland.
The Soviet, he declared, was entitled
to demand such guarantees as would be
eXacted by any power against a repeti-
tlon Of attacks of that kind. What
was challenged, he said, was that
nothing Justfies retaliation, reprsal
or punishment which goes to the ex-
tent OF wiping out national existence. -
Apart altogether from the moral
right of any power to demand the ex-
tinction Of another nation as punish
ment for the aggression of its govern
ment,' Lloyd George said, Europe has
to be considered. The independence of
Poland and its existence as an indie
pendent nation is an essential part Of
the structure of European peace. Re
partition of Poland would not merely
be CRIME, 1t would be & peril, and we
have to consider both these contingent
cies as basis for our policy"
Shortly after Lloyd George spoke in
the. House, Leo KameneF, one Of the
Soviet ENJOYS here. submitted to him
the Russlan armistice terms and at the
same time issued them to the British
press with the evident object it is said
IN some quarters. OF strengthening the
hands Of the British Labor party.
They are hard terms, demanding dc
mooIil2atIon OF the Polish army and
war industries and complete disarma-
ment, except for $4,000 men, Russia.
~ II l,.,,,. 4
draw her troops from the Polish front.
reduce her troops on the frontier and
grant roland frontier stipulated by
the Brltlsh government, with additional
territorial concessions to Poland i'm the
Bialystok and Cholm regions
Lloyd George late tonight read
to the House the Russian armis-
Jice terms as communicated to
nm by NJ. kamenctf He added that
N. hameneff had made the reservation
that the terms might be Supplemented
by details Of secondary character.
the Premier said that immediately
after consulting with his colleagues he
had communicated the terms to Po-
land, France and Italy He aid not
think 1t quite fair, he added, when the
delegates OF both sides were to meet.
perhaps tomorrow. for him to express
an OPINION concerning the terms which
might embarrass the discussions. There
were certain things he did not know
the meaning of. and the Polish dele
gates would certainly ask for cxpla-
nations he said.
Lloyd George declared in his speech
IN the House, that the sole purpose
OF the Allied policy was to secure
peace On basis of independence
for cthnographical Poland. He said
the Hythe conference agreed that the
Allles should advise Poland to endeavo,
TO negotlate an armistice and make
peace as LONG as such independence
was recognized. That recommends
ton has been forwarded to the Sovie-
government, he said.
lie pointed out that the Allies sug-
gested to the Soviet that they declare
truce Monday at midnight, but this
was not accepted in view of the Minsb
meeting set for Wednesday. He de-
clared there had been great and sus-
p!clous delays IN coming to a discus
sloh OF an afmistice. He could not
imagine, he said why, if there had
been real desire to have an armistice
and negotiate peace, the Soviet govern
ment would not haveSfixed date at the
latest week or ten days ago
Lloyd George continued: I'VE are not
gong to have a quarrel or purpose tc
engage this country in dispute
whether it means much or little. upor
the difference between Monday o,
Wednesday, and there the Allies arc
agreed Continuing his outline of tho
, decisions reached at the Hythe confer.
ence, Lloyd George said: =
Truce viii Halt Action
'lf they negotiate an agreement al
Minsk we do not purpose to intervene
to upset any arrangement which is ac
ceptablc to the Poles. 1t is THEN
, affair. sincerely trust it will NEAR
peace, but supposng it did not, w,
have got to face that"
If the Minsk conference failed be
cause the Poles refused to accept
terms which the Soviet was entitled tc
exact, having regard to the way il
which the conflict started and to TIL,
Polish military condition, then the
Allies could not support Poland, the
Premier declared However, if The
: Bolsheviki insisted upon terms threat
onlng the independence of Poland
then different situation would arise
Outlining the action the Allies HAD
decided to take if necessary, Lloyd
George said no action would be taken
except TO support the struggle for Po-
lands existence and Independence. Nc
Allied troops would be sent to Poland
he declared. 1t would not be neces-
sary, he said, if the Polish resources
We're thoroughly organized and well
directed
The next action, continued the
Premier would be to put economic
pressure upon Soviet Russia, either by
naval action or international action
Substantial stores. he said, were avail
able in that quarter of the world which
the Allies would feel obliged to send
to Poland
Attitude of America
Lloyd Georges reference to America
was III response to an interjection as
to what the position of America would
be. He said:
I'VE certainly are going to appeal
to America. There is, Of course, the
difficulty in America that up to the
present she has not ratified the treat Y
and that the treaty is the subject OF
conflict between the two great parties
1t is not in our power to say what view
the American Executive would take.
am only judging from the attitude of
America at tho peace conference. She
was strong protagonist of Polish in
dependence No man could have taken
moro determined and Jealous part
in setting up Polish independence than