New-York tribune., 1920-08-11
Note TO Italian Envoy
Says America Opposes
independence to Terri
tOryCarvedO OutofRussia
Powers Invited
To Support Plan
Conference Would Mean
Bolshevik Recognition,
From WhichU. .S.Recoils

Associated Press) The American
government declared to-day for the
maintenance of the political indie
pendence and territorial integrity of
Poland and against any dismcmber-
nlent of Russia
In note addressed to the Italian
Ambassador, Secretary of State
Colby, speaking with the approval
and consent of President Wilson,
said the United States took mo ex-
ception' to the efforts to arrange an
armlstice between Poland and Rus
sia and would regard with salts
faction" declaration by the Allied
and associated powers that the ter
ritorial integrity and true boun-
diaries" of Russia would be respected.
No Recognition of Reds
The government tiatly said, how
ever, that it would not, "at least for
the present." participate in any plan
ter the expansion Of the arnistice
negotiations into a general European
conference, because it would in all
PROBABILITY involve two results frcm
which the United States strongly
recoils," namely, 1.-The recognition of
the Bolshevist regime" and "a set
tlement of Russian problems almost
inevitably upon the basis of a dis
membermeit of Russia"
The note was in response to a,
agreeable intimation" from the Italian
Ambassador that his government would
welcome statement of the views OF
the American government on the Polish
situation. Much of it was devoted TO q
statement of the sympathetic feeling
of the United States toward the Rus
sian people. In reviewing past events
as evidence of this sympathy, the Sec
retary cf State disclosed some hitherto
diplomatic secrets.
Opposed Cutting Up Russia
Mr.. Colby revealed that the Ameri-
can government had withheld its ap-
proval rom the decision OF the SUI
preme Council at Paris recognizing the
independence Of the "so-calied repub-
hcs' OF Georgia and Azerbaiian, be-
cause part of them were carved out
of the old Russian Empire
1t also was said that the United
States had taken the position that the
hnal determination of the boundaries
OF Armenia. which the President has
n-lyo H.,
not be made without Russia's coopera-
tion and agreement"
1t was further disclosed that the
United States had persistentiy refused
to recognize the Baltic States with the
exception of Finland. a once independ-
ent nation, because il held that thew
were rightly part of Russia. and thai
the territory embraced in them should
be held for the Russian people until
they should have organized a stable
government
Against Dismemberment Policy
I'VE are unwilling" the note de-
clared, that while it is helpless in the
grip of onrepresentativc govern
ment, whose only sanction is brutal
force, Russia shall be weakened still
further by policy of dismem berment.
conceived in other than Russian inter-
ests."
Secretary Coiby's statement of the
attitude of the American government
IN the face Of the threatened over
throw of Poland by the Russian Boil
sheviki was unequivocal. He declared
that the people OF the United States
were earnestly soicitous for the
maintenance OF Poiand's territorial in
tegrity and political independence.
FROM this attitude we viii nc. de-
part he announced, "and the policy
OF this government viii he directed TO
the employment Of ali available means
to render it etTcctual"
Pillagc and oppression Of the Pole.
he later declared. would remove Russia
wholly from out of ".he pale OF the
friendly interests OF other nations"
The Secretary's note was accepted
generally as evidence that the United
States and Great Britain and France
were at one IN d determination t. pre-
vent the absorbing of the new republic
into Soviet Russia Great Britain's
views on this subject were outlined to-
day IN the British House of Common.
by Premier Lloyd George
Difference Over Procedure
There apparently, however, wss d
difference IS between TIE views of tha
British and American governments on
the questions of dealing with the Soviet
and preservation of the true boundaries 8
Of the former Russian Empire.
Informal exchanges between Wash
lngton and London and Paris on the
Russian-Polish situation have been
proceeding for some days, and the fact
that the American note was addres sed
TO the Italian Ambassador created some
surprise in Washington. Mr. Lloyd
George had announced to the House OF
Commons only to-day that inquiry
surely would be made as TO the position
| OF the American government. To this
was added the fact that Italy had no,
taken prominent part in the Allied