Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-11
j. s. TAKES STAND
FOR FREE POLAND,
RUSSIAN INTEGRITY
Note From Government to
italian Envoy Denounces
BoIshevist Policies.

81
ment in the Polish situation, as an
nounced last night in communica-
ton from Secretary of State Colby
to Baron Camille Romano Avezzana
the Italian ambassador. are:
l. termination to favor the preser-
walton of the political independence
and territorial integrity of Poland
Opposition to any ACKNOWLEDGMENT
of Russia.
Opposition to recognition of the
bolshevist regime in Russia.
Use of All Available Means.
In his note Secretary Colby sets
Wilson on behalf of the American
people. To the end that Poland shall
continue as an Independent state, he
declares that the American govern
ment Will follow Il policy directed
to the employment of all available
means to render it effectual."
What means the President has in
mind to uphold the territorial in
tegrity of Poland was the subject
OF much conjecture today State De-
partment officials declined to elabo-
rate in explanation of the phrase
used in the note.
To safeguard the interests of the
Russian people as distinguished from
the existing Russian soviet regime,
the United States government through
the note says to the allied and asso-
ciated powers it would regard with
satisfaction declaration by them
that they would respect the terri
torial integrity and true boundaries
of Russia.
Armistice Question.
The United States government takes
no exception, in the note, to the eff
forts to arrange an armistice between
Poland and Russia. However, it fatty
opposes. for the present, any plan for
the expansion of the armistice nego-
tiations into general European con-
ference.
Two reasons are given for this op-
position. The first is that the United
States strongly recoils from the
recognition of the bolshevist regime.
The second lies in the fact that set
Element of the Russian problems so
arrived at would almost inevitably
rest upon a ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Rus
sia.''
The note was transmitted in re-
Spouse to an agreeable intimation"
from the Italian ambassador that his
government would welcome a state
ment of the views of the American
government on the Russian-Polish
situation. Secretary Colbys reply indi-
Gated clearly the strong sympathy
which the American government and
people have for the Russian people.
The Secretary of State. in making
clear this attitude OF the American
government, revealed the fact that
held its approval from the decision of
the supreme council at Paris recog-
nizing the independence of the 80
called republics" of Georgia and Aver
baijan because part of them were
carved out of the old Russian empire.
1t also was stated thae~ the United
States had taken the position that the
final determination of the boundaries
of Armenia, which the President has
been asked by the allies to fix, must
operation and agreement"
Attitude Toward Baltic States.
1t was further disclosed that the
United States had persistently refused
to recognize the Baltic states. with
the exception of Finland, once in
dependent nation, because it held that
they were rightly part of Russia
and that the territory embraced in
them should be held for the Russian
people until they should have organ
lied a stable government.
I'VE are unwilling the note de-
clared, that while it is helpless in
the grip of a non-representative gov
eminent, whose only sanction is brutal
force, Russia shall be weakened still
further by policy of dismemberment
conceived in other thsH Russian in
terests."
POlnnd's Independence.
Secretary Colby'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 unequiyocal. He declared
that the people of the United States
were earnestly solicitous" for the
maintenance of Poland's territorial
integrity and political independence.
From this attitude we will not de-
part, he announced, land the policy
of this government will be directed to
the employment of all available
means to render it effectual."
Pillage and oppression of the Poles,
he later declared. would remove Rus
STA wholly out of 1.-The 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 determination to pre-
vent the absorbing of the new repub-
lie into soviet Russia. Great Britain S
views on this subject were outlined
yesterday in the British house OF
commons by Premier Lloyd George.
There apparently, however, was a
difference as between the views OF the
British and American governments or
the questions of dealing with the
soviet and preservation of the true
boundaries of the former Russian EN-
pire.
Sauses Some Surprise.
Informal exchanges between Wash
ington and London and Paris on the
Russian-Polish situation have been
proceeding for some days and the
fact that the American note was adj
dressed to the Italian ambassador
created some surprise in Washington.
Mr. Lloyd George had announced to
the house of commons yesterday that
inquiry surely would be made as to
the position of the American gov
eminent. To this was added the fact
that Italy had not taken a prominent
part in the allied discussions of the
question and had not been repre-
sented at the Hythe conference of
allied premiers at which a policy was
outlined.
There was no information as to the
views of the United States govern
ment on the blockade and economic
measures decided upon at Hythe.
Likewise there was only an implied
response to Poland's request for a
declaration of the moral support"
of the United States in the fight
against the soviet.
Denuncintion OF Soviet.
In declaring the complete sympathy
of the United States with the Russian
people. Mr.. Colby in his note de-
nounced the soviet leaders. His
language was compared with that
contained in the proposal of the then
Secretary Lansing to the nations OF
the world two years ago that the
Russian bolsheviki be declared inter
national outlaws.
We cannot" Mr. Colby said, rec.
"gnize. hold official relations with OF
give friendly reception to the agents