The Sun and the New York herald., 1920-07-24
SLAY PERIL BRINGS
LEAGUE ISSUE UP
President Maintains Waiting
Policy as Poles Ask
Moral Support.

Special 70 THE Sun AND New YORK HERALD.
WASHINGTON, July 80 - symptoms
threatening a renewal of the world
war, growing out of the Boshevik ad-
vance into Poland, have again centred
attention on the slav peril, which has
been menace to peace ever since the
signing of the armstice, and also its
application to the League OF Nations,
In tie situation which Is developing
the United states is holding aloof as
result Of the do nothing policy which has
been President Wilson'S reply to the
refusal of the Senate to ratify the Yer
Sailles treaty with It's League of Nations
covenant An urgent request from
Prince Lubomirski, Polish Ambassador,
for an expressioDA of moral support on
the part OF the United States has re-
suited in centrins the attention OF the
American State Department on the prob
lem The facts In the case have lot been
officially presented at the White House
although It is assumed the President is
keeping In touch with the developments
Should the situation result r a re-
vival Of the world chaos that existed up
TO the time of the signing OF the armis-
tice 1t Is regarded as quite probable that
the President may call Congress H. extra
session unless he should determine to
act upon his sole authority, leaving It TO
future Congressional action to approve
or disapprove his course. The serious
ness OF the problem is acknowledged
here its menacing character beng en-
phasized by the developments in british
politics. where Premier Lloyd George
has seemed to be paving the way for
more definite action
The part which the United States may
nlay Is indicated by representations
made by the United States Government
70 the Government OF CZecho-Siovakia,
amounting TO a protest against the in
terruption Of the transshipment of war
supplies across that country TO the
Poles rr. ...
The situation in Poland has its gem
esis. II is believed, In the possibly pre-
mature signing of the armistice With the
resulting delay in the settleme1. of the
peace and failure TO deal vigorously at the
outset with the Bolshevist problem This
failure has been followed by the / 'eaktng
down of the war morale in tn" allied
countries to an extent that makes Wig
orous action now difficult II not impos-
sible. This is especially true In Great
Britain. where Lloyd George is embar-
ra ssed by the British labcr element
which is bitterly opposing any militant
programme against the Bolshet'st Gov
ernment.
France, which has always been anX'-
Gus to establish a strong Poland as
hufTer State between Germany and Rus
sia. has been handicapped in its efforts
TO aid the Poles by criticism Of the Pol-
ism course here and in England OH the
ground that il was imperialistic In ten
dency. and that the Polish Government
had not Welded TO allied advice against
pushing its lines into Russia where the
boundary lines Of Poland had not been
dellmited.
The defence Of the Poles has been
that the League OF Nations, which as
sumed TO offer guarantees of the future,
was not functioning. and that the ad-
vance lines across the marshes was
military necessity 1t is an open secret
here that Marshal Foch and the French
eroup here approved the Polish course.
The moral support sought from the
Tinted States is also regarded as i'm
nOrtant as leSSenlnR OpJtClIpH SiSC"iS'N
TO the aid which France would feel In
clIned to give TO struggling Poland upon
which she places so much stress for her
future safety.
The part which the United States may
be called on to play when 1t snail be
determined whethef it is wisest to meet
the Russians now or await their further
inroad into Poland, will depend on the
Administration interpretations Of its
powers under the treaty In its suspended
state OF animation. Also upon the atu-
tude which will be taken toward Ger
many with which the United States Is
technically at war. but toward which a
status OF peace is maintained under the
terms of the armistice.
While the League of Nations covenant
has not been accepted by Congress, the
state of war with Germany remains in
effect, giving the President a wide lati-
tude OF action. He has asserted that
the moral obligation of the United States
under the league Is paramount to any
legal obligation.