New-York tribune., 1920-03-13

AAo aHnOuncenenCy several tim eS
made and as often denied, that Marshal
Foch Is about to go to Poland, de-
serves to be read in connection with
the vast anti-Polish propaganda which
is being disseminated in the United
States at the present time, designed
to injure the Poles and misrepresent
the facts which confront these gallant
people.
A great deal Of capital is being made,
chiefly through British journals, of the
fact that the Poles ara occupying a
very far flung line toward the east,
greatly beyond the meager limits as
signed to the Polish state by the Paris
conference. This is interpreted az
the conclusive evidence Of colossal
Polish dreams Of imperialism.
The truth is otherwise The Poles
have on their eastern frontier the most
dangerous and menacing enemy faced
by any nation, the Bolshevists, and this
enemy has already announced an in
tention of making spring drive
against the Poles. There is not a bit
OF evidence to prove that the Bolshe-
vists have laid aside this purpose, or
would lay it aside merely because the
Poles retired from their present front.
The BoIsheuist Attack
On the contrary all evidence con-
firms the belief that the Bolshevists
are rapidly accepting the nationalistic
aspirations Of their old Czarist rulers
and look forward to a reconquest of
all the border lands. Thus confronted
with the probability Of an attack. de-
signed to extinguish their recently &C.
qufred liberties, the Poles are occupy
ing territory in the pathway OF the
storm that the fighting may take place.
not on their own soil, but on that Of
the enemy.
II the British and the Americans
who criticize the Poles were prepared
TO guarantee to send the necessary
number Of divisions to. Poland if the
Bolshevists attacked Poland, then there
might be some warrant for the sue-
gestion that the Poles retire to the
Paris Conference frontiers. But it is
a notorious fact that neither British
nor American troops are available.
Thus If British and American states-
men persuade or coerce the Poles into
evacuating their present positions. the
POLES may find themselves disarmed bv
their alleged friends in the presence
of their enemies.
Americans should be very shv ~ No.
cepting European estimstes of tn.
Pollsh as Of the Turkish situation. In
both cases the policies of the British
and the French conflict. At Paris ths
British did everything that lay within
their power to restrict Poland. the
French to make Poland truly a yiable
state. Tho explanation Of the British
course lay in the perception that a
strong Poland, necessarily united with
q strong France, would serve az the
foundation for European balance Of
power, which would free the French
from abject dependence upon British
foreign policy.
French Policy
france, on the other hand, saw that
q strong Poland would mean q great
increase OF French security; for Cor
many would have to face two enemies
II she decided to take up again her
age-iong enmity to France. But it is
uncomfortable that in this instance
there can be any American end served
by accepting British policy blindly and
thus, In effect, forging the chains by
which British policy would dominate
she Continent Of Europe for the next
few decades.
1T is mistake tss think the mere