The New York herald., 1921-05-29
French Interests Would Lift
Poland TO First Glass Power

But since Russia had fallen into anarchy
and worse, there was no present possibility
OF restoration of the old Franco Russian
alliance. As consequence France had to
lind new ally and she tabled upon Poland
historically bound to France by many ties,
and now as a result of her liberation to be-
ccme a considerable state All French policy
at Paris and since has centred upon maxi
ing Poland as powerful as possible. And
fundamentally, it is well for Americans to
perceive that here is no question of sym
Etihy for Poland-although there is much
IN France, but merely of French interest
But Poland was certain to become the bat
tie ground of French and British policy for
the size and Importance of Poland was sure
to be a determining factor in French in
fiuence and power. To put the thing simply,
Poland could she have Danzig the eastern
marches which she has disputed with Lthu-
ania and with Red Russia, would be a State
of between 30,000,000 and 40, 600, 900. with an
area greater than that of Britain or Italy,
and almost equal to that of Germany as re-
duced by the Treaty of Versailles. IT, in
addition, Poland could obtain the coal fields
of Upper Silesia she would be a great power
once her unification were completed.
And this great power would. in the
nature of things, be an ally and even a sub
ordinate of France, bound to the Republic by
every possible tie. Moreover, Polish armies
officered and trained by French generals
uld In closest union with the French
supply military strength which would be
the controlling factor on the Continent,
kolcing Germany in restraint, dominating the
east of Europe and, in the nature of things,
bound to Rumania another important ele-
ment i'm the New Europe by an inevitable
alliance against the common Russian enemy.
Thus IL has resulted that on every occa-
sion when a Polish matter has been up be-
fore the Paris Conference of the Supreme
Council British policy has been fatty anti
Polish II was Lloyd George who pre-
vented Polish ownership outright OF Danzig
and Of Upper Sesia, who reduced the Polish
corridor 1t was a British High Commits
sioner of Danzig who refused TO let French
n,uritions pass to the hard pressed Polish
armies when the Bolshevists approached
Warsaw. IL was Lloyd George himself who
proposed, while the Reds were still advanc-
ing that Poland agree to a treaty which
would have cut in half the area Of the new
ST. te.
by contrast 1t was Gen. weygand and his
French subordinates, reinforced by French
munitions, and ably assisted on the civil side
b. Ambassador Jusserand who rallied the
Polish armies, delivered the counter stroke
before Warsaw, which won back for Poland
her lost territory. The Treaty of Riga re-
stored to Poland all the lands lost in the
second partition, and at last gave her some
thing which approXmates natural frontier
toward Russia. To-day French sympathy
Is extended to Poland claiming wilma, where
her ethnic majority is overwhelming. II is
British opposition which may defeat the
Polish aspiration
one has. then Il clear notion Of the real
4, contrasted with the imaginary issue at
stake in Upper Sesia, Poland actually car