South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-05-19
Other Editors Than Ours
POLAND AND THE TREATY.
indianapolis NewsO

In his speech in the house of commons yester-
day, Lloyd George condemned strongly. but none
too strongly, the conduct of the Poles Upper
sesia, and at least implied that the government
of Poland not without blame in the matter,
though he was disposed TO accept its disclaimer
of responsibility The prime minister said
wilma occupied by regular Polish troops
in defiance of the allies. They were asked re-
tire, and they said: I'VE have no responsibility
for it, The same thing is happening now the
same disclaimer Of responsibility Arms passing
from Poland and officers crossing her frontiers
make it very difficult TO feel that those repudia-
tons Of responsibility anything but purely
verbal"
The Polish PEOPLE owe their liberty and indie
pendence, pointed out by Lloyd George, wholly
TO the allies and TO the Versailles treaty Yet they
are engaged in a fragrant violation of that treaty
which the allies bound to enforce Poland which
did not win its liberty, but received a gift
from the allies, Is the last country in Europe tina.
has right complain OF the Versailles treaty.
The Poles divided in the war, half of them as
the prime minister said lighting the side of Ger
many. They FELL" Lloyd George said. lin German
uniforms, and shot down Frenchmen, British and
Italians who lighting for Their freedom" The
question is one Of enforcing the treaty and main
tanning the peace OF Europe. The allies are bound
to enforce the treaty The speaker could but
two ways Of doing it, either by the Of allied
troops. else by permitting the Germans
L. That is a matter for the allies to decide But
there can be no question that the treaty must be
upheld The case could hardly be better stated than
in the following words:
Not merely to disarm Germany but TO say
that such troops she has are not 10 be per-
mitted 10 take part in restoring order-that
not fair. To say 10 Germany: Here is your
province. here is ething which has been de-
cided by the treaty of Versailles. either for or
against YOU but Poles be allowed in
defiance OF that treaty 10 take IL. and YOU will
not be allowed TO defend yourselves in a
province which has been yours for 200 years.
and which certainly has been Polish for
600 years is discreditable and worthy
the honor OF any land. I perfectly certain
that will not be the attitude the allies Will
take. The only thing which would like say
in behalf OF the government IS this: Whatever
happens. accept a accompli.
That would be TO permit defiance which
might lead TO consequence of the
kind"
lating and the support of Great Britain, France
Italy-and we may add the good will OF the United
States-the Polish state could possibly
II Germany not disarmed under the YER
sailles treaty she would long since have taken all
the territory OF Poland that desired % take.
and have reclaimed all the territory that had been
assigned Poland by the treaty The war OF the
Poles IS not against Germany but against the allies
and against the peace and safety OF Europe and
world. The prime minister said:
IT. therefore, Is essential in the interests Of
the nation that whatever our prejudices and
predictions. whether like this man or dis
like the other. we should recognize that Justice
has nothing 10 do with likes or dislikes and
decide fairly sternly
ing 10 the pact which We ourselves have
signed"
That pact the law OF Europe and also tho
charter Of Polish Liberties II binds the allies-and
Poland-quite as much as it does German"