Evening star., 1921-05-19
Editorial Digest
The Polish Wedge

The Polish Wedge.
I Whatever the final effect of the
fiery remarks of the French and Brit
ism premiers on the subject of ST.
iesta may be. Lloyd Georges anti
Polish statements served to turn the
majority Of the American press. al
ready quite out of patience with the
i,olish invaders. further away from
me French attitude. The folly and
danger of the Poles in resorting to
force has gradually given way as
SUBJECT OF comment to the greater
danger of diplomatic split in the
allies for which Korfanty's "annun-
ziad.' as the New York Evening Post
cause.
To the Springfield Republican Gnde-
pendent British opposition to the
French championship of the Poles
can be traced to business competition.
1T is plain that the British business
France to n large indemnity. is op-
posed to Franco-Polish monopoly
of the coal of Europe.
A few papers. stll touched by the
bolshevik fear. feel that the allies
may justify almost any step rather
than chastise Poland and thus. as the
Cleveland Plain Dealer independent
dcmocratic) puts it. weaken "cviiliza-
tion's one strongest barrier against
the red menace.
The New York World (democratic)
states the extreme when 1t says
France stands in grave danger. not
only of political isolation. but of
moral isolation for: THE Silesian
incident is merely the elimination of
series of politics with which the
rest of the world has little or no
sympathy. In this particular case the
aggression was directed not against
the Germans. as the French press as
Sumes, but against the treaty of Fer-
sailles. to which the French govern
ment has set its signature"
The Baltimore News Independently
thinks 1.-The French seem to be play
ing fast and loose with the whole sit
uation in Europe" and in this case.
apparently winking at serious
breach of order" The Pittsburgh
Leader progressive republican, goes
step further. scentinS French plans
for a war on Russia.
Declaring that Lloyd Georges vio-
lent protest against the Polish inva-
sion will be very welcome to every
liberal mind" the New York Mail
Gndependent) remarks that IF
France is abetting the Poles, as has
been charged, she must now abandon
her course or be prepared to fout the
wishes of Great Britain and Italy"
The Rochester Times-Union Gnde-
pendent believes that mt Lloyd
George is right" and the New Lon
don Day trepublicaD echoes this
thought with the assurance that the
truth is behind nim.' while the New
York Evening World tdemocrat) as
sorts that the right moment has come
for downright British insistence that
the duties and obligations of the al
lied governments under the treaty..
must be upheld.
The Philadelphia Public Ledger fn-
dependen) declares: "All these recent
clashes are grist for the German mill.
Here is the first real threat of split
in the allied ranks. If France and
second thought. GEAR the Poles out
of Silesia. go ahead with a systematic
and legal settlement of the Silesian
matter and keep a mutual eye on Ger
many. the beginnings of trouble are
at hand"
dren" OF the allies and mentioning the
suspicion of French interests in con-
nection with the invasion. the Boston
Post independent democracy does not
omit to speak of the hand of the
British textile interests" seen by Po-
land in British lukewarmness" to-
ward the new and bellicose country.
The Pittsburgh Gazette-Times Gre
publican) speaks with sympathy for
Poland's economic aspirations. but
adds. what win it avail to secure
economic advantages if a country lose
its good repute among nations?' and
the New Orleans Times Picayu in-
dependent democrat) feels that rock
ing the boat in Silesia" will not "im-
prove the Polish position before the
world"
The Lincoln (Neb) Star Gndepend-
enO scents another motive in allied
laxity and says that "evcn for the
allies to permit the Polish insurgents
to serve as an incentive for Germany
to meet the reparations demands. is
violation Of the Versailles treaty"
and declares that "the future of Up
per Silesia should be determined with
out conflict"
The New York Times (independent
democratI while realizing the danger
ahead. still pins its faith to the su-
preme council to smooth out the
scamy situation and expresses faith
that things are "Quieting down" 1t
sagely concludes: The trouble-mak-
ing spirit of the Poles needs no en-
couraEement from BRAND. The Ger
mans will find enough ways of being
troublesome without the assistance of
Lloyd George. Having bungled the en-
tire Silcsian matter from the begin
ming, the least the allies can do is to
sec to 1t that the seeds OF mischief
they have planted there do not sprout
into srious disturbance. flling the
whole world with anxfety"