The New York herald., 1921-07-29
|LUDENDORFF WOULD
QUIT SLESIA RATHER
Than FIGHT POLAND
General Opposes a Conflict
as Simply Playing Into
Hands of BOlsheviki.
POLES BEST NEIGHBORS
German Military Men Ex-
pect Red Drive Against
Poland and Britain.
WANT TRADE RELATIONS
Teutonic Sentiment Growing
in Favor Of Peace and Plenty
Instead Of Strife.
POLES BEST NEIGHBORS
WANT TRADE RELATIONS

Special Gable to THs NEW YonK HrRALp.
Copyright, 1921, by TIL. NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Berlin. July 2S.
The possibility of another Russian
attack on the Poles causes many lead
ing Germans to believe that everything
possible should be done to prevent a
conflict between Germany and Po-
land. Gen. Eric Ludendorff, one time
Quartermaster-Ge General Of the German
armies, declared to-day that 1T were
better that Germany lose Upper ST.
land"
Gen. Ludendorff expressed the opin-
ion that such a conflict would "only
play into the hands Of the Bolshevihi'
by them that would aim at an ex-
tension of Bolshevist influence west
ward. He declared that Ahe partly de-
moralized Poles might. in the event of
a determined attack by Russia. sue
cumb to Bolshevist drive.
The opinion in military circles here
is that it were better to have the Poles
as neighbors than the Bolsheviki.
Britain Is soviets' Objective.
y Russia's next move will be against
the British Empire. is the belief of
men who were once high in German
military circles. Despite the lack of
sufficient military support to the Soviet
ally, Mustapha Kemal Pasha, Turkish
Nationalist leader in Asia Minor, to
enable him to hold his own against the
Greeks. German officers are of the
opinion that it will not be long before
the Bolsheviki will concentrate theil
military strength in some important
field of operations with a view to
cracking the British Empire, but that
meanwhile Moscow Is preparing for
new operations against Poland.
THE NEW York HERALD correspondent
here to-day heard a German express the
hope, which was common here a year
ago. that Germany would decide to fight
Poland. One time German army officers
who were present hastily interrupted the
man who was wishing for hostilities and
declared that war between Poland and
unarmed Germany now would result in a
triumphant Polish march to Breslau and
further.
On the other hand. in German Govern
ment circles Bolshevist Poland is re-
garded as of less consequence militarily
than a situation resulting from the gen.
eral poverty and unemployment there.
A prominent member of the Government
declared that Germany was not seeking
to eliminate Poland.
Famished Poles Most Feared.
I'VE fear Poland's disorganization and
the famished border people more than
we do Poland's expansionist ambition"
he said. I'VE are seeking the reestab-
lishment of trade relations with the Poles
and would prefer compromising on the
upper Slesian issue to a continued un-
settled state. The German Government
rushed through trade agreement with
Poland with this end In view, but 1t Is
still Ineffective"
German business circles are now espe-
cially eager for resumption Of trade
relations with Poland. because Poland
constitutes the connecting link for trade
between Germany and Russia.
Theodor Wolff, writing I'm the Bcr-
liner Ta0esb,att, reflects the attitude In
Democratic circlcs here regarding this
phase Of reconciliation and trade agree
ments.
I'VE cannot expect Polish sympathies.
as result of our long occupation of
Polish SOIL" he says. I'VE must seek an
understanding with Poland"
Some kind OF boundary is better
than no boundary at all. leading Ger
mans are now saying in connection with
the upp0 Silesian dispute.
At the same time some Poles are now
preaching the renouncing by Poland Of
her upper Slesian claims. preferring a
favorable longtime trade agreemeEe with
Polish preferential rights on upper Siles-
ian raw and manufactured goods.