The Washington herald., 1921-03-19
Simonds Sees Old Russia
Bitter Toward Entente
Writer Says u. S. Would Be Only Friend If
Nationalist Succeed In Present Revolt
Agains Reds and Return to Power.

Poland has now in the armisttce OF
Riga established her claim to a
frontier far east of the Curzon line.
as we'll as northward to the Dvina.
including wilma, where the dispute
with the Lithuanians still RACES and
this extension Of Polish territory
arouses Russian protest and. since
France stands as the champion of
Poland, France Is the target of
Russian wrath. Nor does Russian
purpose to restore old frontiers on
the eastern line, far to the south in
Eastern Galicia. In the region of
the great oil wells patriotic Rus
sia has taken up the cudgels for the
Ruthenians and lays claim to the
eastern. half Of the old Austrian
province.
Argue Over Rsmanian Tracts.
As to Rumania, Russians do not
accept the decision which bestowed
Bukovina and Bessarabia upon the
Latin state. They argue that the
decision was reached without Rus
sian assent. that in the case Of Bes-
sarabia Russian territory was ac-
tually taken. while in Buokovina
the population is largely Slav.
Thus II seems certain that a new
Russia will demand a reopening of
the whole Rumanian question as
well as that of the Baltic states and
Poland. As to Finland, Russia
there seems likely to seek only
such naval and military guarantees
as will enable her to defend her
own capital. conceding complete po-
litical independence to Finland.
In addition there Is the question
of Constantinople and today, with
Russia paralyzed. it is not less a
question in the minds of Russian
patriots than it was when Russian
was a great power with armies ap-
proaching the Golden Horn. What
ever group of statesmen or poll
ticiars presently dominate Russia
whether liberal or reactionary, the
demand for the Straits. for the gate
to the Black Sea is certain TO be re-
newed and under present circum-
stances this renewed demand will
bring Russia into immediate con-
fict with Great Britain, who now
dominates the Bosphorus and the
Dardanelles.
Since the league of nations has
recognized the independence of two
Of the Baltic states and admitted
them to membership and since this
admission at least in theory,
pledges the members of the league
to the defense of these states, Rus
sia Will find herself at once in total
variance with the league and. to
say the least, Russia cannot by
seeking admission herself, thus as
sent to the forcible separation of
some of her most treasured prov
inces.
VIII Also Oppose League.
1t follows quite logically, then.
that a restored Russia will find it.
self in opposition, not alone to Brit
ain and to France, unless there
shall be a profound modification of
British and French policy. but to
the league OF nations, itself. Today
Bolshevist Russia fights the league
as the expression of a capitalistic
Europe with which it is at war.
But tomorrow a nationalist Russia
is quite as certain to regard with
hostility the same league, because
II has been a party to Russian par
tition and is the guarantor of the
prominence Of that partition.
Commercially Russia looks upon
Germany as a necessary evil. but as
inevitably a factor in Russian re-
construction. The possibility of
Russo-German alliance was consid-
cred but rejected by such Russians
as have reported the discussions
which recently took place in the
constituent assembly at Paris. At
ter all. one may conjecture that
such an association will depend
upon circumstances and never re-
main wholly outside the area Of
the possible.
However, il is to the United States
the Russians who at Paris formu-
lated a program for national rein
tegrarion look with most hope ani
friendliness. American policy, as
formulated specifically by Mr.. Col
by in his last August note, took
oognizance of the unwisdom of dis
rosing of border provinces perma-
nently, while Russian consent could
not be had and thus confronting the
restored Russia, which must some
time arrive with a intolerable fait