Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-09
WAR FLAMES MENACE
AS THE ALLIES FIDDLE
Bolshevik Dangers in Eastern Europe
Grow Definite as Red Armies Mass
Against Weaker States.

).
In Rumania the communist sentiment
/ has grown. In all Baltic states the
tinge is red. In JuSoSlavia the gov
| eminent has been forced seriously to
combat bo.shevik elements. In Czecho-
slovakia and in Poland there has
mine governments. create acute dis
satisfaction over present evil eco
nomic and social conditions. Always
the bolsheviks hold up the bubble
masses. The work of bolshevik
agents is being done well.
In the meantime red armies are
maSSinG.
And the allies are fiddiing.
Expected in Spring.
Some co-ordinated movement of
boishevik armies in the spring. when
the weather will lend itself to pro-
longed and safe military endeavor In
eastern Europe is anticipated. 1t is
expected the issue will come before
the allied premiers at their confer
ence in Paris January 10. In the
meantime Winston Churchill, British
minister of war. is to confer with the
war office of Paris in regard to the
situation. If as much is accomplished
in future weeks as has been accom-
piished in past arid years nothing will
be achieved
1t is stated on reliable authority
that even the British. though contin-
uing negotiations for trade with Rus
STA, suspect Lenin and therefore are
ready to take some concrete step
looking to the curbing of his infiu-
ence.. In this the British are swing
ing toward the original French
viewpoint. possibly due to the fact
that the bolshevik influence in
the near east is striking directly at
the heart of Britain's eastern empire
and she realizes that temporiZing
much further can gain nothing but
disaster.
England for Leniency.
Closely connected with any agree
ment the allies may reach in regard
to Russia is the question of enforce
ment of the disarmament clauses of
the Versailles treaty, for England. it
is declared. will continue to advise
leiency on the part of the allies in
regard to German disarmament, par
ticuIarly in the eastern sections of
Germany, in view of possible bolshe-
vik incursions. England. it is said,
would make Germany one of the buff
fers of the possible oncoming bolShe-
vik tide, and if the French are Serl-
ously enough concerned over the pos
sible wrecking of eastern Europe by
the bolsheviki they. may give in to the
British viewpoint.
There is little to be expected. how
ever, from any proposal or hope that
the German government will take
steps to combat the bolshevists. The
world knows that the bolshevist lead
ers, Lenin and Trotsky. had close
connection with the old monarchical
regime. Comparatively few Rcnths
back the German government was
n
bolshevist revolution. Germany. as
possibly no other of the larger pow
ers of Europe, is honeycombed by
communism, and successful bolShe-
visit advance toward the eastern Ger
man frontier may prove signal for
another upheaval within Germany.
Beset by one clique which is ready
to start a revolution for the return
of old monarchical forms, and on the
other hand by the menace of extreme
radicalism. little is to be expected
of the German government in the
way Of assisting the allies.
frances Great Burden.
France has spent about 10000. zoo. 900
francs since the armistice in the way
of reparations and pensions. a sum
checked off by the government as
payable by German reparations. The
burden falls upon the people now,
however. France would rather see
man government than see another
internal crisis. which would further
defer payments of the tremendously
heavy load falling upon all through
onerous taxation. If France con-
sents to the delay of German dis
armament at the expense of the
treaty of Versailles, it will be only
through the belief that by doing SO
the German government may be pre-
served in it's present form that repa-
rations be eventually paid.
But whether the bolshevist situa-
ton is dealt with or not at the
coming premiers' parley, or whether
the separations issue is successfully
solved. the fact nevertheless remains
that Europe is in danger in the east.
and decisions of far-reaching char
acter must, be made and commensur-
ate action taken against Russia be-
fore the treaty Of Versailles can be
fulfilled and the whole of Europe set
tie down to really worthwhile con-
structive processes.