Evening star., 1921-07-24
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

THAT Secretary Hughes should
wash his hands of the Silesian
question insofar as American
arbitration of conflicting
claims is concerned is not surprising.
He has tacitly indicated: It's your
affair" And in the pursuance of such
policy he has furthered the interests
Of this country at the present juno
ture. for unless the allied govern
ments take a right-about-face and
unravel the tangled skeins in Upper
Silesia expeditiously the situation Is
fraught with gravest danger. not
withstanding apparent settlement
few weeks back.
1t is doubtful If participation now
could undo what the allies by their
procrastination and selfish policies
have, permitted to be done. The al
lied governments have followed
course not tending to inspire either
respect or faith in their motives. and
there is no other case in all Europ"
that would tend more to make Mr..
Hughes turn his back upon further
affiliation with European affairs than
the Silesian question. where dyed-in-
the-wool nationalistic selfshness has
brought on the present crisis.
Blame Rests on France.
It cannot be said truthfully that the
blame for the situation rests with
Great Britain or Italy. Frances eag-
erness to reach out and hedge about
Germany has tended to act as finder
for clashes of interest between the
Germans and peoples skirting Ger
many. The French have been play
ing for strictly individualistic ends
in building up French political and
economic interests.
The whole Silesian question could
and should have been disposed of
in the year. Instead of proceeding
with dispatch. as the British insist
ed. the French procrastinated and
played for delays. in the meantime
undoubtedly striving to strengthen
and upbuild their alliance with Po-
Poland's interests. The plebiscite
vote was a shock to the French and
the Poles. who believed that not
withstanding the great German ele-
ment. the returns would throw the
rich industrial regions of Silesia to
Poland. The blow was one which
dazed. When the British suggested
that the allied commission go about
the settlement OF boundary. con-
fiicting interests came once more into
contact. Neither the Poles nor the
French were ready. While Premier
something be done the French and
che Poles had heads together. The
Polish insurrectionists. Under Kor-
fanty. soon plunged the whole ST.
lesian region into a sea Of strife. The
French were noticeably lenient to-
subsequent disorders. The Italians
and British alone stood firm for
square deal. even leading to con-
flict between the soldiers of France
and the other allies.
French and Poles Bound.
The French and the Poles have
q definite offensive and defensive
treaty. ostensibly aimed to protect
Frances eastern interests. France
out abandoning Polish sympathy.
which is relied upon to protect France
in case of future German aggression.
Poland today is in serious economic
and financial plight. France is in
duty bound to assist her in order
that there be going Poland. France
has done everything possible to curry
Polish favor. and in so doing has
gone so far as almost to ALLEVIATE
other allied nations, who. realizing
in case the Silesian question is per-
mitted to drag on, have insisted upon
settlement.
No better illustration of French
in the face of danger
can be given than refusal to meet
Lloyd George in immediate conference
to settle the Silesian boundaries The
French claim the settlement at this
titme would bring on warfare between
the Poles and the Germans over the
the Germans particularly
being ready to strike. On the other
hand, if advices reaching Washington
can be believed, the Poles are In bet
ter position to repeat their military
coup today than before. thanks to
French assistance. If the Poles can
actually achieve a coup whereby they
might seize the industrial regions OF
Silesia in face of the plebiscite vote
which gave them to Germany, france
undoubtedly would be happy: that IS;
the nationalistic element of France.
which has been waving the sword
since 1914 and has never quite con-
tented itself to the ways of peace. VI
course it cannot be stated that france
actually has delayed In the hxing OF
Silesian boundaries SO that the roles
might be strengthened to achieve
their land-grabbing ends. but the fact
hat there has been a constant flow OF