Evening star., 1921-05-08

II OW futile is any efort 10 iron
- out territorial and racial is
sues in Europe today with
out grim force behind all
edicts. and how futile. save in the
German question. is il for the allies
to strive to work togethe. in many
sections Of the continent. with their
own political and racial prejudices
running counter current. possibly
never since the war has been more
graphically illustrated than in upper
Silesia. now torn by species of civil
strife. final settlement of which un-
doubtedly must remain remote.
Polish imperialism - for there is
such A thing. Notwithstanding admit
tance, of this factor has tendency to
undermine inherent desires of all peo-
piles to see the Poles advance and pros
per-is responsible for the condition
which has been created by unorgan-
tions of upper Silesia. which it was
thought soon would be awarded to
Germany by supreme council edict.
True it is the Polish government may
voice its inability to cope with those
elements which have started trouble
and gone SO far as to fight military
engagements with allied troops to
seize industrial districts of Silesia
and annex them for later incorpora-
tion within the Polish republic. But
nevertheless. disinterested spectators
will be hard to convince that the
present coup is not one of which the
Polish government has had advance
knowledge.
Frances Recent Warning.
France warned Poland against ag-
gression in the face of the plebiscite e
and allied dictates. that there should
But Notwithstanding this warning,
which on the face of events would
absolve France. il is known that the
French. in the encoura cement OF thelr
policy looking toward the creation
of the strongest possible Poland and
in furtherance of Polish aims in the
recent plebiscite. created the belie1
latter have run counter TO the British
people that such aggression Wouio
not be opposed by the French. Ihe
latter have run counter othe British
and Italian members of the interai-
lied nlebiscite and control commits
sion. The French protest is much the
same sort of action as the locking OF
the stable door after the horse IS
stolen. The Poles. ,beholden to ailled
nations as they are in future adJust-
ments. which will give them protec-
tion against both Germany and Rus-
sia- hardly would initiate any move.
ment toward the reclamation OF all OF
Upper Silesia had not the alhes-a!
least one of them-given them tacit
procurement to ,n;1Ss,sndpns do so Ppe'ess -
The fact that the Polish government
has been considering the annexatlon
Of Upper Silesia. in face OF the pieo-
iscite is evident because OF 'ne
announced arguments which are 70 oe
presented by Foreign Min'seer encii in
ha to the allied supreme council n
favor of the incorporation OF pom
mining and industrial regions or Up.
ner Silesia into Poland. In all OF
these arguments the theme OF an
nexation runs strong and reasons
cited why Silesia should not De III
yided and Germans permitted 70 con-
troll certain sections. Seinsh Intere.s .s
run through all. inasmuch as folahd
need and not Poland's right Is .ne
fundamental upon which the advance
claims are predicated-
All Desire stronE Poland.
There is no reason why an peopis
should not wish to see folana M
upper Silesia il a great and s.rohs
Poland can be assured. AS stated. the
world at large is desirous OF seeing
nrosnerous, advancing Poland. one
that can live and defy neighooTs
working toward Poland's downfali;
Tbere are doubts. however. that good
for Poland can result from the ac-
cumulation Of territories which oS
pIebiscite vote have shown preference
for other rule than that OF warsaw
An Alsace-Lorraine question in Siie-
sia will result If the Poles are per,
mitted to grab the Silesian industrial
regions as we'll as mining country.
particularly after the recent pleoi-
scite. when the total number OF Ger
man votes exceeded the Polish in the
territory at large. II provincial par
titioning is carried out in accordance
with the popular vote. then the south
ern, but not northern, half. the scene
Of the weeks civil strife. would go 10
Poland and the industrial sections to
Germany.
THE supreme council which has been
meeting in London to settle the Ger.
man reparations question ADJOURNED
without passing upon the Silesian
problem. and indeed IL would have
6een idle to do so with events in
state of nux. Another session soon is
70 be held in Ostend. and at that
time the whole Silesian question Will
be considered at length. BY that time
the Poles possibly will have done
what they wish with the upper Sile-
sian territory and possibly will have
overrun this section to point where