The New York herald., 1921-01-16
By FRANK II. srMoNDs.

By FRANK II. SIMONDS.
TT is perhaps a Anal Illustration OF the
fact that we are still long way from
the promised world peace, that another
new year brings with IL the familiar specu-
lation as to whether we shall see another
spring offensive. Three years ago the world
was guessing as to whether there would be
German attack in-t the west, and the an
swer was had with crushing definiteness
on March 81. One year later Bolshevism
temporarily broke through the Gordon Sani-
taire of the Paris Conference and Bella Kun
established a Red Government at Budapest.
Last year. after the III advised effort of pre-
vention which was the Polish drive to Kiev,
we had the Russian advance to the outskirts
of Warsaw.
This year it is Bolshevism again which
supplies the possibility of new military
attack, but the old enemy now threatens in
three widely separated fields, in fact in four,
if one divides the Polish and Baltic area.
Thus we have in all the dispatches now
flowing from Europe the reiterated state
ment that Russia will attack either on the
the imaginary boundaries of the Baltic
States, or, finally, in conjunction with the
Osmanli Turks in Asia, with British and
French spheres as their detectives.
IN reality the discussion actually comes
down to the debate as to whether the Rus
slams will attack Rumania or Poland. with
the present indications favoring the former
possibility. What then are the conditions
- f~Ar Il. fO. AI- to
would constitute a totally new conflict?
What, also. the major circumstances
which might provoke another attack upon
the Poles who only few months ago, by
the narrowest of margins, escaped annihila
toi at the hands of the Reds?
Already Providing an Excuse,
Much as Was Done for Poland
The occasion of any Russian attack upon
Rumania, we are solemnly told by many
foreign correspondents, is to be found in the
occupation by the Rumanians of the old
Russian province of Bessarabia The pur-
pose of such information or rather mis-
information, is patent defence is already
preparing for what undefended might seem
a war of aggression on the part of the
Reds.
A year ago the defence in the Polish case
the assertion that Poland had assailed
the Reds quite wantonly and that the war
was one of defence Untrue at the outset
this defence was maintained when the Poles
had been driven across their own frontiers.
as fixed by the Paris Conference. and were
ready to make any reasonable settlement
1t is well in advance, then, to establish
the facts as to Bessarabia. This territory,
between the Dniester and the Pruth Rivers,
historically constitutes portion of the old
province of Modavia, settled by Roman
colonists whose descendants are the modern
Rumanians, at the time of the Emperor
Trajan. 1t was conquered by the Turks
and was taken from them by the Russians in
1912, save for a small district north of the
Danube Delta, which became Rumanian
when these Latins of the south were liber-
ated from Turkish rule and was only taken
by Russia, and taken by force and with
out shadow of justice, after the Rumanian
army had saved the Russian forces at
Pievna.
OF the population OF Bessarabia at least
two-thirds arc Rumanan by language and
race. The balance belong to many races.
Turkish, Bulgarian, German, Ukrainian,
with remnants of many other tribes. The
Rumanian people have always regarded
Bessarabia as a lost province" When Ru-
mania was conquered by the Germans and
forced to accept the brutal terms Of the
Treaty of Bucharest. one consolation was
found IN the taclt consent or the Germans
TO Rumanian annexation Of Bessarabia The
Bolshevist revolution had spread to the
province. It was occupied by Bolshevist
troops. but with Rumanian aid these were
expelled and the provincial assembly voted
overwhelmingly for union with Rumania.
No Question About Character
of the Bulk of Inhabitants
There was, and there IS, no question as to
the Rumanan character of the great me-
iority Of the people Rumanian claims To
Bessarabia are far better founded than those
OF italy to Tstria and quite as sound as thoss
Of France to Alsace- Lorraine, italy to the
Trentino. Poland to Posen Moreover. thess
claims have been fully recognized by all
European nations belonging 70 the old ALL
ance against Germany. and Rumanian title
TO the province Is not officially questioned
anywhere save in the United States.
In this country, however. there was
evolved the rather astonishing doctrine that
the separation OF the outlying provinces.
inhabited by alien races. that Is by non
Russian peoples. was unwise and should not
be recognized until some responsible Russian
government had consented to such separ;e-
ton. The same doctrine would have post