Evening star., 1921-05-15
GERMAN GOOD FAITH
MEANS GAIN FOR ALL
Strict Compliance With Ultimatum as
! Agreed To Will Bring European Ad-
vance7Silesia Big Danger Point.
the Polish government. notwithstand.
ing the protests of the allies.
Allied Position Pathetic.

! the Polish government. notwithstand-
ing the protests of the allies.
Allied Position Pathetic.
The allied position is really pathetic
when viewed from the viewpoint of
upholding prestige. The interallied
commission, split as it is-British and
Italian on one side and the French on
the other-has been flouted at every
| turn. The French have enough troops
| in Upper ASilesia to halfway control
the situation. but the French are not
prone to resist Polish ambitions. AS
| a consequence the British and Italian
position has been made extremely en-
| barrasing, because of their govern
ments' slowness in backing up their
authority. The Poles. as a conse-
| quence, have made elaborate prepara-
| tions to set up strictly Polish
Germans. unorganized though they
| may be, have resisted and will con-
tinue to resist despite allied warn
ingS.
they do nothing more, will tend to
! further the already great hatred and
suspicion existent between the Poles
and the Germans, which will react to
the disinterest of all Europe in fu-
ture years. because of peculiar poll
AS the result of the position of the
French in Silesia it is but natural
that the British and Italian govern
ments should feel bitter against them.
and there may be additional fireworks
when the supreme council assemblies
the first of next month to iron out
the whole Silesian question.
Must BE Allied Unity.
One thing is certain. There will
be unity or the SileSian problem will
lead to an embarrassing and definite
split between the allies. If the sit
uation is saved there must be imme-
diate demarcation of boundary lines
in Upper Silesia--an action incident
ally bound to please no one-and then
the allies. with their full strength,
must back up these decisions.
If the decisions tread upon the toes
Poland are certain to continue guer-
rilla warfare against the allies.
France cannot. without misgiving, be-
cause of particular political ques-
tions in the east. fight against the
Poles. and it will remain for the Brit
iSh and Italians to sustain allied de-
crees and head off what may crystal
lize into an eastern European 'Alsace-
Lorraine question. If the British and
Italians do this. undoubtedly they
will draw the fire of the French. and
if the French do not join in decreed
operations to enforce the authority of
the allies. both Britain and Italy will
be loath to support France in other
directions. If the allies maintain
their authority and definitely iron out
the perplexing silesian question. they
must do so with great diplomacy,
else their whole theory of readjust-
ment will be upset and a chasm cre
ated among themselves.
Furthermore, if there is definite
split between the allies on the
Silesian question, il may leave France
entirely open to interpret Germany's
compliance with the allies ultimatum
and the treaty of Versailles as she
deems fit. There will be no restrain
ing influence, France was ready to
strike into the Ruhr. without allied
aid if necessary. and. inasmuch as
France is retaining the class of 1920
with the colors despite Germany's
compliance with the ultimatum.
there is no reason to suppose that
she finds the treaty of Versailles
lodged under the slightest pretext
In view of British assurance to the |
Germans. this movement undoubted- |
ly would lead to further riffs be-
tween the allies, as the British, un-
less there were fragrant violations |
Of the treaty. could not be expected |
to turn back on the purported word |
to the centrists of Germany.
Americans May Aid.
Naturally 1t is to be hoped, in view !
of the necessity of co-ordinated ac-
never will materialize. American |
participation in allied conferences, |
even though no official weight be
lent to either side, may prevent a
rupture. American diplomats unof-
ficially will have it within their
power to direct successful solution of
all difficulties through compromise Of
the strongly running and conflicting
political currents in European poll
tics But. until Germany shows her
ohidoS hv httr
dens she has assumed. and the
Silesian problem is solved, allied
co-ordinated endeavor always. will be
hazarded. II these two questions are
solved there remains none to bring
on Immediately further menacing
entanglements