Evening star., 1921-07-24
DELAYS OF FRANCE
STIR SILESIA CRISIS
Policy of Political Expediency and ALI
ance With Poland May Prove Tiinder for
New Confederation, It Is Declared.

military supplies to Poland from
overlooked in general consideration of
the question.
British Refuse Troops.
France during the past week. has
asked for additional British troops to
be used in upholding allied dictates
in Silesia. Were France to have her
way these would be used against
to prevent territorial grabs in the in
terest of Poland and ag Inst the die
tates of the Silesia plebiscite. The
very fact that In the recent Korfanty
revolt the French always aided the
Poles and punished the Germans. al
both sides in equally harsh fashion In
case plebsicite commission rulings
were overridden. gives portent as to
what would follow were allies to send
additional force to Silesia and were
conflict to break out between tthe
Germans and the Poles.
The British have refused troops
and the French declare they will
send division to Upper Silesia not
withstanding. The French govern
to cause the disarming of so-called
organized German bands in and on
the border of Silesia. but the Ger
man government is impotent. mas
much as 1t has no means for fofcibly
disarming these forces. this impo-
tence being inspired by the treaty
of Versailles. In case the Germans
strike against the Poles they will
be confronted by large French forces
and a bitter conflict will result. 1t
is extremely doubtful what the atti-
tude of the Italians and British will
be in a clash. as they regard the
present French policy. as extremely
provocative. They know that even
manufactured incident" might set
of a eonfiasration of far.reaehins
Italy wants a conflict at the moment.
and yet they realize that it will come
if the French policy is insisted upon.
May Reopen Warfare.
Conflict between the Poles and Ger
mans over disputed Silesian terri
tory actually will mean the reopen
ing of the war between France and
save Poland in case of danger. But
the absolute foolishness of the pres
ent French policy Of provocation-for
it is none other in view of events-is
the fact that the bolsheviks Of Rus
sia. who soon must pay 30.000.000
gold rubles. already are massing
forces on the Polish frontier. The reds
never have been satisfied with the
treaty of Riga. which was to the dis
interest of the bolsheviks. Close stu
ueHtS OF European politics never nave
felt that the treaty would stand in
definitely, and believed that the boil
sheviks would render 1t void It the first
opportunity. Polish warfare against
the Germans over Silesia might give
the bolsheviks their chance to strike
have every right to demand the utter
most strength of France in COM
batting enemies upon both sides.
Furthermore. conflict of this nature
one where the French would be ar
rayed against the Germans. while
the Poles center their attention
against the reds. By virtue of the
strength of the bolsheviks this action
would be necessary If Poland were to
emerge at all.
England May Hold Back.
would call upon other allied nations
to aid, but unless France can give
a clean bill of health insofar as po-
litical policies in Silesia are con-
cerned. the Lloyd George government
will have difficulty in swinging the
The general French attitude Of an
tagonizing the British viewpoint.
which insists on the removal Of vexa-
tious and Testing sores in Silesia, Is
one that will preclude quick British
response unless British interests
really are menaced. Il
The Silesian question is not one
which involves the enforcement Of
the treaty of Versailles at this juno
ture. The settlement could long ago
have been reached had 1t not been
for French contrariness. The nom
compliance OF the Germans and 9TH
ers with the edicts of Versailles can
not be cited now as valid excuse for
warfare. 1t may be hoped to use it
as such. but the effort will be un-
successful
If there is war and prolonged war
in Europe again. Silesia being the
nesting place for the struggle. the
French policy Of political aggression
must be blamed. No other valid rea-
son can be found. And. in view of
events. France will have difficulty in
aligning informed American opinion /
with her in such a struggle, even
though there be the strongest senti-
ment in this country to see the treaty
of Versailles enforced and Germany
be made to pay to the uttermost
farthing for all of her insidious ac-
tions which have led to prolonged
world chaos. In the case Of Silesia,
at least, with all its hazards Of re-
newed warfare. there is little SYM
pathy in Washington for French
policies.