New-York tribune., 1921-02-06
french Pact
With p Poland
Announced
"Details Withheld, but Be-
ieved to Provide for
United Action Against
Germans and BoIsheviki
Special Gable to Tho Tribune


PARIS, Feb. 5.--After several con-
situations between General Pilsudski,
head of the Polish state, and Premier
BRAND, two of these conferences TAX
ing place in the presence of the Presi-
dent of the French Republic himself,
the governments of Poland and France
nave drawn up very carefully worded
statement in which notice is served on
the world that these two countries will
stand together in the defense Of their
superior interests" 1t was decided at
the conferences that no formal treaty
would be signed at the present time.
After dinner this evening NJ. BRAND
solemnly called in the ambassadors of
the Allied powers--Great Britain, Italy
and Japan--and read them the new
Franco-Polish declaration. 1t says:
The two governments of France and
Poland, being equally anxious to safe
guard their security and the peace of
Europe, have recognized once more the
common interests which unite these
two friendly countries. They agree to
confirm their intention to coordinate
their efforts and to this end closely to
maintain contact for the defense of
their interests"
Nature of Pact Kept Secret
Exactly what the secret understand
ing is which this declaration covers
was left to the imagination of the AL
lied am bassadors, but it may be as
sumed to be one of mutual support in
an anti-German and anti-Bolshevik pol
icy. Poland will support France in
forcing Germany to pay her repara-
tons account, and, will follow
French guidance In her policy toward
Russia. France will, as far as is con-
venient and advisable, support Poland
against Russia, especially if Poland is
attacked by the Bolsheviki. At the
same time France extends her condi-
tional sympathy to Poland in her de-
sire to possess the coal fields of Upper
Slesia
France is forced to proceed cautious
ly in her friendship for Poland be-
cause the other Allied governments do
not hold the same affection for the
Poles as the French do. During the
recent voyage of the Polish President
TO France an intim alton was sent to
England, and also to Italy, that Pill
sudski would like to visit their respec-
tive capitals, but neither of these
countries expressed any desire to en-
tertain him.
Toxic Is Sympathetic
France, therefore, in acting as Po-
lands sponsor in the European con-
cert of nations, has had to consider
the feelings of her Allies in the matter
with the exception of Japan. 1t is
rumored that the Toxic government
has expressed sympathy with the
Franco-Polish friendship.
Although the publicly drawn military
treaty between France and Poland re-
mains unsigned, according to official
information, considerable progress has
been made in drafting commercial
agreement between the two countries.
The fact that the Polish mark is worth
only about one-tenth as much as the
German mark greatly handicaps the
experts who are working out the trade
questions and comes up strongly in the
consideration Of possible French loans
to Poland. Nevertheless, France, which
already has oil interests in Galicia es-
timated to be worth 100000 600
francs, is interested in any Polish prof
ect for an extension of French inter-
ests there. Poland refused twenty
five-year mandate over Galicia and
then proclaimed its annexation.
Wilma Settlement Advised
The French government has advised
Poland to settle the Wilma question,
and has obtained from Pilsudski a
promise which, although unlikely to
appeal to the Lthuanians, shows Incl
dentally that General Zellgouski, lead
err of the Polish irregulars in Wilma, is
acting under orders from Warsaw de-
spite the fact that the Polish govern
ment disavowed his action in seizing
Wilma. Pilsudski promised that he
would recall Zellgouski as soon as the
Lithuanian plebiscite was started"
Leon Bourgeois, president of the
League of Nations Council, pleaded
with Pilsudski to help the league out
of the. ignominious position it had been
placed in by the accusation of
Lithuanias sthat the league had failed
to keep its word in keeping supplies
from reaching Zellgouski.
When the irregulars first went into
Wilma the league promised to cut his
lines of communication with Warsaw
and to prevent reinforcements from
reaching him. Having failed in keep
ing this agreement, the league is now
alternately putting pressure on Lithu-
ania and pleading with Poland to get
these two countries to reach an agree
ment which will cover up the leagues
default.