Evening star., 1927-11-19
Soviet Fears English Plot to
Form Coalition of States
on Border.
MOSCOW HAS WON
SEVERAL CARLY POINTS
Conflict Carries Over From Last
Century, With Break Germany
Caused Eliminated.
Ry PAIL SCOTT MOWRER.

~
By Cable to The Star. and CHICAGO Daily
News Copyright. 1877.
PARIS, November 19.-World poll
tics today may be said to be dominated
to a large extent by the gigantic dip
lomatic duel between Great Britain
and Russia, or, in the slang Of Euro
pean chancelleries, between the whale
and the bear.
Begun six months ago at the time
of the ARGOS raid in London and the
subsequent breaking off of relations
with the Soviets by Great Britain, this
struggle still is being waged vigorously
bv both sides All the world Is
affected and all the world is looking on.
Europe and Asia in particular re-
member that Great Britain and Rus-
sia are traditional rivals During
the greater part of the last century
the two powers maneuvered for SUI
ptemacy in Asia. 1t was only when
Germany began to build feet that
Great Britain and Russia temporarily
negotiated a truce. Now the Ger
man fleet no longer exists and the old
rivalry has been resumed as bitterly
as ever.
Fear of Plots Dominates.
In Russia the quarrel transcends
factional rivalries. The fear OF Brit
ish plots to iucite a hostile coalition
attack on the Soviets seems unani-
nous and is stimulating the Russians
to vigorous measures of defense.
In Great Britain the quarrel also
transcends factions. All Britons are
alarmed by the supposed Soviet men,
ace to India. Great Britain's policy is:
l. To restore the prestige Of the
empire by a firm foreign policy and
by building up the navy. particularly
with the view of impressing Asiatics.
2. To take no new commitments any.
where.
3. To keep Europe quiet and to post.
pone pending issues with the United
States
4. To obtain, IL possible. a pre-
ponderant influence in all the states
bordering Russia.
5. To hamper Russia's economic re-
covery by cutting off commercial
credits
Propaganda Is Part Of Policy.
Russia's policy is: -
l. To redouble anti-British propa-
ganda in China and India and so hurt
Great Britain both politically and
economically.
g To prevent an anti-Soviet coali-
ton among the border states and to
obtain a preponderant influence wher-
ever possible.
g. To slow down revolutionary
propaganda in Europe, and make over
lures for recognition of debts and
other concessions to France, Germany,
the United States. Austria and other
nations with the view of obtaining
commercial credits.
4. To strengthen the army and
preparations for war, especially in
Central Asia, thus adding an active
military threat to the propaganda
threat against India.
Large quantities of war supplies
are being purchased abroad by the
Soviet government. Thirty new air
planes were recently built by private
subscription, "our answer to Cham.
berlain"
In the first six months of this stu.
pendous duel, Russia undoubtedly has
scored some points. She has indirect.
ly aided in the big decline of Great
Britain's trade with China. She has
increased her own exports to Great
Britain and diminished British ex.
ports to Russia. She is financing a
good part OF her foreign trade through
Viennese banks. She has increased
her trade with the United States.
Air Line Is Blocked.
BY treaty of alliance with Persia,
Russia has checkmated the British
tnere ana has blocked direct British
air line to India. BY a recent treaty
with Latvia. Russia has forestalled a
possible anti-Soviet coalition of Bal
tic states
But. on the whole, the honors must
be said to rest thus far with Great
Britain. To the credit Of British di-
p.omacy are the following points: The
Cnlnese Nationalist movement has
been largely wrested from bolshevist
control. British influence once more
Is gaining in Afgahanistan. Turkey
though still hanging in the balance.
Is swinging more and more to the
British orbit. Italy has been per.
suaded to cease flirting with the SO.
VETS and sign treaty recognizing the
Rumanian acquisition of Bessarabia
which the Soviets contest France
has asked for the recall of the Soviet
Ambassador. Germany Is diminishing
the amount of her commercial credits
to Russia.
By these and other means, Russia s
disturbing elements are added to the
internal factional feud which is now
worrying the Soviet government.
Much of Great Britain's recent
attitude toward the League of Ma
tions and disarmament is attributed
to preoccupations arising from her
quarrel with Russia. Similar pre-
occupations are said to underlie the
recent sensational Soviet decision to
participate in the forthcoming dis
armament negotiations at Geneva.
Meanwhile. most countries while
looking on seem TO be trying to profit
in some way from the situation with
out becoming dangerously involved
therein. Pola nd, for example, is being
courted simultaneously by Great
Britain and Russia. British influence
is being used to help heal the long
standing state Of war" with Lithu-
ania and put through a German
Polish commercial treaty. Stimuli.
taneously the Soviets are offering
Poland a non-aggression pact
Individual nations may thus indi-
rectly be benefited. but until the
struggle is. moderated in some way
there is little hope for real tran
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