Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17
BY FRANK H. SIMoNDS.

TT would be hard to exaggerate thu
promise of the recent agreement
between the Soviet State and it
4 western neighbors. This agreement
takes the form of protocol to pu
into effect at once, so far as these states
are concerned, the kellogg pact, thus an
ticipating the eventual ratification by
the various countries which have signed
1t. Russia and her western neighbors
thus at once repounce war and declare
for peaceful settlement Of outstanding
Quarrels. ..
The origin of the present affair is tc
be traced Immediately to the proposal
of M. Zaleskie. the foreign minister ri
Poland. at the League Assembly of 1927
a proposal which exactly foreshadowec
the later Kellogg pact and envisaged q
general European remuneration of war
This proposal was rather rudely re-
jected by the great powers. When, how
ever, the kellogg pact had been gen.
orally signed, Russia proposed to Poland
that 1t should Immediately be put into
effect by them through a separate pro-
tocol.
Following Mr. Kellogg's example in
the case of the original BRAND proposal
zaleskie suggested that it should be
broadened so that. instead of being
limited to Poland and the Soviet State
it should include Esthonia. Latvia and
Rumania, that is, the western neighbors
Of Russia with the exception of Finland
After some hesitation this extension
found Russian approval.
May End Apprehension.
This agreement establishes something
like a Locarno in the East of Europe. 1t
puts an end to long period of appre-
hension and suspension on the part of
both Russia and her neighbors. And
since Russia is not a member of the
League of Nations it creates a certain
measure of security not hitherto exist
ing. Both Russia and her neighbors
will find reinsurance in this public
pledge.
In reality. however. the significance
Is disclosed in this proof that the Soviet
State has, at least for considerable
period, renowned all its ideas of con-
quest in the West Proof of this purpose
was first revealed in the far-reaching
and preposterous proposal of the Soviet
representative at Geneva last Spring
that all the European powers should
proceed at once to complete diSarma-
fnent
In view of its own domestic difficulties
economic problems the unrest of the
farmers-it is manifest that the Soviet
dictatorship no longer believes that it is
possible for it to assail capitalistic
regimes without provoking dangerous
reprisals. The break with Great Britain
two years ago proved to be not only a
real disaster to Soviet prestige, but it
inevitably awakened fears that Britain,
working with Poland, Rumania and
other border states, might seek to at
tack the Soviet regime.
In fact, since that time the Soviet
leaders have realized that they were
on the defensive. They have also with
increasing clarity recognized that their
country could not develop without the
aid of foreign capital and foreign trade.
But foreign capital and credits were
plainly not to be had while there re-
manned the immediate possibility of new
wars along the western frontiers. The
Soviet State was, in fact. condemned by
reason of its domestic diniculties to give
clear proof OF its pacific purposes. And
that it has done.
Triumph for Poland.
For Poland the present protocol rep
resents a very real triumph and an in
calculable advantage. Already. in the
past three years the new state has made
enormous strides toward domestic sta
bflity; its economic and financial de-
velopment has been impressive. Amer
lean loans and corresponding inflow
of British capital have served to bring
about prosperity, while the PilSudski
regime has provided moratorium of
domestic political strife.
Economically Poland is perhaps the
best single unit among the new states
resulting from the war. DuJ, because
of the long political separation under
three regimes of the old Polish kingdom,
much time is required for the complete
refrigeration of the Polish nation Po-
land needs peace beyond all else, and
peace is unattainable save through some
form of understanding with Russia.
Such assurance is, too, prerequisite to
the getting of foreign loans by Poland
for her economic development.
For Rumania the situation is not eS-
sentially different. although the po-
litica1 differences within the Latin king
dom are today much more acute than
in the Slav republic. Moreover, Ru-
mania, unlike Poland, has an unsettled
dispute with Russia While Poland and
Russia fought out their territorial quar-
rels in 1920 and the treaty Of Riga
fixed their frontiers, the Soviet State
and Rumania are still at odds over the
possession of Bessarabia, that vast
province which was Russian before the
World War and was turned over to the
Rumanians by the Germans in 1917.
Russia has never admitted this loss
as permanent. The bolsheviStS coming
to control seized the national treasure
of Rumania, which had been removed
to Russia after Rumanian defeat In
1916. but have refused every transaction
which might balance the money seized
against the province taken. The Rus
sian claim to BesSarabia, too, has COM
PEELED the Rumanians to maintain large
forces in the contested province and to
support an expensive standing army
Recently political control in Rumania
has passed from the old ariStocratic
oligarchy to a peasant group. A gen.
eral and reaching transformation IN
political and economic life Of the coun-
try has already been undertaken. But
this inevitably involves domestic quar-
rels and opposition. The new protocol
with Russia lifts the mortgage of Soviet
invasion and, here as in Rumania, gives
new appeal TO the foreign investor.
Latvia, Esthonia Situation.
The situation in respect Of Latvia anc
Esthonia is much the same, although
both these states are so small that they
are practically defenseless against any
Soviet attack. They, too, need breath
ing SPELL a period of calm in which Il
organize their political life and estab-
lish their economic system. More thar
all else they need an escape from Sovie
intrigue and agitation within their from
tiers
No one will undertake to maintain
that the present agreement insurei
eternal peace in the East or insures tina
the existing frontiers will endure for
ever What it does mean, however, i
that for a period which promises to b.
fairly long Russia and her western
neighbors will be equally insured agains
political adventures.
Russia has, in effect, renounced an,
present purpose to recover all thos
western provinces which represent tn
conquest from Peter the Great to Alex
ander. Trade between the border state
is likely now to develop normally ant
rapidly This means much for Esthoni
and Latvia, which in Riga, Libau an
t,a,,a thu V,ofltra1 Y10rfS Of Nnrfl