Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-29
french DIPLOMACY
HITS REV|S|ON|STSI
Ffanco-Russian Pact and
P0lish-Soviet Negotiations
Have Europe Agog.
BIZ PAUL SCOTT MowRER.

PARIS, France, August 40. - Tho
conclusion, without signature, of the
Franco-Russia non-aggression pact and
the opening Of negotiations for q
Polish Russian pact have suddenly be
come the diplomatic sensations Of Eu-
rope. II these two interrelated pacts
should finally be ratified, they would
1t is said, change the entire European
outlook. Hence they have started dip
lomats travelling from capital TO capt.
tai in swift profusion.
Baron Won Dirksen, German Am6as-
sador to Moscow, has just hasteneo
back to Berlin after making an official
csemarche on Cermany's part at the
Kremiin. Stanislaw Patek, Polish min
lister to Moscow, has just arrived In
Warsaw. Polish Foreign Minister Au-
gust zalewski waited to see Mr.. Patek
and then himself fastened to Paris,
where he arrived yesterday to consult
the French government
Maxim Litvinov. Russian foreign
minister, reached Berlin yesterday and
immediately saw German Foreign Min
lister Julius Curtius. In Geneva Mon
day MIR. Litvinov Mr.. Patek and
French representatives will presumably
meet again. And it is, perhaps, not an
unrelated detail that Albert Kveisis.
President of the Latvian Republic, also
has lust arrived in Paris.
why all this excitement7
Because under the vigorous impetus
given French diplomacy since, as the
French think, Germany threw down
the gauntlet to them last Spring by the
Austro-German customs union pro-
posal. the so-called revisionist bloc OF
last year, which favored a revision OF
the treaties and opposed the so-called
status qua bloc headed by France,
seems to be breaking down.
Both Austria and Hungary, formerly
considered revisionists, seen now TO be
taking a pro-French slant 1t is true
that Germany and Italy, though both
have been approached by France with
conciliatary offers. are still holding
back, but Russia. which Was supposedly
virtually Germany's ally in the revision
ist schemes, has actually made a new
commercial treaty with France and now
is making friendship treaty
If Russia by making similar treaty
present Polish frontiers, 1t would be
q hard blow for German revisionistS.
But will Russia go so far? Nobody
knows. France hopes 50. Germany is
bitterly opposed Poland naturally is
willing. Russia remains enigmatical.
The stakes seem enormous. But who
VIII VIM
All Europe Is agog, looking on. The
situation, which still Is uncertain and
rather complicated, can perhaps best
be explained by presenting 1t first
through French, then Russian, then
Polish and then German spectacles.
/. The French viewpoint The real
problem Of the peace Of Europe Is the
problem Of the Polish German frontiers.
Germany refuses TO accept these 'front.'
terS, and made In 1922 and renewed
in 1925 q treaty with Russia for the
purpose of constantly threatening Po-
land and keeping the entire question
open until Poland gives in.
Poland Is Frances ally. Such posi-
BE compromises as France heretofore
has been able to suggest TO Germany
have been unacceptable The time has
come therefore TO see If peace In East
ern Europe cannot be insured By
Franco Russian and Russo-P Polish agree
ments. WHISTLER Germany likes it or not.
Great Advantages for France.
Naturally there can be no Franco
Russian treaty If there is no Russo
Polish treaty The two go together
And while this sudden change of front
In France may peTplex public opinion,
and even annoy some factions who have
been counting on agitating tae Com
munist peril in electoral campaigns. the
advantages for France, If successful
are so great that public opinion is bound
quickly to accept it.
2. The Russian viewpoint Russia il
straining every nerve 10 execute the
hve-year industrial and agricultural
plan. II needs foreign credit Hitherto
it has been getting a good part OF this
credit through Germany. which has
been borrowing from Great Britain
France and the United States and re-
lending 70 Russia. The financial coll
lapse Of Germany puts an end to this
system. Russia must find money else
where
France seems 70 Be the best chance
Furthermore there has been much talk
lately of a possible Franco-German I'M
derstanding Does this mean that Ger
many is acquiring in France q new ally
and would drop Russia? II so, why
should Russia wait to be dropped? And
has not Germany as An ally proved Q
weak reed anyway?
II IL were a question merely Of 9
Franco Russian pact, the matter would
already have been settled. A Russo
Polish pact Is more difficult. The mat
ter must be thoroughly considered
Russia and Germany must talk France
and Russia must talk Russia and
Poland must talk. Then Russia will
decide.
3. The Polish viewpoint. Poland has
-
with Russia But each time the ques-
ton has arisen, Russia has tried tC
maneuver in such a way that Poland
in making the pact would seem untrue
70 its Runanian alliance or unfriendls
TO the Baltic states.
Idea DisIiked by Russia.
What Poland proposes. therefore, is q
Polish Russian non aggression pacl
which would be open 10 signature b.
Rumania and the Baltic States Rus
sia seems 10 dislike this and certainly
Poland. given the new French stti.
tude, wants to go as far as possible tc
help matters between France and Rus
STA, bat 1t would be dangerous foi
Poland 10 appear TO betray its friends
and neig1bors who share its fears re-
specting certain aspects Of Soy!ei
policy.
On the other hand, II Poland could
make final peace with Russia, II would
be greatly stTengt hened In any subse-
quent conversations with Germany
The moment is critical This may N
the turning point IN the history Of
Eastern Europe. Poland must be both
courageous and cautious
4 The German viewpoint The treat,
OF Versailles must be revised. Danzig
the so-cslled corridor and upper Silesis
must be returned 10 Germany. II ii
only q question OF time Meanwhile
the entire issue must be held open
Germany's treaties with Russia are
mainly aimed at this end German,
has Loyalty kept these treaties and ex.
rects Russia IN do the game RtiSeis