Evening star., 1932-10-16

signed by Poland and Soviet
Russia constitutes one of the
i most striking of the various
European political moves which
have been following each other with be-
wildering rapidity for the last two years.
OF itself it is great diplomatic victory
for France and corresponding defeat
for Germany. BY its terms Poland is
fer the present spared all fear of an
attack in the near future In case of
war with Germany-that war all Poles
now expect briefly.
The willingness of the BolsheviStS to
reverse their policy, which from the
time of the Genoa Conference onward
has been marked by association with
Germany. has its origin in the fear
awakened in Moscow by the japanese
operation in Manchuria. When l was
in Geneva last Winter all my Russian
acquaintances were in a state of ILL
concealed excitement because they were
satisfied that the Soviet Union was now
to be attacked by Japan in the east and
Poland in the west, with the approval of
all the so-called "capitalistic states"
Given the existing difficulties of the
Soviet regime, the disappointments of
the fve-year plan and the continuing
troubles in the agrarian field. the Boil
shevists recognize that a foreign attack
might easily be fatal to their whole eX-
pertinent. Least of any nation in Eu-
rope does Red Russia at the moment
desire war. Thus a non aggression
pact with Poland. together with a SINH
lar agreement with France, exercises a
peril which, if imaginary. has never
theless bulked large in the minds OF
the rulers of the Kremlin.
corne firop Goryponv hos happ
moving rapidly in the direction of a
supernationalist control Between the
Nationalists of Papen and Schleicher
and the Nazis of Hitler there is COM
mon agreement in the purpose 10
smash the German Communists who
are themselves directed from Moscow
For reasons of its own foreign policy
however, the Kremlin has held back the
German Reds for more than two years
sacrificing them to the political part
nership with Germany. AS far back as
last Summer. however, when Germany
outlined her purpose to acquire military
equality with her neighbors, the break
between Moscow and Berlin was fore
shadowed.
Rise of New Germany.
To the Soviets, as to the French. this
a new nationalistic Germany and such
a Germany. dominated by soldiers and
equipped with a new military establish
ment like that of the pre-war era, might
easily become menace to Moscow itself
as it was certain to be the merciless foe
of the Communists not only in the
Reich, but also through Central Europe,
where German aims to control are
clear
Russia desires to be secure against
attack. she has no wish to assist in the
rise of a reactionary Germany and both
considerations have led the Soviet lead
ers to consider changing sides anc
aligning themselves with France rather
than Germany. In addition the Japan
ese episode has awakened new alarms
Nor can one ignore the detail of money
for the Soviets are in trouble ano
French credits now might prove in
valuable since German are no longer
available.
But for Germany the Russian shift
must prove a great disappointment
Hitherto Berlin has counted upon Rus
sian action against Poland in case of
any German effort to recover the Ole
frontiers by force. Such an adventure
would certainly bring France and prob
ably Czechoslovakia into the situation
and the combination of these three
well-arm powers would constitute ar
overwhelming obstacle to German sue
cess. But if Poland had to face a Rus
sian attack on the Niemen and the
Bug as well as German on the Vistula
and the Warthe, the odds would be
modified
The Poles on their side have beer
increasingly anxious to come to a set
tlement with the Soviets for the past
year. No acute issue divides the two
countries and many material interest!
make for cooperation. The war of 1926
is now thing of the past The Soviet:
have no present desire to modify the
territorial decisions then reached.
The Poles have definitely renouncee
their old ambition to establish {
Ukrainian republic on Russian soil.
In fact, Poland is becoming entirely
absorbed in its problem of nationa
existence posed by German purpose Il
recover the Corridor and Upper Silesia
while Russia is similarly absorbed in he,