Evening star., 1934-08-12
POLES MAY REGRET SHIFT
OF ALLIANCE TO GERMANY
Pilsudski Has Antagonized ALI Former
Friends by Pact With Reich-Threat-
ened by Unsteady Hitler.

Moreover the Polish situation Il COM
plicated by the resentment against
Na1i prosecutions and German mas
saeres amongst her large Jewish pop
ulatlon as well as all the liberal and
enlightened elements In her popula-
ton. Finally. there is q growing ap-
probation. even In official circles, that
the Hitler regime Is slipping and that
any military dictatorship that sue
ceeds IL viii pay scant regard 10 the
pledges embodied IN the Hitler truce
with PilSudski.
As a result, II Is far from impossible
that Poland may presently hnd her
self isolated. The nations Of the Lit
tie Entente are deeply resentful Of
what they deem q desertion on the
part Of the Poles. The French are
not less indignant. II for obvious rea-
sons less vocal. The British have al
ways been unsympathetic with Poland
and ready 10 purchase German ae-
ceptance OF the status quo in the west
by restoring TO them both the Cor
ridor and Upper SiIesia, projects which
the French have consistently vetoed
so far.
1t goes without saying that II Hitler
were replaced by conservative con-
stitutional government-whether DOM
mated by the old Junkers or by the
industrialists or b. both in combina-
ton with the Reichswehr-the British
would be the FIRST TO urge that the new
regime be brought back into the Euro
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at the expense OF Poland. Such pro-
posals would certainly be supported
by Italy. Would they be so bitterly
opposed by France now as before the
Pilsudski- Hitler deal7
In any event II Is clear that. while
the Polish adventure might have
proved a clever diplomatic move II
events In Germany had turned out
otherwise. It now seems TO fore
shadow consequences far from sttrac-
tive. To have abandoned France for
a German truce only to see Germany
pass from the control of an Austrian
dictator, for whom Austria is nothing.
TO q PruSsian for whom the eastern
marches mean everything. might
prove a losing gamble.
Mean 10 Persist.
On the other hand, there are signs
that those in control Of Polish policy
mean to persist. Opposition TO the
Russo-French plan for an Eastern
Locarno has rather hardened than
weakened in Warsaw even after the
recent Austrian explosion. The spec
tacle OF Poland NJ Germany's only
friend In the present crisis Is, how
ever. not the least Of the amazing
sights Of the period which began
when Hitler came 10 power. So far,
too IL constitutes his only triumph
in international affairs. But even for
that he has paid a price which
we're there any chance that he could
last-might recompense Pilsudski for
Russian resentment and French Bit
| terness.
Unless all signs fail. however. other
hands will direct German policy be-
| fore long. and, II they are Prusstan.
may shape German policy In such
fashion as TO make possible q Ger
Italian combination. This would
also mean substituting the Corridor
for Austria as the immediate objec-
tive Of Germany's campaign for
treaty revision. In such q situation
Poland would certainly defend her
| frontiers with arms, but It is not
quite sure to what extent she could
depend either upon France or Soviet
Russia, both OF which are certain to
have feelings Of resentment which
may endure as long as PilsudSki di-
rects Polish policy.
What. too, must be Of great inter-
est 10 watch Is the course Poland will
take, II as seems likely, Russia asks
for admission into the League In the
September assembly. In such case
the Soviets win certainly expect to be
assigned a permanent seat on the
Council. like the other great powers.
But the Poles are demanding that
they, too. be granted this symbol Of
first rank and they threaten 10 op-
pose Russia If their request Ia denied,
as seems almost certain now.
Prom Warsaw suggestions have also
come that failure 10 acquire a per-
manent seat may lead TO Polish with
drawal from the the League alto
getheT, as Germany and Japan al
ready have done. While this seems
unlikely, IL is an evidence OF the state
Of mind which seems to be prevailing
in Warsaw at the present time. For
the moment that state Of mind is
without serious consequences because
1t q. German and not Polish policy
which commands world interest.
Later, however. Polish events may
prove more interesting II not more
important.
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