The Dominion. MONDAY, MAY 24. 1920. SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 204, 24 May 1920, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, MAY 24. 1920. SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW

In one of to-day's cablegrams Mr. Winston Cuuiichill is reported with the statement that the world is passing through a period of great disturbance and'increasing degeneration in many parts. This on the face of it is a much more accurate epitorao of international conditions than was suggested in his own observation a day or two ago that we how had again "the broad sunlight of victorious peace." A glance at the news of current events over a great part of the world is enough to show that the nations havo still far to_ go before they can hope to bask in tho sunlight of settled peace. The defeat of the Polish armies is a conspicuous item, and thero are others which demonstrate plainly that the Soviet Government is still formidable in mischief-mak-ing activities. Apart from their success against the Poles, tho Bolsheviki are credited with a characteristic exploit at Nikolaevsk, a port on the Siberian seaboard, opposite the northern end of Sakhalin. Here, as news stands, they butchered not only a number of their own countrymen, but the inmates of the' Japanese Consulate and a small body of troops who defended it. Tt ia reported also that the Bolsheviki are in control of Alexandropol, one of the principal railway centres in Armenia, and are thus, apart from other consequences, masters of the 'Baku oil supplies. Only a few days ago an outnumbered British force ' was compelled to retire from the Caspian port of Enzeli, in NorthWestern Persia, and bearing in mind also that the Bolsheviki are in close touch with the Turkish Nationalists, so callcd, it is evident that they are dangerously well plaoed to undertake a campaign of inflammatory intrigue ia the Middle East. While it is in every way legitimate to hope and believe that means will be found of re-establish-ing_ peace and concord in the world, it is only too cloar that there is much to De done before the nations will be able to bask in that sunlight'to which Mr. Churchiu, referred so buoyantly.

The great need of the times is tho effective international action under the_ aegis of the League of Nations which as yet is only an aspiration, There is no doubt that with tho League unitedly supported, some at least of the conflicts which are now in progress or threaten to ariso might nave been averted. Even at this stage .concerted international action might do much to hasten the re-establishment of universal peace. The world situation of course derives its worst weakness from tho fashion in which the United States is paltering _ with its international responsibilities. A Washington cablegram which mentions to-day that the Senate's peace resolution has been adopted by tho Houses of .Representatives, but is certain to be vetoed by the President, merely presents the latest phaso of a longexisting deadlock. There seems to be no hope of America developing a coherent foreign policy until tho Presidential election is held towards the end of this year, and even in this respect the outlook is extremely uncertain. It is hardly possible to state the Treaty issue in suchterms as to secure an intelligible popular verdict, and even if this difficulty were overcome, the problem would remain of making the ratification of the Treaty the main election issue.; Something may lie done to clear the outlook if Me. Hoover, who favours ratification with moderate reservations, obtains the Republican nomination, but meantime'the forces of order in'tho world are weakened to a serious extent by the inglorious defection of the United States. As matters stand thero is no Question of reducing international _ problems to set terms and determining precisely what dangers exist and what- measures aro necessary to meet them. Britain, with other nations, is of necessity reduced in great part to a policy of waiting on events. Tho RussoPolish problem, for instance, will only appear in its true dimensions when it is seen whether the Bolsheviki aim only at driving the Poles back over their own frontier, or are intent on overthrowing Polish independence. Since Lenih, in past negotiations with Poland, definitely recognised her independence, a peaceful settlement may be possible. So far as Britain is concerned, a policy of complete inaction is evidently impossible with respect 'to the Bolshevik operations m the Middle East. With other parties at the Peace Conference, Britain is pledged to protect Armenia, and she is, of course, vitally interested in checkmating aggressive activities on the approaches to India, There id no apparent likelihood, however, of the Bolsheviki undertaking a military campaign in Persia or elsewhere on the approaches to India.

In a speech to the Legislative Counvil at Delhi, some months ago, the Yiccroy of India (Lord Chelmsford) observed that while he did $ot desire to minimise tho danger of the position in the Middle East, he thought it lay chiefly in Bolshevist propaganda and secret agitation, and not in Bolshevist military action. He added that the Indian Government was watching matters closely, and was setting up special machinery to deal with the Bolshevik "penetration." Late events sufficiently illustrate ihe need for vigilant enterprise in this direction, but do not of necessity invalidate Lord Chelmsford's estimate of the situation.