THE POLISH OFFENSIVE.

Southland Times, Issue 18817, 10 May 1920, Page 4

THE POLISH OFFENSIVE.

Although we have been t-old that the preheat Polish offensive is no new war, but is actually the continuation of the fighting that was stopped by the coming of last winter, it is improbable that the Allies will regard the Poles’ incursion into Russia with any favour. General Pilsudski, the military' hero of Poland, has never disguised the fact that he was dissatisfied with the frontiers given by' the Supreme Council, and it is a tact that last February the Allied Committee of Ambassadors drew the Polish Government’s attention to the fact that it had strayed over the eastern boundary lino separating it from Russia. At that time the Poles occupied a fair-sized strip of Russian territory’ and they were busily engaged in trying to institute peace negotiations on the basis of the Dnieper being made the frontier between Poland and Soviet Russia. There was no question about the nature of their occupation of this country at that time, because they were preparing to hold elections in the area. A glance at the map will show the ambitious nature of the Polish claims, if the Dnieper is to be made the eastern frontier. The Allies’ protest was, of course, purely formal and it can give no absolute indication of the manner in which the Allies are likely to view any extension of Polish territory at the expense of Bolshevist Russia. It is believed that France is quite favourable to any territorial expansion that will weaken the Bolsheviks, but Mr Bonar Law recently stated in the House of Commons that Britain would neither approve nor disapprove of Poland’s attempt to secure the Dnieper line, but that the Poles would have to look after themselves. President Wilson is vitally interested in the settlement of Poland's boundaries, but so far he has not made any announcement on the subject. There can bo little doubt, however, that he will not be inclined to view this flouting of the principles of the League of Nations with equanimity. The present offensive has been proceeding very successfully and if it should lead to the Poles securing their terms, the Allies and the League of Nations will be faced with what appears to be suspiciously like ' territorial aggrandisement at the expense of another people, and a change in the territorial frontiers as fixed when the

League came into operation in contravention of Article Ten, which applies to all nations whether members of the League or not. On the other hand, the Ukraine is extremely interested in the present fighting and doubtless has agreed to Poland’s aims in return to Polish assistance .in freeing the country from Bolshevik oppression. The Ukraine will support Poland’s claim to the greater part of Galicia. If, however, the combined operations against the Red troops should fail, it is probable that Poland will look to the Allies for aid, but while the French Government might be ready to give assistance, it docs not look as if Britain will relish having to make any commitments. America does not matter. Poland, of course, is important to the Allied Powers, because it erects a banner between Germany and Russia, and while it remains in existence as a strong country it will check the fulfilment of any German hopes in the east. The position is not without its difficulties, and the best outcome the Allies can hope for is a peace dictated by the warlike Poles, which will leave only Article Ten of the League Covenant to be satisfied. Their defeat will raise far more awkward questions.