THE POLISH-RUSSIAN FRONTIER
Sta,—In your leading article last week, you say "So far as the Treaty of Riga goes, it was freely negotiated." But H. A. L. Fisher says "the Russians were pushed back across the frontier and driven to negotiate a peace." (History of Europe, p. 1190). Which of these statements is correct? It would help the general public to form a sound judgement on the Russo-Polish issue, if we could have an authoritative statement on this question and also on the reasons for the fixing of the Curzon
[The history of the war between Poland and Russia in 1919 is com- plicated and confused. In the course of it, first of all the Poleg carried the war to Kiev, then the Russians carried it to the gates of Warsaw, but were driven back by a remarkable Polish recovery. The Treaty of Riga was 'as freely negotiated as any treaty after a bitter war ever is, and the Russian negotiators'declared themselves perfectly satisfied with its terms, thotigh it gave Poland an eastern frontier far to the east of the Curzon Line. The reason 'why the Supreme Council for the Allies fixed the Curzon Line as it did was that the population in the eastern part of the territory claimed by Poland was so mixed that a hurried attempt to reach a decision on racial lines might easily be unfair. It was therefore decided that Poland should extend eastwards at least as far as the Curzon Line, leaving it to be considered later whether she should extend further east. The question was in the event decided by the conclusion of the .Treaty of Riga.—En. The Spectator.]
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