R ELATIONS between Russia and Poland are still deplorable, and it
is impossible to acquit either side of responsibility for
NEWS OF THE WEEK
the situation now prevailing. The Poles, though their last reply to Moscow deserved a better reception than it got, are not as fully alive to realities as they should be in their own interest. General Sosnkowski, it is true, has given the underground army in Poland instructions to co-operate with the advancing Russians, but he supplemented these with obviously provocative observations, pertain- ing to the political rather than the military sphere, about Poland's rights to "its territory." Russia, as the Poles will do well to recognise, has the power to enforce any decision that appeals to her and whatever the sympathies of Britain and the United States with Poland there is no prospect of their carrying championship of her cause to a point at which it would strain their relations with Russia. That is true, however much Russia's bludgeoning methods may be regretted. Marshal Stalin, who originally proposed the Curzon Line as a basis for negotiation, is now apparently standing for the Curzon Line sans phrase, and is pressing openly his claim to pro- scribe Certain members of the Polish Government in London. Altogether Russia's patience with her enemy Finland is in striking contrast to her impatience with her ally Poland. But that attitude towards the Finns, who seem to have little realisation of what their military situation is 'and may be, is not likely to last long. They have been given terms which, in all the circumstances, they may be thankful to be given, and attempts at spinning out time by advancing counter-proposals will more probably result in a raising than a lowering of Russia's demands. There was a time when Finland had more to fear from Berlin than from Moscow. That time is past.
