Russia and Poland
Nothing but good has resulted from the visit of Dr. Benes to Moscow and from the signing of a Soviet-Czechoslovakian treaty ; for not only is that treaty in itself a valuable instrument for future security, but it sets up a model which might well be imitated in the case of Poland. If both Czechoslovakia and Russia could be in the same treaty relationship to Poland as each is to the other, that would go a long way towards solving certain problems of security in central and eastern Europe. Unfortunately a deadlock has been created by the differences between the Polish and Soviet Governments, which will not be altogether removed until the question of future frontiers has been settled. But Dr. Benes, who has been long enough in Moscow to explore the possibilities with some thoroughness, has recently expressed his confidence in the possibility of a rapproche- ment between the Soviet Union and Poland, and indeed he•thinks that may soon be brought about. There are happily other reasons also for hoping for a better turn in Russo-Polish relations. Mean- while Dr. Benes thinks that the question of frontiers cannot be settled now and must be left for the Peace Conference. In that he is prob- ably right, but if so the implication is that the time is not yet ripe for a Soviet-Polish treaty, which could hardly be concluded on a basis which did not settle the frontier question. But the good offices of Dr. Benes leading to a resumption of diplomatic relations would at least provide a more favourable atmosphere for future discussions.
Previous page
