New-York tribune., 1917-12-20
The Ukrainian Fight for Liberty
4 Replu 10 The Criticisms Of Okran'dn Ed"o'
Bu Frank Bohn, Ph. ID.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir; lIr. Stechishin's discussion oi ny
article on Russian geography. when appeared
ir vour issue Of December j, was oo".
,ribu.ion which | welcome most heartily vi
course. I anticipated rejoinders OF TINS So'''
To observe that Ireland should remain por-
tion Of the British Empire, or that bohein''
cannot properly be separated from the Ter
manic population about her, or that Ukrainiah
autonomy would be a greater danger 10 tne
Irkrainians than 70 anybody else such oo-
seryations are always bound to bring rephes
far above 30 degrees Fahrenheit in tempera-
tur.. am only surprised that there IS so
little disagreement between Mr. Stechishlh
and myself. / find him TO be much more
reasonable than most protagonsts ot the
small nations.
\ Biassed Literature
First. as regards the university III GaiIc'"'
my friends in Hungary described IT TO me a.
being distinct institution. established loI
the education Of the Ukrainian and Rutheniah
students. Mr. Stechshn's observation 'haO
il consisted only Of Ruthenisn faculty at
Polish university is probably true; az leaS''
have neither the accurate information nor
the slightest iAH pONlAApH ~ N''f'NN
The distinction is Of no real importance
Furthermore. when | spoke Of the "litera-
ture" produced by the Austro- Hungarian
agents for the people of Ukrainia ! did not
intend 20 convey the meaning that FOLK
lore was being produced for the Ukrainians
os n thousand years ago. What my trends
I'm Hungary did describe 20 me, however IN
oreat detail was the sort Of literary work
which was actually accomplished. ne gov
crnment Of the Gar having forbidden PRINT
ing i'm the Ukrainian vernacular. the Duai
Monarchy undertook to supply the market.
We may be sure that IL was not interest IN
the preservation Of q literature or IN the
happiness of the Ukrainian people that lea
the Viennese plotters TO print UkraInian
books. pamphlets and papers in great num-
hers and send them into Russia. The bias
Given TO this literature" the texture OF the
upper and lower crusts between when tne
literature Of Ukrainia was sandwIcned, tnl'
ary one who is at all familiar with the meth
DDS OF permeation used by Berlin and vienna
may well imagine. The Ruthenan or UkIal-
nian population Of Gallcia and their lhstltu-
tions were used to the fullest possible eN-
tent By Austria to undermine the mold OF tne
Russian government upon Okralnia 30 the
tyranny Of the Gar in seeking 10 prevent
printing in the Ukrainian yernacular resulted
in this more or less successful Austrian per-
meation of the Ukrainian population. just to
what extent the leaders Of Ukraanian opln-
ion were familiar with this situation ! do NOT
know. Ny own information comes direc.
from Hungarian friends, including editors
and university professors, VINO are very mucn
opposed to the underground methods used by
their government | have the utmost coni-
dence in their statements
What Ukrainia Desires
The essential matter which ] wish to dis
ciss with Nr. Stechishin and with all who
sai re his opinion is the position to be as
gurued AT the peace conference by the rep
rcseutatives Of the smaller and hitherto sub
merged peoples. Whether the peace confer
erce comes in one year OF two, II IS nlgn
times that all these cards be placed on the
table Of public discussion. MIR. Stechishin
submits that Ukrainia desires mot inde-
pendence" but autonomy" By this ! take
II that he intends that Ukrsinia should have
separate national government administra-
riou within greater Russia, much as hungary
hal, within the Dual Monarchy. All that
can say is that pray whatever gods there
be" that Ukrauia and Russia be saved from
any such form Of political organization. X
may be necessary in Austrla-Hungary. IL
is not necessary in Russia. beg Mr.. Stech-
ishin and all Ukrainians who take his posi-
ton to study most carefully the history OF
our United States Let them reflect upon
what would have happened to Us had the
makers OF our Constitution created, instead