Grand Forks herald., 1917-01-11
L|ThUAN|A WANTS
TO Be REPUBLIC
Stirred by War, Baltic Pro-
vince Has Visions of
Autonomy.

London, Jan. 11.-Lithuania, a re-
gion on the Russo o-German Baltic
greater in extent and population than
Sweden. has had her aspirations stir
red by the war and is looking forward
to emerging from it either as an in
dependent republic patterned on
American lines, or as an autonomous
nation with its own parliament ana
home rule, subject to Russia's i'm
perial authority only in matters OF
national defense.
This was the view outlined to the
Associated Press by Martin Ychas,
member Of the Russian Duma, where
he represents the important Lithuan-
ian city of Kovno, and occupies the
post Of secretary Of the finance COM
mittee. Mr.. Ychas is comforting here
with the large Lithuanian colony, fol-
lowing similar visits just made In the
United States.
1T should be understood" said Mr.
Ychas. that Lithuania is entirely
distinct from Poland, although the
public is In the habit of treating them
as one. Poland is the great central
region around Warsaw, whereas Lith-
uania and the Lett country is the vast
northern section along the Baltic,
with the great ports of Riga, Libau
Grodno, Kovno and Suwalki, aggre-
eating eight million population, or
more than any OF the secondary king
doms of Europe"
Like Poland, Lithuania has her
own hopes and aspirations" continued
Mr.. Ychas, land with my colleagues
in the Duma we have already secured
the acceptance in principle of COM
plete political autonomy for Lithuania.
nj oo
Canada, with Lithuanian cabinet
and Lithuanian parliament. and with
Lithuanian delegates in the imperial
Duma and a Lithuanian viceroy from
the czar. There are unofficial hopes
going far beyond this, particularly
among the Lithuanians in the United
States. But officially we look to au-
tonomy as the first step to restoring
Lithuania as a nationality. In the
Duma the controlling authority, the
constitutional democrats, or cadet
party. has accepted in principle auto
nomy for Lithuania, and it was by
cadet votes that I. as Lithuanian,
was elected secretary Of the finance
committee.
"In America, however. I found a
strong movement for securing COM
setting up Lithuania-Lett republic.
Our native press in America is very
strong for independence. They look to
the entente allies to secure this as one
Of the results Of the war, holding that
England entered the war in defense
Of small nationalities These. however,
are unofficial hopes for the future,
and all that can officially assume is
that complete autonomy and home
rule for Lithuania is an accepted
principle of the ruling authorities in
the Duma. The imperial government
has not yet spoken, pending invasion
of Lithuania by Germany, but when
normal conditions are restored the
government will undoubtedly approve
the autonomy already agreed to in
principle by the Duma."
Mr.. Ychas says Russia has consid-
erably improved political conditions in
Ldthuania IN recent years. Formerly
the holding of lands by Lithuanians
was prohibited; the press was pro-
hibited: all Lithuanian books inciud.
ing the bible were prohibited; holding
Office was prohibited. All this has
been changed Mr.. Ychas says ma
there was . fair degree Of freedom
under Russian rule up to tho time Of
the German invasion. There were
fourteen Lithuanian representatives
In the first and second Dumas, and
hye In the third and fourth Duma.
1t was during the old period OF
restricting that 20 many Athuanians
Nlnt e ~ Neifs1 Glntlac sAdeA IA,