New-York tribune., 1917-12-20
Lithuania and Poland
Some Objections to a Union Betw.,,
the Two
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.


ing the latest German peace proposal 10 Pa,
sia. As the question Of Lithuania is inelud..
in the peace proposal, and is referred "a /.
Mr.. Smonds's article, permit me 70 stat.
few premises concerning Lithuania.
IL is undeniable that the purpose Of n,.
great war is to assure permanent pese, .,
the world and it is also undenisble that IA,
can only be accomplished by crushing ru,l.
less militarism and libersting the peosl.
from an autocrstic yoke.
1t has been seen that as long as the ory,,.
lied nations were oppressed and ensav.a
there could be no peace. Prison wall,
chains. gallows and all such means eoolS
never silence the cries Of the people for free.
dom. In place Of one perished on the alta,
for liberty there we're always others 70 TAI,
his post they sprang ike Hydra from A.,
stump. And we can be assured that the 81.
forts OF the people viii never cease till ,hsi,
rights are acknowledged.
The Lithuanians have striyen FOR ind,
pendence since the last grip Of their tr,.
dom was wrestcd from them G7s5); hei,
voice became louder during the present va,
and think IL would not be too much 10 s,v
that they will never cease their efforts Until
their cause is recognized. They do not ,.s
Cor something new, but for the restoration
Of their old independence which they enjoy,s
for many centuries, and which was despoil,d
through the diplomatic intrigues Of auto.
cratic governments.
The Lithuanian Population
There arc over 100000 Of Lithuanian,
proper; 100000 using the Slavic dslse,
and over 100000 Let's (vho dis,r
only in language, thereby forming nearIy
100000 Lithuanian population. Aceordir,
to the reports Of the United States Immigrs.
ton Commission. published in 1911, the nun.
Der Of Poles in Lithuanis was only 3OslH
should say that later the number was De.
creased, a., some Of the Polsndized Li,hu.
anians. who were counted as Poles, returned
20 their senses. Most Of the Poles were
found only in the western part OF Suysk
and Grodno. The rest Of the population Z
composed Of Jews, White Russians and
others
Lithuanian territory consists Of the Rg,
sian governments Of Kaunas (Koyno), vi.
MUS lVilna), Suvalkai lSuvalki), Gardns
lGrodnol. Kursa CCurland) and in Eae
Prussia the provinces OF Tile (Tsitl,
Klaipeda ,Memen, extending as FAR a
Karalaucius lKCnigsberg), and Gumbnsn.
This outlines the territory for which Li,h.
uanians ask independence.
President Wilson said: we are fighting
for the liberty, the self-goyernment and the
urdictated Development Of all peoples" and
that mo people must be forced under sover.
eighty under which il does not wish to live
Hertling, speaking OF Lithuania and other
nations, recognizes the right OF self-de,sr.
mination Of the people The Bolshevih de-
manded that in the restored Lithuania be in.
cuded the East Prussian part OF Lithusna
("New York Times" December 3, l9i7).
Lithuanans fully believe in the noble
words OF President Wilson, that the question
Of Lithuania will be settled accordingly
The suggestion of Mr.. Simonds to JON
Lithusnia with Poland, under arrangements
similar to those existing between Austria
and Hungary is wrong. Joining two or more
nations together does rot mean granting
them freedom. Particularly is this true when
those nations are unwilling 20 be joined
Forcing Lithuania into a union with Poland
would be equal to forcing upon her a wOrs,
slavery than she experienced under auto
cratic Russia
Mr.. Simonds says that "Lithusnia once
was included within the Polish kngdOn'
This is incorrect; Lithuania has never beer
included within the Polish kingdom. Il
would be more proper to say that Poland va
once ruled by q Lithuanian dynasty. Then
only the title Of kingdom vas higher THAI
that of grand duchy.
II was formed as a personal union" b.
tween these two countries, but this union
was a temporary, accidental and impeTfss;
ono, and at the first opportunity it vas an
nulled By the Lithusnians. This statement Is
confirmed by the record o. many repesiec
attempts on the part OF Poles 10 form neV
union" Even the last one the union o.
Lublin, 1869 was never acknowledged By
the Lithuanians. and its formation was BIT
terly opposed. We car see in the third edition
OF the Lithuanian statute, published lSss
on page II, clause strictly fOrblddlng foN'
TO occupy any official position in Lithuans
At last, even the idea of such union has
been entirely destroyed By the Russian OceH'
patton Of Lithuania.
4 Distinct Non-SlaSic Race
Lithuanans are a distinct people from ne
Poles; their language is entirely different
they are a non-Slayic race. The Lithuansi'
always were, still are and will ever be N0
lently opposed TO any closer tie with Pols's
than that of neighborly friendliness.
Why should extraordinary privileges q
granted 20 the Poles at the expense OF Ll's
uana? Why should the Poles in securing
their own independence deny the eqaa1
valid claims of the Lithuanians TO sepsrN
political existence?
Concerning an outlet to the sea FOR Posns
there is no valid reason why it should
given through Lthuania. II Poland ns',
have an outlet to the sea. IL could be seea'so
az Danzig; that broad stretch Of territoT =
predominantly Polish, while the provinces T"
extreme East Prussia belong 10 Lithusnh