The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-01-03
L|THUAN|A HOPES TO
EMERGE FROM WAR AS
INDEPENDENT STATE
Has Had Her Aspirations Stirred
and Is Looking Forward to
Forming Republic Patterned on
American Lines.

Londo, Jan. 3-l.lthusnln. a region
on the Rnsso-Ocrman Baltic greater
in extent and population than Sweden.
has had her aspirations stirred By the
war M Is looking forward TO emerg-
ina from II either as an independent
republic patterned ON American lines.
or as an autonomous nation with It's
own parliament and home rule. sub
jeCt TO kussia's imperial authority
only In matters 81 national defense.
This was the view outlined 10 the
Associated Press by Martin Nchas,
member OF the Russian duma, whore
he represents the important Lithuan-
ian clay OF koYno. and occupies thu
post of secretary OF the hnance COM
mittce. Mr.. YcAas Is comforting here
With the large Lithuanian cclony. fol-
lowing similar visits just made In the
United States.
1t should Doe understood said Mr.
Nchas. that Lithuania Is entirely dis
tinct from Poland. although the pub
lie is iE the habit Of treating them as
one Poland Is the great central re-
gion Sround Warsaw, whereas Llthua-
mia and the Lett country Is thc vast
northern section alog the Baltic, with
the great ports Of Riga. Libau and
Windau. and the cities vt wilma.
Grodno. Kovno. and suWalki. aggrc-
eating 5000. O0O population, or more
than any 81 the secondary kingdoms
Of Europe
HOPES and Aspirations.
Like Poland, Lithuania has her
own hopes and ~aspiratiOns.' contin-
ued Mr. Nchas, and with my coll
leagues in the duma We have already
scared the acceptance In principle OF
complete political autonomy FOR Lith-
uania. This means home rule the
same AS Canada. with a Lithuanian
cabinet and Lithuanian parliament.
and with Lithuanian delegates In the
imperial duma n a Lithuanian vice.
roy from the czar. There are unofi-
cial hopes going Tar beyond this. par
ticulaTly among the Lithuanians In
the United Statel. hut officially We
look 70 autonomy as the first step to
restoring Lithuania as a nationality.
In the duma the controlling author
ity. the commandments. or
Cadet party. has accepted in principle
autonomy for Lithuania. and il was by
Cadet votes that J. as a Lithuanian.
was elected secretary OF the finance
committee.
In America. however. / found u
strong movement FOR securing COM
plete Lithuanian independence and
setting up a Lithuanian-Lctt republic.
our native press In America is very
strong for Independence. They look
To the entente ailies to secure mi as
enc of the rcs0its of the war, holdlnp
that England entered the war IN de-
Tense 81 small n-ationalitics. These.
however. are unofficial hopes for the
tutura, and an that ! can officially as
sumo Is that complete autonomy and
home rule Tor Lithuania Is an accept
ed principle Of the ruling authorities
IN the Duma. The imperial govern
ment has not yet spoken. pending IN
vasion OF IIthuania by Germany. but
when normal conditions are restored
the govern ment will undoubtedly APP
prove the autonomy already agreed
TO in principle by the duma.
Political Conditions Bc1tcr.
MI. Nchas SAYS Russia has consid-
erahly improved political conditions
In Lithuunia he recent years. Former
ly the holding OF lands by L~.ithuanians
was prohibited. the press was pruhib-