The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1917-01-06
LITHuhNIA EXPECTS
TO BECOME REPUBLIC


LONDON, Dec. 3O-Lithuania, a re-
giOn on the Russo-German Baltic
greater in extent and population than
Sweden, has had her aspirations
stirred by the war and is looking for
ward to emerging from it either as an
Independent republic patterned on
American lines, or as an autonomous
nation with its own parliament and
home rule, except to Russia's imperial
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.
ut should be understood" said Mr.
Ychas. that Lithuania Is entirely dis
tinct from Poland. although the pub
lie is in the habit of treating them as
one. Poland is the great central re-
giOn around Warsaw. whereas Lithu-
| ania and the Lett country is the vast
northern section along the Baltic. with
the great ports Of Riga. Iibau and
! Windau, and the cities of Wilma, Grod-
no, KOvno and Suwalki, aggregating
eight million population, or more than
| any Of the secondary kingdoms 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 ac-
ceptance in principle of complete po-
litical autonomy for Lithuania. This
means home rule the same as Canada.
with a Lithuanian cabinet and Lithu-
anian parliament, with Lithuanian
delegates in the imperial duma and a
Lithuanian vicerOy from the car.
There are unofficial hopes going far
beyond this, particularly among the
Lithuanians in the United States. But
officially We look to autonomy as the
first step to restoring Lithuania as a
nationality. In the duma the con.
| trolling authority. the constitutional
democrats. or cadet party. has accept
ed in principle autonomy for Lithuania
and it was by cadet votes that I. as
a Lithuanian, was elected secretary OF
the finance committee.
In America, however. l found a
|
plete Lithuanian independence and
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 de-
Tense of small natiOnalities. These
however, are unofficial hopes for the
| future, and all that can officially as.
sumo is that complete autonomy and
home rule for Lithuania is an accept
ed principle 70 the ruling authorities
l in the duma. The imperial govern.
ment has not yet spoken. pending the
invasion of Lithuania by Germany, but
when normal conditions are restored
the government will undoubtedly APP
prove the autonomy already agreed to
in principle by the duma
| MIR. YchaS says Russia has consid.
erably improved political conditions in
Lithuania in recent years. Formerly
the holding of lands by Lithuanians
was prohibited: the press was pro
hibited: all Lithuanian books includ-
ing the Bible were prohibited: hold
ing Office was prohibited All this has
been changed Mr.. Ychas says. and
there was a fair degree of freedom
| uHutl INuSSIdu Iuic up 10 tne tlme OF
the German invasion There were Ia
Lithuanian representatives in the first
and second duma. and five in the third
and fourth duma
| 1t was during the old period of
; restricting that so many Lithuanians
rent to the United States" added Mr..
MAS. reaching 10000 a year from
n to the outbreak of the war and
ngatfng 100000 in large colonies
n.9out the United States 80
;1ers. and their own clubs, the
A societies. But the Lithu-
e snn;a, America are essentially
"wn ~ They have found better
4 wv Economic conditions: thew
omd eyargn homes. direct their
influence ifnjoy political liberty,
trong and wholesome
Mr.. Ychas.s.'
lean Lithuanl,
marrying among