Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-08-09
Mad ef an Allied Policy.

ment: AN allied declaration in favor
Of self determination for Lithuania
would do no harm to the interests OF
any other nation and would strength
en- nightly the party which wants an
independent republic instead OF roy
atty from Urach or Potsdam.'
True enough And what appiles 10
Iithuania applies in no less degree to
Poland, Ukrainia, Esthonia, Finland
and to many other small nations
which are struggling to escape being
engulfed by the eastward moving
tide Of Prussianism. And the pity OF
il is that the only announcement
these small nations receive from the
Allied Powers is the oft-reiterated
bromide, Have Hope" Balfour,
Pichon, and other allied statemsen
have Grated and perforated with res
srect to the rights of the small ma
lions Of Europe TO govern their own
affairs. and President Wilson. as
arly as January last, delivered IN
academic broadside calculated to
auell for all time the "Drang mach
/ Osten" ambitions of the Kaiser Will
helm, when ne declared that the time
had come when these small nations
On the European chessboard. and that
their right TO determine their own
allegiances and forms of political life
vas not to be interfered with. To
Poland he neld out specific assur-
ances and guarantees Of independ
cnce and territorial integrity. and to
tile others he held out strong hopes.
in general terms, Of the backing of
the allies in the struggle Of the OPP
pressed small states for self-rule and
freedom from aggression. But why
was Poland reserved for specific
mention? AS a matter of fact, in her
relations with surrounding nations
smaller then herself Poland has many
times been guilty Of the utmost
tyranny, and Poland has herself and
or decadent aristocracy to thank for
any people deserved punishment more
tnan Belgium and Serbia. it was
Poland.
BE that s it may. the fact re-
mains that there has been great cry
and little wool so far as these small
nations are concerned. There they
stand string of them from the
Back to the Baltic seas, separating
Prussia nism from Bolshevism, yet be-
Ing rended on either flank by each
while the allied powers ponder what
rext TO do.
Is Germany sitting by listlessly,
with folded arms? Not by the bald
head Of old Brother Bismarck, Ger
many is on the job from morn till
night and back again to morn. She
is propa gandizing those countries to
ance Of the affairs of those nations
for whom we have expressed so
much compassion and so little genu-
inc effort. is being held up to them in
all its nakedness. (Only the other
day an administration daily in Wash
ington spoke Of Lithuania as part of
Jugo- Slavia.)
Germany is asking them why, if
We are so sincere in our solicitudc
for these oppressed countries, we do
: nothing but croak. Have Hope"
Why do we not give them material
cid now, assurances and guarantees
Of independence after the war; and
: tell them that at the peace table
2 they will be given a fair hearing in
, establishing their claims to territory
formerly wrested from them? rs
: rot this policy Of ignoring your
prayers proof positive that there is
3 nothing to hope for from the Allies p"
asks Germany.
, And what can they answer? They
can but retort that they have been
advised to Have Hope" Well
, hope deferred maketh the heart
sick" and unless the allies take some
affirmative action looking to guar
antee OF the independence of these
small nations and a promise of fair
hearing for them, German propaganda
may prevail and their support 20 to
Q the Kaiser. 1t Is already having its
; effect in that direction. The cold fact
remains that throughout the whole
e gigantic scheme Of things, Germany
l., has definite policy. It seems high
time for the allies to get together on
r enc. and one the people can under
y stand, not one which has 81 different
S Interpretations because of the classic
diction which enshrouds it. Unity of
4 diplomacy and propa ganda as well as
militarily.
The L. S. Food Administration an
nounced recently that three fishermen
at San Pedro, California, had been
punished by having their licenses
slISpepdad for an days hecapco IT,.