Evening journal., 1918-03-15
GERMANY s Plot TO
GRAB baltic BARED
Berne Dispatch Shows the
Kaiser's Real Policy
in Russia
COURLAND, LIVONIA
OFFER HUN HOMAGE

WASHINGTON. March i5-Plans OF
The German Government for annexation
OF Russia's Baltic provinces were dis
closed yesterday in an official dispatch
from Berne which stated that The
barons Of Courland and the knights Of
lNonia were working with Berlin.
"The German Government is hasten
ing its preparation for attaching the
Baltic provinces to the empire" ten
dispatch stated.
"The vote OF the Diet OF Courland Of
ferlng the ducal crown OF Courland to
the Emperor OF Ge many Is already
known The Lokal Anzeiger Of March
~ gives upon the subject the follow
ing information:
The Dict Of Courland met at Nit
ten on March s The Diet passed n
resolution. In which, nist, 10 bcgs
the Emperor Of Germany. King Of
Prussia, to accept the ducal chown
Of Courand It asks that as close
union as possible be established
between Courland and the &c man
Empire thanks to the conclusion OF
military, judicial. commercial and
railway conventions
1T expresses the hope that all the
Baltic countries viii constitute a mill
tary state, which would be joined to
Germany.
"The Diet also voted to send a tcle-
gram OF homage to the Emperor. II
has sent a delegation Of four persons
TO Berlin cha ged with lmparting 10
the Chancellor OF the empire the de-
cisions made by the Dict.
"The vote Of the Diet OF Courland is
commented upon by the Berlin papers
Of March 70 The Berllner zeltung am
Nlttag undoubtedly reflects faithfully
the instructions given by the press
bureau. One must receive with sym
pathy, Il says, the decision Of Cour-
land, at the same time refraining from
showing undue haste. which might risk
revealing too soon the German man
euver.
{" The sentiments which this deci-
sion reveal are highly encouraging. II
is. however. doubtful II The delegation
will at once receive definite response
from the Chancellor Of the empire The
Reichstag and the Bundesrath must
frst pronounce upon 10. The German
dynastio question can only resolve in
full accord with the German cOnfed-
crate princes. We do not doubt how
ever. the 0nal resolution viii conform
to our desires and TO those OF our
land.
" On the other hand many would
prepare in Livonia manifestations care
fully manipulated similar TO those
which have Just taken place in the Diet
OF Courland'
"The Wolf Bureau announces, IN
fact that the knights Of Llvonia have
lust sent the following telegram 70 ths
Emperor;
Tho knights OF Livonia beg youl
Majesty TO accept their most humble
gratitude for the Intervention OF th
German troops, who have saved III
vonia from the Bolshevik tyranny an'
who have placed the oldest OF German
colonies under Tire protection OF The
powerful German empire. The IL
vonian knighthood adds TO this express
sion OF gratitude the promise Of their
absolute loyalty and beg your Majesty
to be assured that the Livonians are
ready TO shed their blood and expend
their fortunes for the honor Of the Ger
man Fatherland'
"This telegram is signed In the name
Of the Livonian knights by Baron
Staalholstein.
''The Emperor has received also a
delegation Of homage from German
professors and students OF the Uni
verslty Of Dorpat The Emperor re-
piled with an address in which he ex-
pressed the hope that after the trials
which bivOnian Germans had Just en-
dured they would enjoy q happy exist
ence and a free development.
zone can thus follow the schemes
organized by Germany to give the i'm
,,rnrcfou HAT fhocn manifestations arc
an expression Of the will OF the people
while in reality they enanate solely
from a small class Of society hated by
the popular masses whom they have
always exploited The Baltic baron:
and the Llvonian knights constitut,
only a small portion Of the population
which have always considered them a'
foreign appressors.