Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-14
KAISER WOU[DM
SLAVS AID GERMANY
"Assumes' Lithuania Will
Share War Burdens of
the Teutons.
SCORNED BY COUNCIL HERE
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
AMSTERDAM. May IA. Emperor
William has issued a proclamation
concerning Lithuania. in which he says
1t is assumed Lithuania will partici-
In the proclamation the "independ-
ence. Of Lithuania. allied with the Ger
man empire, is recognized.
I'VE assume that the conventions to
be concluded" the proclamation says
further. will take the interests of the
German empire into account equally
with those Of Lithuania, and that
Lithuania will participate in the wal
burdens of Germany, which secured her
liberation"
Lithuania is one Of the former Rus
sian border states which the Germans
Independent countries. under German
influence. Germany Is making every
effort to exploit the states economical
ly, but. except in the case Of Poland.
has not attempted to force the former
Russian subjects to fight with the Ger
man army. as the emperors announce
ment indicates may now be done in
Ltthuania. The attempt to enroll q
Polish army on the same plea that ia
now made in the case of Lithuania was
was
disbanded.
Tho Vorwaerts Of Berlin said recently
that strong opposition was developing
among the Lithuanians to Transforming
their country into a German 'semi-fed.
eral' state. Entire independence is de-
manded.
Tho Lithuanians number about 1000, 00C
and are found mainly in the former Rus.
sian governments Of Kovno, Wilma, Grodnc
and Suwalki.
Comment Of Council Here.
Emperor Williams proclamation recog-
nizing the independence Of Lithuania al.
today with no enthusiasm by officers al
the Lithuanian National Council head.
quarters here.
THE assumption that Lithuania will
participate in the war burdens Of Ger.
many means a contribution OF three
things: Money. munitions and men,
the officers declared. 1.-THE first we have
not, as Germany has already impover-
ished US; the second we have no means
Of supplying because we lack the first
Therefore. Germany can have references
only to mon. Men from a self-declared
democracy to fight in the ranks of au-
tocracy? .Unthinkable. Lthuanla would
not consent. Are her citizens to be
dragooned into the ranks Of the kaiser!
This would be an abridgment of the
recognized. for Chancellor Hertling's
reply stated, We hereby recognize
Lithuania as free and independent
THE truth of the matter is that the
dileElatic horns between which Ger
many now finds herself project from
the head of her own Minotaur. She
knows that ultimate defeat is unavoid-
able. but she would compensate losses
in the west with gains in the east,
among which Lithuania Is gambled on
as an asset No recognition Of Lithu-
anian independence can be sincere when
coupled with tho Won Hertling terms
but II this SOP will add to Prussian man
power it may postpone somewhat the
inevitable day Of reckoning and give
her more time to Germanize in the east
with view OF confederating the new
republics under junker rule
Doubtless. the kaiser believes HIM
self divinely anointed with authority
to perform this sort of emancipation
Attila labored under similar decisions.
ItGermany has suddenly repented and
is possessed Of a sincere desire to
render US assistance, an indemnity for
property destroyed by her armies, and
for tho pillage and looting which they
have visited on Lithuania, aggregatins
billions of dollars. will be the most
practical earnest of her proposed good
Offices"