Evening journal., 1919-07-17
PLEBISCITES FOR
RUSSBORDERSTA
Bolsheviki Makes Sugges-
tions Regarding Small
Nation Neighbors
FINLAND is MOST
PROMISING STATE
BY FRANK ]. TAYLOR.
united Press stan Correspondents )

NEW YORK. July i6.-"Let the bor-
der States decide what government they
want by means OF plebiscites." That is
the proposal the bolsheviks make re-
garding the small nations surrounding
soviet Russia. Contrary to their pol
icy in force now OF debating from Mos
COW. the bolshevik foreign office recon-
mends a decentralized government for
the country. The chef bolsheyiks hope
for a confederation OF communlstic
Russian States.
The bolsheyiks are unwilling to with
draw the Red armies. however until a
plebiscite is taken in the border states.
The Whites lant-bolsheviks) cling to
the same policy.
However the bolsheviks are encour-
aging development OF separate govern
ments for Letland, Ukriana. and other
border provinces under their control
Under the sponsorship OF Moscow,
which has sent out commiSsaires 10
guide the builders OF new governments,
Red Letland and Red Ukriania are be-
coming more bolsheyik than the bOlshe-
viks themselves.
The saddest situation Is that OF the
border peoples half under the Reds and
half under the Whites. Lithuania is a
typical example The Lithuanians claim
they are distinct nation, different en-
tirely from the Russians. Many Lithu-
anians want 10 be independent Still
others think the little country should
be attached to a great power The ma
jority OF the Lithuanian people. ex-
plotted by the old regime have no con-
cern beyond bread and butler.
At present large part of Lfhuania
is held by anti-bolsheyig forces, most
OF whom are German and Polish The
Lithuanians have a small army which Is
sandwiched in between the German
units. 70 is commanded by a Russian
general from the Crimes.
4 sort or half-Organi1ed half-repre-
sentative government rules on the anti
bolsheyik side Of the line. Germans
are financing the new country at a great
profit. Food conditions are improving.
with food from America. Conditions OF
living are filthy and almost unhumsn. !
Tho Lithusnians claim their chief city /
wilma. wilma has been but recently |
ilhen from the bolsheyks by the Poles, /
who claim that wilma is Polish.
The only educated people in Lithu- !
7nia a.e The owners OF the estates. who |
naturally are snti-bolsheviks. They |
keep tho peasants in a condition not /
very much advanced from benevolent /
feudali-m
Lithuania i only one OF more than a /
dozen little states bordering on Russia .
proper The adjacent powers are csger i
for them and the bolsheviks refuse 10 .
-iye up claim 10 them without plebis- I
ies North Of Lithuania Is Courland I
nd Esthonia. both OF them more or |
loss under the influence ~ the Ger !
pans. These countries arc almost as 1
ignorant and poor in life as Lithuania /
Bolh Esihouia and Courland are main 1
tanning armies 10 fight the bolsheviks, |
with German help. The English feet /
and marines are helping the Esthon-
isns. who are now threatening Petro-
grad. oddly the English are IN reality
allied With German troops against the
oolsheViks ho-e
The border provinces are harborins
Thousands Of bourgeoisie from soviet
Russia. refugees who fled from Che boil
sheviks These people are actively prop
sgandng against the bolsheviks.
Most promising Of the border States Il
Finland The Firms are a race quite
different from the Russians This is
evident by the contrast noticeable soon
as one enters their country from Rus
sia. Towns in Finland are cleaner. the
railroads and stations are modern and
comfortable, the cities are gems com
pared 10 Russian cities. Finland is rich
IN forest and minerals. The Firms had a
considerable degree OF self government
before the revolution and developed in
their own way. Their schools made
the percentage OF illterates lower than
any other country in Europe. Finisnd
leans toward Scandinavia in sympathy
Since the srmistice. Finland has been
government by the Rus
sian General Mannerheim, with pro
visonal assembly or Diet Finland's in
has been recognized by the
bolsheviks in Moscow. However rels-
tons are still strained. and the Firms
are prepared for war with Russia any
time The border is closed tight.
In the. south, where the Ukraine is d.
vded. and all along the eastern bolshe-
vlk border peoples are declaring them
selves nations At present most Of
them are pswns OF the armies which
sweep back and forth. both sides i'm
the natives Deciding the
fstes OF these upstartlng nations will
be a generations problem.