The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-07-16
RUSSIA'S
BORDER STATES
By FRANK ]. TAYLOR

they want by means of plebiscites. y
That is the proposal the bolsheviks
make regarding the small nations
surrounding soviet Russia. Contrary
to their policy in force now of dictat.
ing from Moscow, the bolshevik for.
eign office recommends a decentra.
lized government for the country
The chief bolsheviks hope for con.
sideration of communistic Russian
states.
The bolsheviks are unwilling to
withdraw the red armies, however
until a plebiscite is taken in the Dor
der states. The Whites (anti-bol-
sheviks) chung to the same policy.
However the bolsheviks are encour-
aging development of separate gov
ernments for Letland, Ukrania, and
other border provinces under their
control. Under the sponsorship of
Moscow, which has sent out commits
saries to guide the builders of new
governments. Red Letland and Red
Ukrainia are becoming more bolshe-
vik than the bolsheviks themselves.
The saddest situation is that the
border peoples half under the Reds
and half under the Whites. Lithunia
is a typical example. The Lithnan-
ians claim they are a distinct nation,
different entirely from the Russians.
Many Lithuanians want to be indie
pendent. Still others think the little
country should be attached to a great
power. The majority of the Lithuan-
ian people, exploited by the old reg
ime have no concern beyond bread
and butter.
At present large part of Lithuan-
la is held by anti-bolshevik forces.
most of who mare Geramn and Pc
fish. The Lithuanians have very
small army which is sandwiched in
between the Geramn units. It is
commanded by a Russian general
Jrimea.
A sort of half-organized half rep
'esentative government rules on the
lnti-bolshevik side of the line. Ger
mans are financing the new country
It a great profit. Food conditions
re improving, with food from Amer
ca. Conditions of living are filthy
nd almost inhuman. The Lithuan-
ans claim their chief city is wilma.
Wilma has been but recently taken
rom the bolsheviks by the Poles, who
lain that wilma is polish. They say
hey are going to keep the city.
The only educated people in Ii
hunia are the owners of the estates
Tho naturally are anti-bolshevik.
hey keep the peasants in a condition
OF very much advanced from benev-
leHI leuudllSH.
Lithunia is only one of more than
dozen little states bordering on
ussia proper. The adjacent powers
re eager for them and the bolshe-
ks refuse to give up claim to them
ithout plebiscites. North of Lithu-
la is Courland and Esthonia, both
them more or less under the infiu-
ice of the Germans. These coun-
les are almost as ignorant and poor
life as Lithunia. Both Esthonia
I'd Courland are maintaining armies
fight the bolsheviks, with German
lip. The English feet and marines
e helping the Esthonians, who are
wv threatening Petrograd. Oddly
e English are in reality allied with
erman troops against the bolsheviks
re.
The border provinces are harbor-
g thousands of burgeoisie from So \
IT Russia, refugees who fled from l
e bolsheviks. These people are ac-
ely propaganding against the boil
eviks.
Most promising of the border 4
ties is Finland. The Firms are a Il
ce quite different from the Rus
ms. This is evident by the con-
lst noticeable soon as one enters
eir country from Russia. Towns
Finland are cleaner, lie 'lroads
d stations are modern ard cimfort-
lie, the cities are gems compared to
ssian cities. Finland is rich in
'est and minerals. The Firms had
degree of self-govern-
mt before the revolution and de-
oped in their own way. Their
ools made the percentage of il
rates lower than any other coun-
in Europe. Finland leans toward
lndinavia in sympathy. Since the
nlstire, Finland has been independ-
, governed by the Russian Gener-
Mannerheim, with a provisional
emily or Diet. Finland's indie
ldence has been recognized by the
sheviks in Moscow. However, re-
ons are still strained and the Firms
prepared for war with Russia any
e. The border is closed tight.
n the South, where the Ukraine ;e