The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-07-16


New York, July 16.-"Let the Dor
der states decide what government
they want by means Of plebiscites."
That is the proposal the bolsheviks
make regarding the small nations sur
rounding soviet Russia. Contrary to
their policy in force now of debating
from Moscow, the bolshevik foreign
office recommends decentralized
government for the country.
The bolsheyiks are unwilling to
withdraw the Red armies, however
until a plebiscite is taken in the
border states. The Whites (anti-bol-
sheviks) cling to the same policy.
However, the bolsheviks are en-
couraging development of separate
governments for Letland, Ukrainia
and other border provinces under
their control Under the sponsorship
Of Moscow, which has sent out com
missaires 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 Of the
border peoples half under the Reds
and half under the Whites Lithuania
is a typical example. The Lithuan-
ians claim they are distinct nation,
different entirely from the Russians
Many Lithuanlans 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 re-
gime havc no concern beyond bread
and butter.
AT present large part Of Lithuania
is held by anti-bolshevk forces, most
of whom are German and Polish. The
Lithuanians have a small army which
is sandwiched in between the Ger
man units. 1t is commanded by n
Russian general from the Crimea.
A sort of half-organized half-repro-
sentative government rules on the
anti-bolshevik side of the line. Ger
mans are financing the new country
at a great profit. Food conditions are
improving with food from America.
almost unhuman. The Lithuanians
Conditions of living are filthy and
claim the irchief city is wilma. Wilma
has been but recently taken from
the bolsheyiks by the Poles, who
claim that wilma is Polish. They say
they are going to keep the city.
The only educated people in Lith-
uania are the owners of the estates,
who naturally are anti-bolshoylk.
They keep the peasants in a condition
not very much advanced from benev-
olent feudalism
Lithuania is only one of more than |
a dozen little states bordering on Rus
sia proper, The adjacent powers are
eager for them and the bolsheviks
refuse to give up claim to them with
out plebiscites North of Lithuania is
Courland and Esthonia, both of them
more or less under the influence of
he Germans, These countries are
almost as ignorant and poor In life as
Lithuania. Both Esthonia and Cour-
and are maintaing armies to fight the
with German help. The
English fleet and marines are help
ng the Esthonians, who are now
threatening Petrograd Oddly, the
English are in reality allied with Ger
nan troops against the bolsheyiks
ere.
The border provinces are harboring
thousands Of bourgooisie from soviet
tussia refugees who fled from the
olsheviks. These people are active
propaganding against the bolshe-
iks.
Most promising of the border states
Finland. The Firms are race
ute different from the Russians.
his is evident by the contrast no
eeable soon as one enters their
ountry from Russia. Towns in Fin :
nd are cleaner, the railroads and n
ations are modern and comfC~table. -
e cities are gems compared to Rus =
an cities Finland is rich in forest =
I'd minerals. The Firms had con =
derable degree of self-government =
fore the revolution and develop. =
in their own way. Their schools =
lde the percentages Of nliterates =
Fer than any other country in Eu- =
pc Finland leans toward Scandi- =
via in sympathy. Since the armis- =
e. Finland has been independent =
'erned by the Russian General =
with provisional as =
nbly or Dict Finland's independ. =
e has been recognized by the Dol. =