The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-02-13
LETTISH PEOPLE
MAKE CONDITION
On Acceptance of Invitation to Allied
Conference, 1t Being That BOlshe-
vik Troops Withdraw.

Paris, Wednesday, Feb. l2.--The Let.
tish republic, in accepting the invitation
of the peace conference to attend a CON
ference at Princes Island, states that as
provisO to its acceptance the Russian
soviet government must withdraw its
forces from Letvia and cease all often
siye military measures.
The Eschonian government in its ac-
ceptanCe, states that it does not feel that
it is a part of the Russian soviet repub-
lie, but will participate because it feels
the conference will be of Importance to
the future of Esthouia and its relations
with Russia, The text OF the Lettish re-
ply follows;
ION Jan. % the great allied powers as.
sembed at the peace conference invited
representatives Of every organized group
that is now exercising or attempting to
exercise political authority or military
control anywhere in Siberia, or within
the boundaries OF European Russia, az
they stood before the war just concluded,
except i'm Finland, to go to Princes Is
land, Feb. Is, 1919, to confer with the
representatives Of the great allied pow
ers
+Albuburh 3ioAi bttANAN1A PNAAb VA
view the provisional government of Let
via is in a situation exactly similar to
that of Poland and Finland, it finds it.
self, nevertheless. invited, according to
an official declaration made by the sec
rotary general of the peace conference
on Feb. 10, 1919. In the name OF the
provisional Lettish government, the Let
fish delegation has the honor to bring to
the attention of the peace conference of
Paris the following declaration:
THE provisional Lettish government
will send three delegates to Princes Is
land, provided that all armed forces sent
or directed by Russia against the Lettish
state be withdrawn from Letvia aud
that all offensive military action cease,
"Ietvia announced its separation
from Russia and announced in January,
1919, at the constituent assembly of
Russia the constitution of an independ-
ent and sovereign Lettish state.
"'The Lettish delegation sent to the
peace conference will participate in the
conference at Prinkipo in order TO:
go. Make peace with Russia, this
peace to be recognized by the great al
lied powers.
"'2. Regulate under the auspices of
the great allied powers, the political and
economic affairs as they result from the
separation of Letvia and Russia.
90 Make treaties in and take the
necessary steps toward the establishment
of states"
The Esthonian reply was;
"On Jan. % the peace conference
adopted a resolution by which the gov
ernments established within the bounds
of what was Russia before the war were
asked to meet the representatives. of the
allied powers at Princes Island Feb, 10.
The resolution closed with a request for
reply to this invitation from the inter
ested parties.
Therefore, the Esthonia delegation
considers it a duty to bring to the at
tention of the peace conference, in the
name of the Esthonia government, the
| following:
'Esthonian people, by the interme-
diary of its national council which
springs from universal suffrage, deter
mined to separate from Russia, and
thereupon proclaimed Esthonia an indie
pendent republic. The government has
been Professionally recognized by the
English, French and Italian governments.
Not only does the Esthonian government
exert its authority independent of any
Russian government, but for three
months, after having organized a regular
army, it has been at war with the Rus
sian soviet communist republic.
Therefore, we in nowise consider
ourselves a part of Russia, although we
accept the invitation of the allied powers
and of the United States to go to
Princes Island We believe that the
participation of the representatives Of
Esthonia and of the communist republic
of Russian soviets is of Importance to the
future relations between Russia and the
Esthonian republic