The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-07-18
RUSSO BORDER STATES
THEY CAN DECIDE THEIR OWN
FORM OF GOVERNMENT
SADDEST OF SITUATION
This Is Found In Land Where
Two Tribes Are Ruling
BaiIiWick
FRANK ]. TAYLOR.

- So o0SiuS "udl government
they want by means of plebiscites."
That Is the proposal the bolsheviks
make regarding the small nations
surrounding soviet Russia. Con.
trary to their policy in force now OF
debating from Moscow, the bolshe-
yik foreign office recommends a
decentralized government for the
country. The chief bolsheviks hope
Tor confederation of communistic
Russian states.
The bolsheviks are unwilling to
withdraw the Red armies, however
until a plebiscite is taken in the
border states. The Whites (anti
bolsheviks) cling to the same pol
icy.
However, the bolsheviks are en-
couraging development of separate
governments for LELAND, Ukrainia,
and other border provinces under
their control. Under the sponsor
ship OF Moscow, which has sent out
cofpmissaires to guide the builders
or new governments. Red Letland
and Red Ukrainia are becoming
more bolshevik than the bolsheviks
themselves.
The saddest Situation.
The saddest situation is that of
the border peoples half under the
Reds and half under the Whites.
Ltthuania is typical example
The Lithuanians claim they are a
distinct nation different entirely
from the Russians.
Many Lithuanians want to be indie
pendent. Still others think the lit
tie country should be attached to a
great power. The majority of the
Lithuanian people, exploited by the
old regime have no concern beyond
bread and butter.
At present large part Lithuania
Is held by anti -bolsheyik forces,
most of whom are German and Po-
Hbh. The Lithuanians have asssmail
army which Is sandwiched in be-
+ tween the German units II is COM
nnanded by Russian general from
the Crimea
Sort Of Half Representative People.
A sort of half organized half
representative government rules on
the anti bolshevik side of the line.
Germans are financing the new
country at great profit. Food con-
ditions are improving, with food
from America Conditions of living
are filthy and almost inhuman. The
Lithuanians claim their chief city is
wilma wilma has been but recently
taken from the bolsheviks by the
Poles. who claim that wilma is Po-
lish. They say they are going to
keep the city.
The only educated people in Lith-
uania are the owners of the es-
states, who naturally are anti-bol
shevik. They keep the peasants in
o condition not very much advanced
from benevolent feudalism.
Lithuania is only one of more than
a dozen little states bordering on
Russia proper. The adjacent powers
are eager for them and the bolshe-
sheviks refuse >, give up claim to
them wi.hc.'t plebiscites. North OF
Lithuania is CORTLAND and Esthon-
ia. both of ttern more or less under
the ipfiuer~o or 80 Germans. These
countries a-e almost as ignorant and
poor in lie as Lithuania. Both Es-
thenia and Cc'-'--d IRE maintain
ing armies to fi"rt the bolsheviks,
with German h"'N The English
feet and mari,o~ ~ helping the
helping the F~'""rians, who are
now threatening Y .~"~~"'. Oddly
the English are ~ ~Nalty allied
with German troops against the boil
sheyiks here.
The Border orov' :cs.
The border provinces are harbor-
ing thousands Of bourgeois'" from
soviet Russia, refugees VINO nee
from the bolsheviks. These people
are actively propaganding against
the bolsheviks.
Most promising Of the bordel
states is Finland. The Firms are
race quite different from the Rus
SLAMS. This Is evident by the con
trast noticeable soon as one enter;
their country from Russia. Towns
in Finland are cleaner, the rail.
roads and stations are modern ano
comfortable. the cities are gems
compared to Russian cities. Finland
fs rich in forest and minerals. The
Firms had considerable. degree o.
ssls. Government before the revolu'
ton ana QeVelOpeu III th"h wv
way. Their schools made the per
centage of illiterates lower than any
other country in Europe. Finland
leans toward Scandinavia in sym
pathy.
Finland Is Independent.
Since the armistice, Finland has
been independent, governed by the
Russian General Mannerheim, with
provisional assembly or Diet. Fin
lands independence has been recog-
nized by the bolsheviks in Moscow
However, relations are still strain,
ed and the Firms are prepared fol
war with Russia any time. The
border is closed tight
In the south, where the Ukraine
is divided, and all along the eastern
bolshevik, border peoples are de-
claring themselves nations. A
present most OF them are pawns o
the armies which sweep back ant
forth, both sides impoverishing thu
natives. Deciding the fates of these
upstarting nations viii be genera
tion's problem.