Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-14
HINTS L|THUAN|A
WANTS NEW WAR.
May Expect to Profit by An
other PoIish-Red Con-
flict, Says Minister.
BY A. r. DECKER.

By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News.
Copyright. 1920.
| GENEVA. December 13.-Prof. Aske.
navy, the Polish minister delegate to
the assembly. explained to the writer
today the complicated plebiscite site
uation in the wilma region.
Poland and Lithuania." he said,
\ appealed to the league to settle the
disposition Of the disputed territory.
| This is small in area. but IT con-
tains a mixed population of about
tricts the Poles are in the majority;
the Jews form 35 per cent OF the
population and the others are nearly
all white Ruthenians. Formerly the
Jews were anti-Polish, but now they
are pro-Polish and are expected to
vote for the Poles
Would Send Troops
with the consent Of the Poles and
|ithuanians the league Is prepared to
send small attachments OF troops
from different nations. Technically
the undertaking is simple. Inc
troops could be on the ground within
few weeks and the plebiscite COM
pleted within a month. Kovnos esti-
mate of eight months is ridiculous. be-
cause it's population is less than half
| that of Chicago. The leagues prepa-
rations had been completed when NJ
Voldemar, the Lithuanian delegate;
astonished us by saying that ne dio
not want an international detach.
ment of troops sent He claimed that
| the Russian soviet government woulo
consider the presence OF allied troops
a breach Of the treaty contracted IN
which the latter agreed not to permit
enemy forces to penetrate the tern.
tory which the soviets recognised q
Lithuanian. Obviously enemy forces
meant the Polish army.
"voldemar claims that the presenoSe
of French and British troops would
constitute a breach Of the treaty.
This is absurd. because England 10
not at war with the soviets; on the
contrary, it is negotiating an eco
nomic treaty with them. the pres
ence Of 200 French, 200 British and
total force OF 1900 men cannot be
considered a danger. Besides. tae
treaty Of Riga annulled the Ltn,
uanian treaty, because this ioentical
territory is recognized by the soviets
] as a part of Poland. AS delimited IN
the treaty of Riga, the line extenos
beyond the disputed area to the east
l and northeast and hence there is no
chance that the soviets can CONSIDER
| the presence of q few allied sololere
as a hostile act.
VOldemnr's Change.
.swhat is the real reason for volde.
mars abrupt change? I believe that
II is closely connected with the Lith-
Iuanian-Soyiet German ambitions. II
| il not impossible that the Lthuanfans
hope by delay to proft from q poeei-.
BILE renewal of the Polish-soviet war.
We ourselves do not expect the So
yiets to renew their attack on us.
However the sentiment OF the oieput-
ed district is pro-Polish. and II the
plebiscite were held now the area
would vote for Poland. The Germans
would not like this for two reasons.
| The first is that it would strengthen
l the Polish peace and react favoraoly
| for Poland in the coming upper Sile-
sian plebiscite. A calm Poland. re.
newing the work Of consolidation and
reconstruction, would be a big factor
lin deciding the voters to cast their
ballots for her. but a Poland thre at
tined with a renewal Of the war. with
the Lithuanians, Germans and soviet
combined against US. would discour-
.In the second place. il the terri
TORY becomes Polish, there will be q
istrip of land between Russia ana
ILithuania which will interfere with
the German aim of a renewal OF the
old political relations and intrigues
with Russia. Already there are many
herman troops in Lithuania and kov-
no largely controlled and financed oy
IGermany. The time has arrived to see
il the league will take firm stand
and insist upon the Kovno govern
Iment keeping its word. The plebt-
scite should be held as soon as posi-.
tble to permit Poland to enter a period
of needed peace. The matter Is now
| in the hands Of the league council ana
a decision is expected in a few days.