The Columbia evening Missourian., 1920-10-07
SAYSLiTHUANIA
MUST KEEP IT'S
INDEPENDENCE
= Aaguss Tells of Progress of
Country Since Freedom
From Cerman-R,lssian
Control.
IS AGAINST BOLSEIEVISM
Country Has Established a Ma
tional Assembly-Outc ONE
Rests With Power III
Poland.

We are simply fighting for " hat i
ours and what is our right" said Con
stantine August. a student in the Uni
versity from Lithuania, the little ceuntr,
north of Poland.
Many accusations as to the caus, oI
our attitude toward Poland have beer
made, but they are for the most par
false. The real cause of the present he 5
tilities toward Poland is the desire "a
make good our independence so recent
ly established"
Mr.. August is one Of three students in
the University from Lithuania. In 1916.
short time after he came TO this coun.
Try, he became associate editor of the
Lithuanian Daily News of Chicago. This
fall he entered the School Of Engineer
ing Of the University. Peter Vilkas. an
NJ man playing on the Varsity football
team. is from Kovno. Lithuania. and
Paul NJ. Adomaiiis, student in the Col
leee Of Agriculture, is from Pareyeyys,
Lithuania.
According TO Mr. August, LiIhuania.
alter, being freed from German and Rus
sian control, has made great progress in
setting up republican form Of govern
mcni, is now doing constructive work
along educational lines, is recognizing
its railroad system. and is negotiating
with foreign countries to establish a sys-
TEN Of trade relations.
Lithuania has established National
Assembly. the members of which are
elected by approximately 80 per cent Of
the voters. The Assembly has elected a
tcmpory president. There are three po-
litical parties in Lithuania. the Christian
Democrats, the Social Democrats and the
Social Revolutionisis, which is the peas
ants. or the peoples. party. and from
which the president Of the Assembly is
elected.
Mr.. August said that in his opinion.
the future virtually rests with the polit-
ical party in power in Poland.
"The Naiionalistic party. he ex-
planned, lis trying to prolong the war
and to seize Lithuania purely for eco
nomic purposes. On the other hand. the
Social Democrats, the peasant party, at
the head Of which is Wiios and Dascyn-
sky, the premier and vice e-premier, favor
an immediate peace with Lithuania. If
this party remains in power an agree
ment will probably be reached"
In spite Of the fact that Lihuania has
fought and won its independence from
the Germans, the Bolsheviki and the
Poles, the United States has refused to
recognize il as a nation. according to the
Colby note Of August.
~The United States" said Mr.. August.
has made a distinction between Poland,
Armenia and Finland. whose inde-
pendence il has recognized. and Lithua-
mia, whom it did not recognize. The
Poles are closely related to the Russians,
while the Lithuanians are not Slavs at
all, but Of an entirely different race. Ian
guaee and religion from the Russians.
1T has been said," continued Mr.. Au-
gust. that we have favored the Bolshe-
Wiki. 1t is true that in 1919. when the
Russians invaded our country. some ele-
menis sided with the Reds. They want
ed the soviet rule Now. however. while
VIC still want to be on friendly terms
with Russia. We have taken a united
stand against Bolsheyism."
Agriculture is the prominent industry