Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-06-14
(By G. s. Strandvold.,

1stad, Sweden, May 20.-Restitu-
ton OF the economic life in 1.-The small
Baitic. states. created as Independent
political units in consequence Of the
world a is a matter Of the utmost
Importance to even more distant parts
of5the world. But the men in Es-
thenta and Iitvia. who understand the
Significance Of the matter, are COM
paxattvely few and at that are con-
sidered reckless and selfish exploiters
wno TAX advantage of the abnormal
situation which has been brought
about by the Bolshevik terrorist ads
ventures,
IN quarters where. the economic
questions are we'll understood, it Is
. pltin to all observers that the Baltic
states are facing what may be truly
characterized a a critical turning
point In their existence. They have
been a part Of a gigantic political or
have thus been able to enjoy a certain
measure Of protection Of their capital
and labor against foreign exploita-
ttons Now these statesGhave become
independent, that is, unprotected:
they are no longer q part of q huge
state society and are no longer pro-
tected against exploitation from
Exchange Is Low.
RNDN AhCA NAA0A4So A/AO0NS
from Reval, from Riga and other
places along the Baltic Sea. and they
sometimes tell o it were better If
their countries had become part of the
newt Germany, for they had h g been
In q position to enjoy continued pro-
tectton by a larger power. These men
doN5not take into account that Ger
ma business is suffering from ex-
ploitation, witness the extremely low
exchange rate. And yet there is the
grain of truth in what these mer-
chants say, that Germany, with her
65smillion people and her ~re-awaken-
Ing industries. is in possession Of a
stronger power Of resistance than
SMALL countries may enjoy.
The exchange rate in the Baltic
countries is lower even thar that in
Germany; Esthonion marks n Let
tish rubles are suffering from a much
more serious depreciation tha even
German currency, and for That rea-
soon the new countries are in bad
position.
Suffering From Bolshevism.
In the Baltic states you meet, as
almost everywhere else, the spectre of
destructive Bolshevism which seems
to be, in a very definite sense, ex-
IRENE state socialism carried out con-
CAokOAays Llltl1 1AdS OCSh- LII CA
in particular, because the population
has been reduced to a state of abject
poverty by reason of the continuous
Bolshevist attacks which have made i:
necessary for the people to dispose of
all their property at ridiculously low
prices.
Iithuania still has iron ore. hides
and some God articles, but in Estho-
ntarand Litvia you look in vain for
such commodities; these two states,
therefore. are devoting their attention
to their flax fields and their forestry
end in Litvia the national council
has decided upon an exploitation OF
the forests that partially amounts
toaa definite destruction of the future
prosperity Of the country.
Whose work is it?
Ash the extreme Socialists. They
will tell you with pride hat It il
theirs.
appropriation Carried Through
IN Esthonia the general expropr4ar
tfon Of, private forests has been car
risd through as the the initial step Of
aSsdestructive agricultural reform
for:the purpose, it is said, Of enabling
English interests to exploit theso nat.
ural resources. Altogether, the Baltic