Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-01-25
.E0URBA[T|CSTATES,
UNITED IN DEFENSE
10
Finland, ESthonia, Poland
and Latvia Plan Revival of
-Trade-Lithuania Out.
BY HAL O'FLAHERTY.
tCablegram to The Star and Chicago
Daily News. COpyri.ht. 1901

HELSINGFORS. January 24-The
four Baltic states of Finland, Es-
thonia, Poland and Latvia have
reached a final and definite agree
nent upon military and economic
alliance in the conference here over
coming the dispute between Lithuania
i and Poland over wilma by excluding
Jithuania from the alliance The
character of the alliance is purely
defensive. All are bound to MAIN
tain their frontiers against the boil
sheviki. but not to carry warfare into
holshevist territory. except at their
own risk-that is to say, Poland is
free to continue the offensive to the
south and east. but cannot expect the
Others to help her.
Restoration of Trade.
The economic provisions involve the
Immediate restoration of trade be-
tween the four states. the rapid re-
building of telephone and telegraph
communications. through express
trains from Reval to Warsaw, the
installation of wireless plants and
the broadening of the freight traffic
The alliance takes the form of sepa-
rate resolutions approved by the DEL
egates, which will be- submitted to
the various parliaments for ratifica-
tons. Following the notifications
commissions will be formed from rep
resentatives of the four states to IA
cilitate the enforcement of the pro-
visions.
While all the delegates express full
approval of the work done here. they
look with anxiety upon the Lithua-
-nian question. for. now that that state
has been excluded. it is almost a dead
certainty that she will ally herself
either with the bolsheviki or the Ger
nnans-probably the former.
Throughout the entire conference
the Poles maintained a cool attitude
toward the Lithuanians. offering them
two solutions, both of which were
refused. First, the Poles agreed to
leave Wilma free. but in control of a
commission from states not involved
until the people had a chance to hold
n plebiscite. When this failed to meet
approval they offered to leave the
question open for a later decision. al
lowing Lithuania to become part
of the Polish state, continue in the
alliance.
Conditions Not Acceptable.
Poland maintained the attitude that
Iithuania could not assert ethno-
graphical or historical reasons for
separate existence or for the pos
session of Wilma as the capital city.
The Poles asserted that Lithuania
is inhabited most extensively by
white Russians, then by Poles and
finally by Lithuanians. These last.
therefore should give up their aspi-
rations for characterization and
either come unutT the OllSh VI
white Russian governments. These
conditions naturally were not accept
able as the present Lithuanian gov
eminent hopes to get better terms
from Lenin with recognition OF ner
national entity.
This impasse finally forced the other
states to exclude Lithuan!a and pro-
coed without her in the firm belief
that il did not matter whether sne
cast her lot with the bolsheviki or the
Germans. as she was already cur Oh
anu unable TO make trouble For
TIME this problem threatened to brlhg
the conference. to an unsuccessful emu
shows Trend OF Affairs.
It was thought that some pressure
might be brought to bear upon ts-
thonia to curtail her negotiations with
the soviets, but this failed to develop.
She is free to continue the DoIpa .
discussions. and perhaps reach actuai
peace terms without even being nm
dered by Polands military operations
This really CONSTITUTES the most I'M
portant phase of the .entire HetslnS-
fors conference, for in Esthonia's ne
gotiations with the boIsheviki there
is a plain indication of the trend OF
-fairs throughout middle Europe. All
countries know that they must even
tually come, to terms with some gov
eminent inside of Russia. They all
dislike bolshevism equally. because
it holds its potential threat against
organized government. no matter what
guise it assumes and regardless OF
what steps are taken to modify Inc
soviet rule.
The Esthonian delegates believe
confidently that they gave the lead to
the Paris council in bringing ABOUT
the recent decision to raise the eco
nomic blockade. They see the other
Baltic states swinging to their point
of view, that it is better to treat with
the belsheviki to get something ap-
preaching normal conditions. and then
let the unsound and impractical ideas
OF Soyietism and communism die a
natural death. Without exception the
BAltic states have a certain per-
centage of their people infected with
Communistic ideas, but in every case
ID is a small minority. which is prop
city suppressed by the classes be-
Loving IN the right of private owner
ship.
Danger of BOlshevism.
;RaOpening trade reAtionS with the
fslsheyiki involves grave risk of spread
i.tg communistic doctrines into the sur
;5unding countries, but these states feel
certain that their better element are
.-roSg enough TO control the outbreaks.
in arranging the military alliance the
various states considered first the posi-
bIity Of an offensive against bolsheyism.
They agreed that this would be impossi-
lie without the aid Of the great powers
nX1u IlS itIt tHclii Oluy Olic iOdu " DC
Curity-that through a defensive al
lance They feel secure against inva-
sion.
AT dozen different points in the Bal
tic states there are little cliqueS sending
out whispers of great mass uprisings
and ofthe triumph of communism. They
speak lguardedly of THE Spring." just
us German students once spoke of Der
Tag" Even here in Helsingfors there Ia
an element of the old socialistic order
which has now become pro- bolshevist
AID is talking continually of the opp-es-
:Ibn of the masses and of the great
surging unrest which is bound 10 break
down what they call "ca pitalistic CON-
1rDl.'' which is to be supplanted by the
dictatorship of the proletariat. 1t Is
based wholly upon the old MARKHAM doc
1r4ne with an accumulation of other
theories equally distasteful to the rea-
enable elements of the population.
s Great Step Toward Normality.
Those now in power have established
themselves very firmly. with the pros
psct that they will continue the strug-
gle and maintain progress toward
yormal conditions. This alliance in tho
Baltic states is one of the greatest
steps toward that end since the sigma
ture of peace. for the road is now open
TO commercial activity and the de-
velopment of each countrys financial
strength. 1t Is doubtful whether this
alliance between the Baltic states
means that all will continue as 5epa-
rate governments, because some be-
1;aya the of the an a III OF