The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1920-05-14
FOUR SMALLEST
NATIONS WOULD
ENTER LEAGUE
Interest Aroused BY People of the
Worlds Smallest Nations In
League.

League.
New York. - Applications by four OF
the smallest countries in the world
Iceland, the Republic of Georgia, San
Marine, and LuXemburg-for admis-
sion to the league of nations, which
are to come before the council Of the
league when it convenes shortly in
Rome, Italy, have awakened interest
in these lands and peoples.
Iceland. which until 1916 belonged
to Denmark, has population of APP
proximately 10000. and an area of 3d.
900 square miles. 1t was discovered
by Norsemen in the ninth century, and
continued as a republic until 1892,
when taken by Denmark, in whose
hands it remained until two years ago,
when, in full agreement with the
mother country, under principle OF
self-determination, Iceland proclaimed
its independence. King Christian OF
Denmark honored his former colony
by sending a warship to salute the Ice
landic national flag.
The Danish government in 1913 for
babe the manufacture or sale OF in
toxicants, and the parliament OF Ice
land subsequently enacted prohibi-
ton law making the nineteen syssels,
or parishes, in the country's three
ANTS, or provinces, forever dry Ice
landic women have long had the right
TO vote.
Reykiavik and Akereyri, the princi-
nal villages of Iceland, are on the
coast, which is a belt of rich pasture
land. The interior is vast plateau
1000 or more feet above sea level
composed largel of sand and lava
desert and practically destitute OF
grass or trees, excepting a few hardy
beches. There are no roads. For cen
turies Iceland was the center of vol
canic eruntons, the lava fields cover
ing an area of $500 square miles.
Georgia. formerly ancient lveria' a
part of Russian Trans-Caucasia' is
populated by peaple who call them
selves Kartli, and who are known by
neighboring Persians as Curl the
seats of government are Titiis and Gu
ria, In the third century they consti-
tuted a mighty state. which lasted
until 1424, when it was divided into
three parts In 1900 Georgia was in
corporated in the Russian empire.
The population of Georgia at the
time she declared her independence o.
Russia. on May &c. 1918, was about B.,
100000 Eighty per cent of the Geor
gians are farmers On March II las
the independence of Georgia was rec
ognized by Italy. Under the Turkish
peace treaty Batum is to become fret
port.
San Marine, or Sammarino, is no
only one of the smallest but one of thu
oldest republics in Europe 1t is in
closed by three Italian provinces ant
consists of a craggy mountain 2,42'
feet high. on which is the town anC
some circumjacent terraces with fou
or five villages. The population prio
to the war was about 5000 San Marine
furnished an army to the allies. Thu
chic Industry is agriculture, including
the raising of cattle. The Legislature
of the republic is composed of a senate
of sixty members, elected for life
equally from the ranks of peasants
citizens, and mobiles. Two president
are chosen by the seante every si
months.
Luxembourg, which lies between
Rhennish Prussia, Belgium, and Al
sace-Lorraine, and which was occu
pied by the Germans during the wal
was made a grand duchy in 1914 b
the king of the Netherlands. In 1867
was declared neutral territory by tn
treaty of London. 1t has belonged
however, since 1912, and until tn
signing of the Versailles treaty, to tn
Zollverin or German Customs union.
The population of Luxembourg be
fore the war was approximately 200
900, living in an area of about 100
square miles. Walloon French
spoken in a few villages, but the lar
guage of the people is chiefly Gel
man dialect.
After the armistice in the world wa
the Germans evacuated Luxembourg.
revolution occurred but was halted b
the allies. The American troops passe
through the country and were well re
ceived. The Grand Duchess Mari
whose abdlcation had been demande
by a mob. fed from the country and
republic was proclaimed. This ne
government, however, existed only
few hours. The parliament called f.
plebiscite to decide the future for