Evening star., 1920-02-01
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

he 'barbed line, that hypo-
thetical territorial wall be-
tween Russian bolshevism and
Germany. composed of Poland
1ithuania, Letvia and Esthonia, is about
TO disappear.
Peace overtures between Letvia and
holsheviks of Russia on the other
bring an immediate break in the
Baltic confederation. the dream child
OF Clerenceau and Lloyd George.
AS a result of the situation today
all of those countries of the Baltic
regions face eventual Germanization
or. what to them may be worse,
eventual absorption in a revivified
Russia.
Here critics Of the allied policy
toward the small countries which
were encouraged last year through
the Vaccinations of Lloyd George and
CIemenceau come in for criticism.
Again the allies. after felicitating the
small states of the Baltic and urging
them to resist both Germans and boil
sheviks alike, led them to expect
material assistance in setting their
particular houses in order, but they have
ffoundered.
AS result. these patient peoples of
northeast Europe have bled them
selves white in fighting bolshevik
armies until allied aid came; their
internal affairs have approached a
degree of chaos which seriously
threatens any dreams they may have
had of perpetuating themselves as
thorough-goi independent, out
nevertheless interdependent countries
Today these lI-lp countries, IRE
CardIeSS of other influences that may
he brought TO bear. are forced TO turn
10 the bolsheviks for almost any terms
that may insure them the privilege
of turning from battlefields and re-
vivifying the financial, industrial anu
economic features of their life.
Allies Accomplish Little.
The allies, though extending mea-
ger aid and having done great
amount of so-called relief work. have
accomplished nothing in the way or
systematic. well defined and co-or-
dinated constructive work to assist
these little countries out of their
dilemma
To-day the so-ca1led territorial
Naur' is proving as tissue The peo-
pies themselves are coming to the
conclusion that their destinles lie
within themselves. not to be shaped
anywise by the allies: that war must
he stopped before reconstruction
processes can set in. and that the
only persons with whom they can
trade and prosper are either the Isus-
slams or Germans. or both. Ano. as
schemes of dominating Russia nat
urally will be felt in those little
countries which lie between their
two larger neighbors.
As a matter of fact. neither of the
countries that today occupy positions
raI paIY nfad dar2 n N
can live without free and uninter-
rupted commerce with neighbors to
the east and to the west.
1t is a known fact that the Ger
mans have insiduously spread their
gospels throughout all these coun-
tries. 1t may be said with a degree
of truth that the Germans today are
responsible for the Vaccinations
which eventually are to lead to the
signing of peace between at least
shevik Russia.
Baltic Confederation Ineffective.
Germany is extremely desirous that
the Baltic confederation, as a work
ing organization of nations, will
never reach its full strength, which
IT would be expected to do under
proper conditions. Untrameled, un-
fettered progress is Inherently de-
sired by the peoples of Lithunia, Let
via and Esthonia. not to speak of
Finland and Poland. The status of
the latter two nations, however. is
more or less insured at the present
juncture, though it is extremely
problematical how long they can re-
sist the pressing tides from either
side.
Germany, from the very start, when
grave and reverend statesmen were
debating, merely debating, in Paris.
set in motion plans to block realiza-
tion of the dreams of the Baltic re-
publics. They have been SO under
mined by contrary influences that
today il is difficult for their states
men to formulate any policy or steer
any course without running foul or
contrary German-inspired currents
which hazard the future, or at least
impede progress.
Lithuania's resistance to any scheme
of things which would bring Poland
into a confederation and which,
through its strength financially and
economically. might dominate the con-
ference is German abetted. The old
antagonisms between the Lithuanians
and the Poles have been overempha-
sized to the point where agreement
is next to impossible, and the seeds
of continual discord and strife have
been sowed among these two peoples
OstensibIy over small strips of terri
tory and the city of wilma, which
lies between them. Efforts on the
part of allied statesmen and the
statesmen of the small republics them
selves have so far failed to heal the
breach between Lithuania and Poland.
and from present prospects they never
will do So In this the Germans have
succeeded well, and it must be stated
truthfuIly that the Poles themselves
have pursued policy which to others
more jealous has been mistaken as