Evening star., 1921-06-26
THE STORY THE WEEK HAS TOLD


titioned Lithuania became part of Russia, but the
Polish landlords held Part Of them lost their
estates by joining the Polish instructions in
1880 and 1863 but still a great part of the
country is possessed by Polish landlords. AS
I understand it, this is the root OF the trouble
between Poland and Lithuania. These land
lords fear for themselves the fate of the Baltic
barons Of Latvia and Esthonri; namely. ex-
preparation Of their estates for the beneft OF the
peasants. Therefore they desire that Poland
annex as much Lithuanian soil as she may and
dominate what is left of the democratic peasant
republic" Of Lithuania. Pressure Of the Polish
landlords will very largely account for the
Selgovski exploit, for the controversy over the
Polish Lithuanian boundary IN the direction of
Suwalki. for the claim of Poland to control the
Lithuanian army and Lithuanian foreign rela-
tions
Well. the reader will be saying, If the facts
are as stated above. the league council should
have difficulty about making a decision. 1t
will. nevertheless. 1t is true that Polish land
lordism may be the ultimate cause Of the Polish
Lithuanian difficulties. BUT full justice to the
submerged Lithuanian peasant may have to
be postponed to larger considerations growing
out of the awful mess in central Europe; of
which the chief is the Importance of making
Lithuania a solid part of the barrier against
German drang and Muscovite pressure.
\ X
NEAR EAST.-The governments of Great
Britain. France and Italy have offered the Greek
government their meditation with MustapRa
Kemal. II Greece will not accept, she must
continue to go 1t alone, with dubious pros
poets. The note does not intimate the basis of
negotiations. but presumably kemal will be of
fered terms much like those offered him at the
London conference in March. 1t is said that
the Greek government not unreasonably requires
information this head before replying to
the allied note. Recent reports Of a quite novel
complexion attribute to KemaI an earnest desire
fOr alleging he has h{aF
trusty Samy Bey, to the allied capitals to
negotiate terms; and, more important still. that
the connection with Moscow irks him. Not
surprising the last, II there is anything in the
rumor that Moscow has tried to procure his
assassination, SO that he may be succeeded by
that arch-fend Enver Pasha, a man after
Moscow's own heart. If kemal does make
peace. say these strange new reports. he will
demand a condition thereof that the allies
engage to protest him against the wrath of
Moscow.
If Kemal will accept the terms offered him
in March. it seems very probable that Greece
will accede. 1t Is said that the morale of the
Greek army is not good: that the general stan
is inferior to the Turkish staff (both German
trained): that the Cretan contingent, formerly
the backbone OF the army, are disafected, etc,
etc. The estimate of the situation made by the
Turkish commander at Eskshehr (as quoted
in the New York Times) is as follows: "The
Greeks are in the same position as a man who
has started to sneeze and finds himself unable
to do So" I am inclined to think it a good
estimate.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA-The
Senate and House conferees at last reached an
agreement on the naval appropriation bill. The
total appropriation carried is $417.0o00o0, in
stead of the $ss6.ooo.ooo originally voted by the
House. Two airplane carriers are provided for;
the results of the bombing tests of the Virginia
capes insured that. The Navy personnel is to
number 200. instead Of 100000 voted by the
House and 10000 voted by the Senate. The
Borah amendment is adopted The conference
report now goes to the House.
The Senate has ordered an investigation of
the Mingo coal fields disturbances.
Now for big fight on the bonus bill