The Washington herald., 1921-02-09
BALTIC STATES
OPPOSE UNION
WITH RUSSIANS
Independence Is Only Set
tlement Little States
Will Accept.
By Special Correspondent to
The WashinEton Herald.

RIGA, Jan. lS-The question OF
the final status Of states that were
formerly provinces of the Russian
Empire and which have now set up
Independent governments will prob
ably not be known until a more
stable and liberal government has
been established in Russia. In the
meantime these new states, which
are inexperienced in the business
of government, are doing their ut
most to solve the many problems
with which they are confronted
and to consolidate their position so
that they will be able to present to
the powers strong arguments for
their recognition as independent
states.
There is little debut that inde-
pendence is the only settlement
which they will willingly accept,
and although there are excellent
reasons for the policy advocated by
President Wilson which would pre-
vent any dismemberment of the
former empire while Russia is in
its present condition, there are
equally good reasons to support the
claims Of such states as LatYia,
EsthOnia and Lithuania that have
successfully resisted the attempts OF
Soviet Russia to destroy their in
dependence both by force of arms
and by propaganda.
The point Of view of the people
Of the Baltic states is perhaps ade-
uately represented by a statement
made recently by Mr.. Smetona, for
merly president of Lithuania. After
discussing the present situation ir
Russia and the various unsuCcess-
fuI attempts to defeat the Bolshe-
Wiki. Mr.. Smetona explained what
he believed to be the cause of the
present state Of affairs. Having
borne the Tartar yoke for three
centuries, the Russian nation finally
became independent, began to eX-
pand it's territory, and soon became
a vast empire. This development
however, was not healthy, for in
the course Of expansion the atten-
ton Of the Russian state was di.
rccted toward its periphery to the
neglect of its internal development
Instead of applying its great en-
crEies to the exploitation of its re-
sources and the education of Its
people. its powers were largely EN-
pIoyed in the suppression of bOr-
der lands whose people had for the
most part their own distinct his
tory and traditions.
Mostly Peasants.
At the present time So per cent
OF the total population of Russis
Is of the peasant class. These, un.
fortunately, are not sufficiently ma
tured for a democracy, and they art
mere accustomed to obey laws thar
to make them. They have been 81
used to having someone order theil
lives for them that they are praC
ticalIy without any political eX
pt rienCe. One of the great TRACE
dies of Russia today is the fac
that there are so few Of its people
who have the capacity to become
teachers, engineers, administrators
physicians, or to enter any of tn
other vOcatiOns which are essentia
to the development of a democracy
In spite of this serious problem
many Russian patriots dream of re
building their country on 4 fedora
tive basis. A federation. however
is possible only when its COmpO
nents possess a certain degree o
CULTURE and civilization. The Rus
sian masses do not possess this Cul
NuEEr anu the AtuCl dNANG pA lLCA pA'
as a tie of political cooperation
is too remote for them. The aim o
Russian patriots should be the de
veIOpment OF the resources of thei
people and their country. II Rus
sian statesmen insist on the fedora
tiOn to embrace the border state
which are now independent, the,
will fall into the error of old Rus
sia which came to disaster beCaus
it had overreached itself in ever,
direction
1t is maintained that it would b.
better for the smaller states tina
have risen from the ruins OF tn
old empire to join a new and demo
cratic Russia wherein they COult
enjoy autonomous rights and thu
create a federation not unlike tn
United States. But as has beer
POINTED out, Russia does not pos
scss the fundamentals for a demo
cracy and her tradition is one o
Capitalization; of a state artifcially
divided into governments or prov
inCes regardless of either the ma
tiOnalistiC characteristics or tn
distinctive culture of their peoples
When Russia has recovered from
the illness with which it is now af
ficted, it would seem to be a polio!
OF wisdom first to take care of tht
Russian nation itself and to lool
after the spiritual welfare of it!
people. II Russia does, however
undertake to compel a federation
Of border states, now independent
she would embrace many conflicting
elements and her energy would b.
dissipated as was that of the for
mer empire in holding in subjec
tiOn peoples who have a culture o
their own and who, under the doc
trine of self determination, are en-
titled to the independence whicl
they have long desired and have a
last achieved"