Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-06-20
PRESS-AGENTING A NATION
BY Frederick J.. Haskin.

WASHINGTON, D. c., June IA new fig
ure on the troubled scene of International rela-
tions is the publicity agent who represents a
small nation trying to get the recognition of
larger ones for it's right to an independent ex-
istence.
The splintering Of national boundaries which
the war brought about, as we all Know. pro-
duced a large crop of new nations. 1t also
brought the whole world two principles, which,
II not new. were at least for the first time made
popular. These principles were the right OF
self-determination" and the rights of small
nations" or, as one wag puts it since the YER
sailles negotiations, the. small rights of ma
tons"
1t is true that the old-line diplomats and
politicians who made the peace and who have
held the reins of power in Europe ever since,
made light of these principles. The right of a
people to determine it's own political destiny has
scarcely anywhere been made good. and the
rights of small nations have appeared to be
whatever the large nations found it convenient
and profitable to allow them.
Nevertheless. those two principles have be-
come more than mere phrases for the simple
reason that they have been grasped by millions
of men. They have not been put into execution
but they have been advertised. The
peoples of these small nations cling to them
with desperate hope. and cry out, above the
clash of armies and the sonorous rumble of
diplomacy, to the people of other nations. The
whole world has grasped the idea that a small
and weak nation may have rights, which it is
not strong enough to enforce, but which must
nevertheless be enforced for the sake of JUS
tlCt, just III al Sllloli vi NSah loh AHo ID
which other men protect for the sake of prif-
ciple. This principle of justice and co-opera-
tion instead of force and fraud is but imper-
fectly enforced between man and man, ana
force and fraud often triumph. AS between ma
tons force and fraud seem to triumph almost
always. Yet it is by evolving this principle OF
Justice and trying live up to it that men nave
been able to emerge from the jungle, and live
together in larger and larger units-first in
fl antilles, then in tribes. and finally in great and
well organized states. The extension OF TINS
principle to the dealings of nations. so that the
i 49, 49, fhA g. hama NJ all
men, is surely the next step. 1t is an ideal, ana
you may damn it with the adjective Utoplan II
you wish, but it is the next step on the long
road the race has been travelling ever since IT
came down from the trees.
The Case OF IitIuania.
SO the small nation, addressing its plea TO the
conscience of the world, deserves some atten-
ton. And where is it to get that attention I'M
less through the newspapers?
Take the republic of Lithuania, for instance. In
medieval times it was a great nation, as natlons
went in those days. It's kings claimed a large
territory and controlled it more or less success
fully. In the course of time Lithuanla became
o. province of Russia but 1t always renamed
distinctive. The chief reason for this is that its
people are not Slavs. nor Asiatics, of any other
kind, but are tall blonde Nordics, of the same
race that has given England and America some
OF their best stock. This Baltic littoral on
which Lithuania is situated is said by anthro-
biologists to be the original home of the Nordic
type of man. Its cold and cloudy climate
evolved his light coloring and high thin nose.
suited to breathe cold damp air. sFrom TINS
region the NOrdlC type mas Spredu V tHS
whole world, all except the tropical and semi
tropical parts. which are not climatically SUITED
to it. ..
When the crash came in Russia, tithuanla
seized the opportunity to set up an Independent
republic. This republic was not in the least
like the Russian government: but modelled a.
ter our own. Having thus resisted the BolsheVlk
propaganda, of which the allied nations are so
fearful, Lithuania ought to have had their sym
pathy. But Poland claimed a large part OF rne
Lithuanian territory. and has seized about one
third of it. 1t is said a plesbiscite would show
beyond a doubt that the. population or !ithu-
ania is overwhelmingly in favor of a Llthua-
anian republic and against Polish domination.
But France wants a large and strong Ponsn
nation as a buffer between her and Russia, ana
she has been trying to set up such a Poland
ever since the war, with somewhat distressing
results. Hence France Is against the claims OF
Lithuania to an independent existence, and IN
favor of giving most of the Lithuanian territory
to Poland.
England's Attitude.
England on the other hand, is said to be
favorable to the Lithuanian aspirations, and
this Lithuanian problem is said to BE one
of the several which are stralnlng relatiohs
between Britain and France.
In this, as in so many other European mat
tiers, the United states holds a sort OF balance
of power. If the United States should extend
formal recognition to the Lithuanian repupIc
it's case would be enormously strengthened
That is Why Lithuania has hired a press
agent, and put him here in Washington to tell
the American people about Lithuania ana her
aspirations. If the American people, through
their newspapers, can be convinced tnat tHe
Lithuanian republic should be recognized, II
probably will be recognized by the American
government in due course. Meantime, most VI
the American public does not even know that
there is a Lithuanian republic. Its ofilciai pup
licity agent, Mr.. M. Z. King, is up against one
of the hardest jobs a press agent ever tackled.
The methods of putting over a movie star OF
a candidate for congress are well known ana
systematized, but when it comes to putting over
a new republic. the great profession of publicity
has a new problem to solve.