The New York herald., 1921-10-30
TWoodrow Wilson'S Train
So Called by Guard, Halted
nj All Hours.
SUSPICION is RIFE
German, Polish, Lithuanian
and Lettish Officers
Search All Baggage.
~ SIR PHILIP GIBBS.

spsciai Cable 70 THE NEW YoxK HEEAiD-
Copyright, 1891, bv THE NEW YoGx HnssrD
RrGA, via London, Oct. 2s.-I have
Just made a journey from Berlin
through East Prussia and the Polish
corridor to Danzig. and thence
through Lithuania and Latvia TO
Riga This journey takes only two
days and nights from Berlin. but one
passes across four frontiers OF little
nations created by the treaty of Yer
sailles and so Jealous of their right
of self-determination that no stranger
may pass without their Government
stamp on his passport. This wastes
much time and nerve strain IN tho
aDtechambers of oficialdom, while
customs barriers are erected between
one country and another. and hordes
of ofacials are paid to harass traders
and travellers.
The guard of the train which comes
from Ostend to Riga Is a man OF in
ternational character. speaking. It
seemed to me, every known tongue
and many that are unknown. He
also has malicious sense OF humor
regarding the self-determination Of
nations, and before turned into bed
the first night he delivered himself
briefly Of cynical philosophy.
"This is Woodrow Wilson's train"
he said. Owing to his love of liberty
and small peoples you pay for a
sleeping carriage, but do not sleep
AT 2 o'clock in the morning you are
turned out on the platform of the
Polish corridor, where your bags are
examined and your life is endangered
by the night winds. No sooner do
YOU go to bed again than the Polish
officers wake you up for a fresh ex-
animation. So it goes on from one
country to another, until you are
tired of self-determination. which has
destroyed individual liberty and COM
mon sense"
Toilet Articles Suspected.
So, indeed, it happened, and ones
attempts at slumber were rudely
broken by German, Polish, Lithuanian
and Lettish officers, who were deeply
suspicious Of toilet articles, insisted
upon opening paper parcels con-
flaming Dutch cheese or second best
boots. became excited at the sight of
q typewriter. for which they de-
suanded immediate bloodmoney, and
who were ruthless with any traveller
who had failed to get the necessary
passport visa for any one of five
nations. Out he was turned to go
back to Berlin and repair his error.
At the East Prussian frontier Ger
man officials demanded knowledge of
ones wealth or poverty, and refused
permission for more than 1000 marks
TO be taken across the frontier. /
was being marched off to deposit a
small bundle of English bank notes
which I needed desperately for future
travel until my energetic protests
and explanations rescued me from
this forcible appropriation by the in
tervention of high official.
All this annoyance has only one
good result. 1t impresses ones mind
with the farcical absurdity of SELF
determination run mad. 1 am all for
liberty and local governance Of small
peoples, but not at the expense of
free trade and free travel. This series
OF Chinese walls dividing European
patfonalities Is bark back in civili-
zation and not progress toward the
unification of common interests and
common needs.
British Uniforms Numerous.
During this journey the train
stopped a long time at certain sta