, 1922-08-10
BALTIC STATES
ARE RECOGNIZED
itsrd feught Struggle Of Small
Bsffer Nations faded By
ibardiag Administration

The recognition OF Esthonia Latvia,
and Lthuania by the Harding ad-
ministration as Independent Euro
near statea brings to an end . hard
fought struggle on the part OF these
little buffers between Russia and
Germany to obtain such recognition
from this nation. That they were
repeatedly snubbed by the Demo-
cratic administration, notwithstand-
Ing its clustering support Of the
principle Of "self-determination,"
n that they have been accepted in
to the sisterhOod Of states by the
Republican administration. will not
be forgotten by the million and q
half American citizens born in those
countries, or descended from those
stocks. Although they are now
unhyphenated American citizens,
they appreciate the fact that estab-
lshment Of diplomatic relations with
their mother countries will facilitate
communication and transaction of
business with relatives and friends
abroad.
During the period ~1918-1921 rep
resentatlves OF these countries in
the United States sought in vain
some encouragement from the Will
son administration. While the DEM
ocrats were in control of congress
they paid little attention to that
body. knowing 1t to be a rubber
stamp outfit under the absolute con-
troll Of President Wilson. They CEN
tered their attention on him, and
they had additional reason for so
doing because Of their credulity IL
accepting his words at their face
value.
In 1918 Wilson eruded consider
able gush concerning the rights Of
small nations" This war;" said he
to Congress. February II, 1918, had
its roots in the disregard Of the
rights of small nations and of ma
tionalities which lacked the union
and h force to make good their
claim to determine their own al
legiances and their own forms of
political ufe." and he set forth as a
part of. his program for the redemp-
tion Of the world that peoples and
provinces are not to be bartered
about from sovereignty to sovereign
ty as II they were mere chattels and
pawns in a game; that every ter
ritorial settlement involved in this
war must be made in the interest
and for the benefit of the popula-
tions concerned, and not as a part of
OkAy thS vi SolAP
of claims amongst rival states"; and
that "all well defined national as
pirations shall be accorded the ut
most satisfaction that can be accord
ed them" Naturally, after reading
such declarations the representa-
tives OF the small states along the
Baltic looked to Wilson as their
champion. But he turned them
down with a sneer.
In the Republicans they found
their real friends. On December 10.
1918. Senator Lodge submitted a
resolution THAT in the opinion OF
the senate, Lithuania should be sep
arated from Russia and. given indie
p%endence. and that the same right
should be extended to the Let's
CLatvia and to Esthonia. All these
people should have liberty and indie
pendence and their possessions or
the Baltic coast make their indie
pendence a condition Of great impor-
lance for the future freedom and
peace Of the world" On September
16, 1919. Representative La Cuardla,
Republican from New York, intro
duced resolutions providing for the
salaries OF ministers and consuls to
the three countries. But the Wilson
administration blocked these moves.
In that same year the senate COM
mittee on foreign relations. Senator
Lodge. chairman. gave all these rep
r~esentatives a hearing before the
committee. On July 9th. 1922
Hughes announced they had been
recognised.
This is the history Of their rela-
tons with the Republican party.
Throughout the entire period the
Republican Publicity Association has
championed their cause, and today
tho Republican party extends to the
Esthontans. the Let's. and the Lithu-
anians its heartiest congratulations
that their native lands have been
recognized by the United States"