Evening star., 1927-12-10

Perhaps the most unknown region
in all civilization is Ukrainia. 1t is
hidden behind a frontier as impene.
trable as naval smoke screen or a
granite wall. Comparatively few
Americans, however generally cul-
tured, could give an outline of its
boundaries, much less give it's several
names. or guess how many millions of
inhabitants the Ukrainian region pos
sesses, or how many Ukrainians exis
in other countries.
Press dispatches allege that for
three months Ukrainia has been in
revolt against Soviet Russia, and the
revolt has caused 5000 casualties.
There is no official confirmation of
this report, and it may be greatly
exaggerated, but the fact that it
came with circumstantial detail sug-
gests that where there is so much
smoke screen. there must be some
thing going on behind the curtain.
To increase the mystery, now comes
manifesto" cut of nowhere in
particular, but with much averment
of truth and desperation, complaining
of Soviet Russian oppression, and
proclaiming the passion of Ukrainians
for liberty and independence from
Communistic Soviet Russia. Probably
ian emigres in Paris or Berlin or
London: at all events. it voices unrest
among 35,000000 people and Patrick
Henry passion for liberty or death. y
Says the manifesto:
"At the present time, we can
visualize so many imposing manifesto
tions of the Ukrainian conscience, so
many proofs of the spirit for national
independence, so much blood until
now shed in vain, veritable forests of
crosses which mark the graves of the
dead that today no one can deny that
the Ukrainian problem exists, and that
it is daily becoming more expressive,
more striking in the political arena of
Europe
There are obvious dangers to
European tranquility while both
Lithuania and Ukrainia are crying
against their alleged wrongs and
pointing to Poland as the chief in
stigator thereof even though in the
case of Ukrainia the power holding
the reins appears to be Soviet Russia.
Little Lithuania, with population of
about 100000 dares to threaten
Poland with a population seven times
as great. But behind that smoke
of 35 900 900 to 40000,000. which also
hates Poland with hate concentrated
through many centuries. Great Rus
sia is expected to side with Lithuania.
but while Great Russia--or, as it calls
itself. the United States of Soviet
Russia-is barred from fellowship with
any civilized government. how much
dependence can b. put upon her
alliance professed for Lithuanla
against Poland-unless merely as
means of stirring up strife among or
ganiZed governments?
No such justified discounting of
sincerity can be ascrbed to Little
Russia. alias Ukrainia. alias Ruthenla
as to her hatred of her ancient op-
pressors, the Poles, If, in coming to
the help Of Lithuania against Poland,
Ukrainia antagonizes her own con-
querors, the government at MOSCOW,
so much the better for the great
powers opposed to sovietism. To divide
Russia and create strong ana IN
dependent nation of Little Russia
alias Ukrainia, would be to plunge the
knife into the vitals of the greatest
menace against. not Europe alone,
hut all organized governments of the
world. 1t would end soVletlSm.
There appears to be no race WIN
bjtterer enemies than the Poles-not
even the Jews who have no country
of their own and who are oppressed
and despised and hated in all coun'
tries of Europe. go,
America have looked with thrills
at the fate Of Poland partitioned. Her
heroes and martyrs have become the
ideal heroes and martyrs Of freedom
everywhere.
"And Freedom shrieked when KOS
ciusko fell.'
But history tells of other times
when Freedom did some ear.splitting
shrieking. even when Poles were
standing erect while their thousands
of oppressed were falling. No bronze
statuary records such tragedies in
any of the parks of Washington, but
history tells the story. The World
War erected revived Poland with
its 100000 population, mainly
. rescued from Prussia and Austria,