The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-12-14

how the Memeites, or at
least those of them who Memel and vicinity
know anything about the history of their home town.
could be surprised.
What seems about to happen to Meme is what has hap
pened to Memel time and again. Meme has been around
regards conquests and reconquess in that respect
is one of the most experienced cities in Europe.
This moderate-sze Baltic seaport (abou 10000 votes
cast in the pebscite founded in the year 1852
by the Grand Master Of the Teuonc Knights Poppo
~, Osterna, sort of German outpost
O"eC"e'eW against the Poles and Lithuanians. 1t
Career was first named New Dortmund' then it
changed to Memeburg and after
while the burg" dropped off,
Memel grew with the development of medieval trade
In the Baltic and the mainland. Presently it joined
the famed Hanseac League of German Dutch and Scan
dlnavlan merchant cities, which less controlled
Baltic and North Sea from about 1850 to 1900
Naturally the Lithuanians and Poles of the country
back of Memel didn't fancy this German advance post
During the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth CEN
turtles the Poles and Lhuanans often sacked and set fire
to Meme-which always managed to bounce back
When Gustavus Adophus Q5941632) of Sweden was
active n the Thirty Years War; Meme one of the
towns ne grabbed off, Meme was twice occupied by the
Russans-in 1857 and in 1913.
Its World War and postwar experiences in themselves
should have been enough to make the Memeltes just bit
blase regarding who what has political possession of
their city.
Memel was German when the broke out-Ger-
manys northernmos seaport the Baltic with Russian
territory beginning few miles back of the city,
Germany gave up the town after the war; and it's dis
posa became of the Allies many peacemakng prob
ems For three years Mcneil run by nter-Allied
commission backed up by garrison of French troops.
There talk of giving sort of freeport status
like that conferred Danzig but this talk did not ap
peal to the Lthuanans. On January 49, 1928 Lithua
nian surprise attack booted the French garrison of
the city,
In March, 1924 the League of Nations finally gave
Memel to Lthuania, but also it of auton
omy with reference to the Lithuanian Government.
Now, IA years later Hitler wants Memel to back
to Germany and apparently Meme is willing.
Memel, in short, is Europe in microcosm-Europe being
place where power politics eternay played where
cities and states change hands fast nation
build up enough power to bluff or bully
EUrOpeLn other nation; where eternal
Microcoeno friendships" and perpetual alliances"
are made to be broken and everybody
knows they are; where Memel is just pawn and
Czechoslovakia just knight rock in an unendng
game of international chess.
1t is difficult to why any American should suffer
serious gup of indignation whatever may happen to
Mcneil 1t is of business and Meme is used to
being kicked around that probably likes it by this time
just they say like to be used for bait.
That we should think seriously of sticking
fingers into Europes endless games of power politics
would be ncomprehensbe except for the fact that
we did. We got fingers badly burnt that time, and
didn't help Europe. Let's keep that fact firmly fixed
in mind propagandsts try sell another European
intervention-whch propagandss going to be trying
to do for as long time foresee
From the New York Daily Nows)
r