Evening star., 1938-06-05
BY EMIL LENGYEL,

THE World in Revolt" etc
7DHREE small Baltic countries-Es-
tonia, Latvia and Lithuania-are
celebrating this year the goth an
niversary of their independence
from Russian rule. American citizens of
Baltic origin soon will depart for festivals
to be held on the shores of the silver sea. !"
The countries they will find are different
p. from the ones they saw few years ago.
After having passed through autocratic
rules, these countries are on their way back
TO democracy. While the invincible force
Of Fascism appears to be sweeping the
world. the return of the three Baltic coun-
tries to parliamentary rule may be SYM
bolic. 1t may mean that autocracy has
spent itself after its whirlwind victories.
The change is all the more significant
because it occurs in the uneasy vicinity
of Germany, Poland and Russia. For this
very reason these small countries deserve
more attention than they have received.
Just a few weeks ago Estonia returned
to parliamentary rule and is now planning
to deal with her problems in a legislative
session. After long spell of authoritarian
A month before that Lithuania adopted
new constitution. The strength of public
opinion in that country was demonstrated
when it forced the government out of power
because of the unpopular settlement of its
diplomatic problems with its neighbor Po-
land.
In Path Of Possible War.
lie To
countries for another reason. They occupy
a precarious position on the highway be-
tween Nazi Germany and Communist Rus
sia. The shortest route between Berlin and
Leningrad runs through these Baltic ma
tions. Hitler could march his army into
the land Of the perennial foe" by violat-
ing the independence of countries that
could not stand up against his military
might.
The largest Of the Baltic lands, Latvia,
Is about the size of West Virginia, and
the total population of the three of them
is less than 6,00o,00 Estonia's frontier
is few minutes airplane ride from Lenin-
grad, and Lithuania's frontier is few
minutes from East Prussias Koenigsburg.
Nevertheless, these countries are neither
Slavic nor Germanic. The Estonians are
Finnish Ugrian; they are related to the
Firms and Hungarians. The Latvians and
Lthuanians are remnants of a race akin
to the old Prussians now extinct in all
but name.
Does the change toward democracy in
the Baltic countries indicate a general
trend? Is it vote of confidence in popular
ruler This problem transcends the i'm
portance of the three small nations.
It"was in the northernmost and small
est of the three countries, Estonia, the
population OF which is less than 1,250,00
that dictatorship was first routed. Shortly
after Hitler came to power in Germany
i've years ago the Nazis went to work
with furious energy. They considered the
Baltic countries their political reservations.
On this soil, centuries before, the Ger
man brothers Of the sword laid the foun-
dattons Of medieval military civiliza-
tion. Their spirit was perpetuated in the
supremacy of the Baltic barons Of Ger
man origin. who managed to remain on
the top even though the nominal rulers
were Lithuanians, Poles, Danes, Swedes
and Russians Furthermore, Nazi Ger
manys spiritual dictator, Dr. Alfred Rosen-
berg is native of the capital of Estonia,
Tallinn, and it was only, natural for him
to concentrate on the country of his
birth.
Germany Makes Bids for Power.
Germany reached for power through
several organizations, such as the Baltic
Fraternity" the attraction of which was
enhanced by secrecy and mystic rites. The
so-called Freedom Fighters" did their best
to fight freedom. A flank attack against
democratic rule was launched by the "Es-
tonian Renovators," who apparently felt
that the best way to defend popular rights
was to abolish them.
Nazism was hailed by many as a world
saving idea, while others accepted it sto-
ically. asking. What is the use of fight
ing an elementary force2"
Riding the waves of Fascism, an en-
gineer named Arthur Sirk placed himself
at the head of a war veterans organiza-
ton, and proclaimed himself savior of all
stonians. Although his appeal was most
" TO hyper-emotional patriotism, he suc-
ceeded In organizing plot in which Of
ncers OF standing were implicated. So the
government decided to fight the threat of
dictatorship with dictatorial powers A
warrant was issued for Sirk's arrest. who
took to forest byways, crossing the coun-
try from end to end on foot.
Autocracy Invades Estonia.
Autocracy came to Estonia four years
ago. A new constitution provided Presi-
dent Constantin Paets with iron fists. He
was empowered to conduct domestic and
foreign affairs, veto bills draft the budget,
dismiss cabinet members and, in general
rule by decree. A months later the country
was placed under martial law for a wear
ostensibly in an effort to suppress Nazi.
Fascist and Communist propaganda. The
legislative elections, provided for in the
constitution, were postponed. In March,
1885, the minister Of interior, acting under
presidential authority, abolished all politi-