Dirva = Field. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1915-current, 1943-04-16
BY p. J. Zuris, President, American
Friends of Lithuania
CLEVELAND PRESS,
April 8, 1943)

Raymond Clapper in The Press
recently voiced some opinions about
the Baltic states. Some of his ideas
are a challenge to all the liverty
loving men and women as we'll as
to the very aims and principles of
freedom and justice as expressed
in the Atlantic Charter.
Lithuania was free nation for
hundreds Of years even before the
Russian nation was formed. 1t lived
as free nation on the Baltic shores
for many centuries. When Poland
was partitioned in 1895 Russia was
handed over the greater part of
Lithuania not as willing people but
as victims of international collusion
and treachery.
In 100 years it revolted six times
against this oppression ant even
tually in 1918 it became free again.
The argument that Lithuania was
carved out Of Russia is unsound.
1t is, true that Lithuania was oc-
cupied by Soviet Russia in 1910,
but this needs some elucidation In
1889 when Poland was treacherous-
ly butchered by murderous Nazis,
the Soviets saw fit to become their
"bed- fellows" and to divide the fall
| len "body" between them.
At this time though the past un-
fair treatment of Lithuania by Po-
/ lish ultimatums and intimidation
was still fresh in the Lithuanian
minds, the Lithuanians received and
fed and cared for over 10000 Poles
and Jews and befriended them.
The Nazis made two offers to
Lithuania to avail themselves of
Polish misfortune and to take over
, additional territories; the Lithuan-
ian government refused to be a
party Of this act.
Very shortly after this the Rus
sian Soviets demanded a fright" to
garrison it's armed forces in Lith-
uania. The Lithuanian government
consulted the signatory powers that
guaranteed their independence;
upon receiving their reply, urging
to cede to Soviet's demand eng
land), this nation had no alterna-
tive but to comply with the unpre-
cedented and treacherous Soviet
Russian demands. The Russian gar
risons were established in 1889 and
their armies of occupation marched
into Lithuania in 1910. The Lith-
uanian government was dissolved,
schools were closed, banks, ware
houses and factory stocks and ma
chinery were plundered and reno
we'd to Russia, all the co-operatives
and private enterprises were "na-
tionalized" and the pauperizing Boil
shevistic regime engulfed the entire
country. All the best and loya
elements of Lithuania were impri
soned, eXiled or murdered. This is
the Occupation" of Lithuania, te
which Mr., Clapper so casually al
ludes.
At the point of thousands of So
Wet bayonets the elections" fol
Incorporation into the U. S. S. r
were conducted. One either votet
or was refused a meal ticket, OF
voted fright" or else was eithel
eliminated or deported into th'
depths Of Russia to starve and die
This is the type of "plebiscite'
that was conducted in Lithuania
Would Mr.. Clapper as an American
a free man and lover of democracy
call this a fair, just and lawful in
: corporation to which a self respect
ing human being could agree?
If we permit this wanton ami
hilation of the Baltic states how
can we consistently claim to supper
the Atlantic Charter, guaranteeing
freedom, independence and restora
tion Of all nations and making sucl
unfair, unjust exceptions for th'
sake of temporary eXpediency?