Dirva = Field. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1915-current, 1946-10-11

l am speaking on behalf of over
one million Americans of Lithuan-
ian descent. These Americans, like
all of US, participated in both world
wars. They are now experiencing
the same disappointments that fol-
lowed the last war. They are see
ing how the Atlantic Charter and
the Four Freedoms are being dis
torted and how totalitarian powers
are working to fulfill their aims.
In spite of these disappointments,
the Americans of Lithuanian descent
wish to express their gratitude and
the gratitude of Lithuanians in
Europe for the aid sent to them
by the American people. Without
doubt, the Americans are the
most generous people on earth to-
day. The United States is also
the only known nation that fought
war and refused compensation
from the vanquished.
Unfortunately, due to our lack
of diplomatic leadership in Wash
ington, we have been victimized in
the eyes of the world and we are
losing our prestige.
The ink was not dry on the At
lantic Charter when our leaders
assumed a policy of appeasement
and agreement with Stain with
one idea in mind: The establish
ment of permanent world peace.
There is no doubt that the motive
was good but the method was ILL
chosen. There are many examples
that prove that dictators cannot and
should not be appeased. Appease-
ment only whets their appetites for
greater demands. The basic con-
cepts of human relationships of
democracies and relationships are
not compatible.
The first respects the dignity of
man while the second ignores the
| individual and adores the state. For
five years we have been showered
with propaganda from the dictator
ship posing as our ally.
The real facts concerning our
Lend-Lease aid have been conceal
ed and withheld from their people.
Here in the United States pro-Rus-
sian propaganda is distributed by
radio commentators, writer's, publi-
cations, and the movies. The people
who spread, or control the spread
of the material, have been mislead
into believing that Russia is a great
er democracy than the U. S. Many
of us may be wondering why our
efforts at appeasement are failing.
To be candid, this is the "payoff"
to US from bandit state. The
most recent example of this "Rus-
sian Gratitude" is our trouble with
Tito Soviet controlled Jugoslavia.
Let us visualize what -hardships,
despair and tragedy were visited on
the people who were handed oven
as international objects of diploma
tic merchandising to the "tender
mercies' of Stain for sake of
permanent peace. The small Bal
tic States, including Lithuania, aft
er seven revolts during 120 years OF
Czarist oppression and terrorism, at
last threw off the hated yoke and
built their nation upon the embers
and ashes of World War l. With
nothing but their bare hands and
iron will, born of an enthusiasm
| for freedom, they erected new and
beautiful cities; constructed modern
roads; established thousands of fine
schools; modernized their economy;
and in a period of 18 years stood
as progressive, cultural nation with
intelligent upright people. Natural
ly this served as bad contradiction
to Soviet propaganda that preached
that all capitalistic nations are star
wing, poverty stricken and deca-
dent. The Soviet aim was to liqui-
date such "unfriendly" nations.
Due to the appeasement policy
of western democracies, Soviet Rus
sia was allowed to establish gar
risons in Lithuania in 1889 with
the avowed purpose of protecting
it's interests against the Nazis. 1t
this were the case, there might
have been a semblance of an ex-
cuse, but in reality Stain and Hit
ler went into an agreement to par
tition Poland and to absorb all the |
Baltic States, and then stab the
democracies in the back. But, as
often happens, two thieves fall out
upon division Of spoils; SO Hitler