GEORGIA'S PERIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 57, 8 March 1921, Page 4

GEORGIA'S PERIL.

The war and its sequela have been great teachers of geography, but perhaps even now there are people who confuse the Caucasian Georgia with the Anu-ri can Slate immortalised in the famous song. The lesser known Georgia i.- an interesting country, and just now it is occupying an important place in our new-. Overrun by Soviet armies, it is the last bulwark between the lioUheviks and Armenia and Persia. For many cetrturiod Georgia existed as a free and independent State, and the alliance wiMi Russia was only undertaken in nrder that some protection might be afFordeil against the Turks. But when the great Russian revolution brought about the collapse of th<* whole Russian military front, the Russian Rrmies withdrew Transcaucasia and the Georgians undertook by themselves the direction of their country, and began to create the necessary State organisation. The first trouble with the Soviet leaders was brought about by the refusal (if the Georgians to participate in the treaty of Brest Litovsk on the ground that this treaty constituted an net of treachery towards the Allies and associated powers. The Bolsheviks ,in revenge gave to Turkey tho two Georgian provinces of Batum and Ardagha, but the Georgians resisted this cession, thus coming into conflict with iboth the Russians and the Moslems. For aid against the Turks the Georgians appealed to the Germans, who checked the Turks in return for heavy concessions granted to themselves. Georgia thei* mobilised her armies against the Bolsheviks, but refused to join forces with Oencral Dcnikin, whom she suspected of having designs upon her territory. When Denikin was crushed, Georgia made an alliance with the neighbouring republic of Azerbaijan for defence against the Soviets. and the national aspirations of both these young republics were formally recognised by the Supreme Council in January of last year. The Georgians showed themselves anxious to organise their State on prjpreesive lines. They adopted a democratic form of government, a policy of strict neutrality in n.ll international conflicts, and the maintenance of friendly relations with all nation , *, especially the neighbouring peoples ami States. They proclaimed a.n eqflai'ity of civil nnd political r'phts to all citizens, irrespective of nationality or religion, a.nd free opportunity for development to all. The new Parliament, elected on the basis .if universal suffrage, established an eighthour working day,- nationalised the mines and forests; ami established a Georgian university which soon numbered thirty-five professors and 1000 studerrts. It also organised a people's university at Tillis, as well as a system of univer'ity extension -by means of which the Vneliits of university teaching were extended to tlrirty-five local branches. Compulsory military service was adopted, and an army of about 200,000 men w»a formed. The little republic has had to fight for existence from its birth, and "it now looks as if separate attacks by , Turkish Nationalists and Russia s ISoviet armies would destroy the institutions the G-eorgdane had so s*»eeessfully begun to 'build up. This -would be a double tragedy, for it would not onJj mean the crushing of a most interesting and ancient (■'"(pie, but it would alsc constitute a mena.ee to Persia, and thus indirectly to out own possessions in the East. Th« republic is entitled«to soim assistance from the Allies, but it is not easy to see at present how effective am can be rendered, and it appears from th< latest reports that the Georgian aumy i> no longer capable of offering any stronf resistance to the armies operating iv different parts of its territory.