TRANSFER OF VILNA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 285, 2 November 1939, Page 14

TRANSFER OF VILNA.

DISADVANTAGE TO LITHUANIA

The acquisition of Vilna by Lithuania might not be reason ior unqualified rejoicing by Lithuanians, said Mr F. A. Voigt, in a talk broadcast from Daventry. The price she would have to pay was the loss or a limitation of her independence. Lithuania had recovered the capital, as it was then, that she lost to the Poles in 1920, he said. While Poland had ceased to exist, Lithuania, which had not taken part in the great political struggles of the last few years, had received benefits she would not have thought possible a few months or weeks ago. All the Baltic States gave access to the sea, and all had a small population, and it was clear that thev were threatened by the two great Powers nearby, Germany and Russia. Tt was inevitable that when those two Powers were going through a struggle, the Baltic countries were doomed. _ Russia had never wanted a-n independent Poland, and it might be taken as axiomatic that a weak Poland was part of the policies of both Germany and Russia.. However, Lithuania was not like Poland. Tt, was much smaller, and the Lithuanians were not like the Poles who were considered a danger even when there was no Poland. It was convenient then for the Germans to have a counterweight against the Poles. An enlarged Lithuania would be that counterweight. It appeared that the Germans planned to create a small Polish State, and that it would come under the joint control of Germany and Russia, wjth little independence. ’ The price Lithuania, miist pay for what she had gained was the loss'or a severe limitation of her independence.