POLAND AND LITHUANIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19947, 16 May 1928, Page 10

POLAND AND LITHUANIA.

Attempts to restore normal relations between Poland and Lithuania have ended unfortunately with a popular demonstration against the Polish delegates as they left the Lithuanian capital. The core of the dispute is the ownership of Vilna town and district. It was here that Lithuanian independence was proclaimed in 1918. Afterwards forced to withdraw by a Russian invasion, the Lithuanians had almost won Vilna back again when Poland captured it. The Poles have retained it ever since. In 1920 a provisional agreement was made assigning Vilna to Lithuania. Before it could become effective General Zeligowski seized the city. Though Poland repudiated his action, it has remained in Polish hands to this day. In March, 1923, the Ambassadors' Conference issued an edict confirming Polish possession of Vilna. This award has never been accepted by Lithuania, and it has been argued in perfectly impartial quarters that the Ambassadors' Conference had no power to dispose of territory that before the war belonged to Russia. Rejecting the award, Lithuania insisted that so long as Poland retained Vilna a state of war between the two countries must exist. It did exist for seven years. Though it brought grave inconvenience, there has not been any question of open hostilities. Poland has no reason to attack. Lithuania, with her 3,000,000 people, can scarcely attack Poland's 30,000,000. The tension was not a healthy symptom none the less, and had the practical drawback of standing absolutely in the way of the Baltic Confederation which, it is admitted, would be to the immense advantage of the Russian border States. They haVe many reasons for uniting for their mutual defence and progress. At the League of Nations meeting, in December last, the Council succeeded in obtaining from the Lithuanian delegate a declaration that "Lithuania does not consider herself in a state of war with Poland." It was hailed as a triumph of conciliation, but, as shown by the fruitless conference held in the endeavour to give it practical expression, all is not yet peace between Poland and Lithuania.