p.5.. On February 16, Lithuania began her thirteenth year of independence. Once a powerful nation, master of vast domians, Lithuania is today struggling to hold her independence.

For two centuries before the World War, Russia governed Lithuania and was a cruel and severe lord, as was Poland. But it could not govern the spirit that burned within the Lithuanians' loyal hearts.

After that, the Germans laid waste Lithuania's farm lands. The World War did not help to put things right.

However, on February 16, 1918, in the historic capital of Vilna, the Independence of Lithuania was declared. Even though independent in theory, Lithuania was still molested first by Bolsheviks, then by the Poles. Finally, in October, 1919 a treaty was signed by Poland and Lithuania regarding boundary lines. To no use, however, because four weeks later Poland marched on Lithuania and occupied the capitol, Vilna, together with the provinces of Grodna and Swalki. Poland, utterly forgetting her own plight 2 in the immediate past, from the very first day of her resurrection embarked upon a policy of violence and oppression. Volumes have already been written on her depredations and transgressions against practically all her neighbours and her forcible seizure of their territories. The cases of Vilnus, Eastern Galicia, the Polish Corridor, etc., are known to all the world. Some of the din over these territorial disputes has subsided during the past few years, but the strife over Vilnius, on the contrary, seems to have acquired new vigor. Lithuania cannot forget Poland's aggressiveness since 1919. The clouds that have darkened the political horizon of Europe, have not weakened Lithuania's persistence in her rightful claims. She demands Vilnius (Vilna) back from Poland. She refuses now, as fifteen years ago, to enter into diplomatic or commercial relations with Poland, in spite of the fact that both countries are full-pledged members of the League of Nations. "First, territorial readjustment, than diplomatic and commercial relations," is Lithuania's reply to all direct and indirect invitations to parleys.

During the peace negotiations at Versailles of 1919, the Poles mystified the delegates of the Allied and Associated Powers contending that the Lithuanians, Ukrainians, White Russians and the people of Eastern Europe were eager to link their fate with the reconstructed Poland. This contention was utterly false, but the Polish delegates 3 succeeded in inducing the allied statesmen to insert into the text of the Treaty of Versailles several clauses, obscurely promising Lithuanians and the other national minorities autonomous rights, in case they should be included in the Polish Republic.

But the favorite Polish argument, which they particularly used at Marshal Foch's headquarters, was that Poland needed Vilnius because, if given to Lithuania, it would facilitate the Bolsheviks combining with Germany. The Polish argument was reflected by the prominent American journalist, Frank H. Simonds, who wrote in 1921, "If the Lithuanians get Vilna, a railway line will be opened between Germany and Russia and the extension of German activity into Bolshevist Russia will be made possible. If the Poles keep Vilna, the Germans and Bolshevists will be separated." The numerous articles in the allied press of 1919-1925 in the same view prove that the Polish contentions were taken seriously at the time. But how cynical they appear now that Poland has concluded treaties of friendship with Soviet Russia and Germany.

In spite of all these abuses the Lithuanians kept up hope and courage. They are a nation free and independent with Kaunas as their temporary capitol until they regain their historic capitol, Vilna.

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Lithuania's history is rather tragic, when we think of her former grandeur, but it is also interesting and rich.