INDEPENDENT STATE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 85, 4 January 1935, Page 10

INDEPENDENT STATE

. Anniversary in Latvia

Children iu the Latvian orphanages have had a present from the Government, states the "Christian Science Monitor.” To celebrate Latvia’s sixteenth birthday recently each orphan has received from the Prime Minister, Dr. Karlis Ulimtnis, a big, luscious "yellow bretzel,” the Latvian birthday cake. The sixteenth anniversary of Latvia’s hard-won independence was celebrated throughout the laud, as well as in those little corners of Latvian soil abroad —the Latvian legations scattered up and down the world. Are these rejoicings justified? The question has been asked. Here the answer is not doubted. Conditions in Latvia, it is explained, are now very peaceful, and most Latvians are believed to be quite satisfied with the present dictatorial regime set up in May by Dr. Ulmanis. True, Parliament no longer functions, but its very absence has put an end to party bickerings, and through it, it is contended the country is being saved a great deal of valuable time and money.

So Dr. Ulmanis, the 55-ycar-old Premier-Dictator, is very popular. Son of a Latvian farmer, this lifelong friend of the Lettish peasants has laboured unceasingly to raise their economic aud cultural life to a higher level. Iu 1905 he incurred the Tsar’s displeasure for his active struggle for Latvian independence. First Prime Minister of an independent Latvia, Dr. Ulmanis has taken a leading part in Latvian politics ever since. And as a true son of the soil, he is also tlie author of most of the laws for the Improvement of Latvian agriculture and farming, which have come into force during the last 16 years.