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Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 November 1939, Page 5

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ACQUISITION OF VILNA BY LITHUANIA. MENACE TO INDEPENDENCE. The acquisition of Vilna by Lithuania might not be reason for unqualified rejoicing by Lithuanians, said Mr F. A. Voight, 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 they were threatened by the two great Powers nearby. Germany and Russia. It was inevitable that when those two Powers were going through a struggle, the Baltic countries were doomed. Russia had never wanted an 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. It 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 Io create a small Polish State, and that it would come under the joint control of Germany and Russia, with little independence. The price Lithuania must pay for what she had gained was the loss or a severe limitation of her independence.