Show Birth of f a New New Nation j May Be One Outgrowth of Conflict 3 a V T v ssi sis W l r. r v- v 1 i j- j jr T r I II Ii I i 1 i www r p r- r roS oS r S p 7 4 c 7 f r P I II I I I v ROSSI ENY j 7 T r TT I I V II I I t t. t T C 1 t tI v 4 Two important cities in territory Libau and Riga great harbor an and m map p indicating territory occupied wholly and in part by the Letts Latts Livonia ant and Courland 2 and 3 are arc occupied entirely by Letts Part of population of Esthonia 1 and Lithuania 4 arc are L Birth of or a new nation of or Pp or a a. to population greater than tl that t of Norway to be called will bo be ono one of the tho results of the world war If It the demands of ot the Letts Lett 0 of Livonia and Courland aro granted ranted Tho people living In the former n Ilus- Ilus Ian sian Baltic provinces pro aTe nie chafing under tinder domination forced upon them b by Prussian Prussian sian rifles titles and will plead for tor tho the rl right ht of ot self determination before peace congress that ends enels tho the war Letts predominate pro pro- dominate In Lionia and Courland and have a distinct lan language ua c and civilization civilian lItza tion wholly unlike those of ot the Es- Es The Lettis lan language H is closel closely re related related re- re to tho the ancient Aryan Anan an and Is re regarded regarded re- re hardell as Jos s one of oC the oldest of or European European Eu Eu- tongues It Is rich in folklore folklore folk tolk- lore and popular legends g. g theatres are aro maintained at Riga Libau and several of ot the other othor lar larger er cities Illes Tho The Letts boast man many novelists novel novel- hits playwrights artists and must musi clans clan and hold aloof aloot from the Get Ger- I Ger-I mans In n all the world worl tho the Letts number about Tho The territory in which Letts Letta predominate and which thc they Insist should be set et aside for fol them to govern 10 embraces Livonia and several dl districts In the western part pait of or th the Russian government government govern orn ment of Luzino Luzine and Tho The total population of ot this proposed government to be called L tt- tt land 1 is 2 GOO about 1 lest less than that of or T Denmark Tho The area of ot tho the propos proposed d f ta kilometers kilometers kilo kilo- meters which Is IR one fifth the size Ize of Ital Italy or Great Britain and 50 per cent larger lancer than either Switzerland or Den Den- mark I Letis Dominate Territories Tho Letts comprise 68 CS per cent of or the population of or tho the territory they thoy want to govern The Russians make makeup up 1 12 per cent of ot tho the inhabitants and tho the Germans 7 j per cent The remaining remaining remain remain- In ing population is chiefly J Jewish and cent of ot Polish Seventy seven per the Letts Lotte are arc Roman Homan Catholic Catholics and the I 1 Greek Catholics Sixty five per cent of or the Letta Lett residing In tho the proposed can read and write Riga Libau and the three Baltic sea soa Ports port embraced In the territory formerly handled h almost almo t one halt of or Russia's Russins total un- un ports port an and export trado and arc of prime commercial Importance It I Is the tho desire of ot Letts to have hn their Independence under an International international guarantee of or neutrality A national council has been organized to resist all movements to make aGerman ft a German principality out of ot Courland n nand and Livonia LI This council Is urging I that Russia's inability to defend the Baltic coast makes It Imperative that It should be protected by y International I action and kept kepl clear as a pathway pathway path path- way from tile west to the east |