Salt Lake Tribune | 1919-09-15 | Page 4 | Baltic States Officials Meet

imsfir HNS fffi Conclusion of Triple Alliance Alli-ance Purpose of Gathering Gather-ing in Riga. By ARTHUR E. MANN. (Chicago Tribune Cable, Copyright.) RIGA, Sept. 10. Via London, Sept. 14. The three-day conCerence of officials of the " 'Baltic states began here 'today with the object of concluding a triple alliance between Esthonia, Letvia and Lithuania. The premiers and foreign ministers of the three countries and some of their military advisers are participating partici-pating in the meetings.' The questions to be discussed are common com-mon military action against the Bolshe-viki Bolshe-viki or any other onemy who may attack at-tack them, postal, railway and customs conventions, and unified diplomatic policy toward tlie allied natiuns, Germany and non-Bolshevik Russia. Finland was invited to send delegates to the conference, but she has not yet done so, as her government has not yet made up its mind whether to join the , Scandinavian or Baltic group. It is prob- i able that later on Poland will be asked . to join the Baltic alliance. The position of Lithuania in the contemplated con-templated alliance is as yet difficult, as the Poles still occupy her capital, Vilna, while Germans occupy the territory and control tlie railways of a considerable area between Letvia and Lithuania, i Tentative plans contemplate periodical meetings of the premiers, foreign ministers min-isters and military "leaders of tlie three countries after the alliance has been concluded con-cluded to keep thoroughly in accord on fnre'gn and domestic policies affecting all three nations. The purpose of thc'propnsed alliance is to ptrngt hen tlie military and political posit'on of the Baltic states by presenting a united front against any attempt, on the part of foreign countries to. infringe en their political er economic independence. indepen-dence. Formation of such alliance may have material influence in preventing tlie con tempi p. ted Gcritvui economic domination domina-tion of RuBs:an and strengthening opposition oppo-sition to tho spread of Bolshevism westward.