WIJ f 1181/- 1

p PHLET OFFICE in the present WORLD GRISIS

JUL 20 1942

Compiled by DB. ALFBED Bil.MANIS

Printed by Albert Becker Co. New York, 1941 Printed in U..A. Latvia In The Present World Crisis Where and What is Latvia ? Facts in Review

By DR. ALFRED BILMANIS Latvian Minister in Washington LOCATION· AREA· POPULATION· EDUCATION ' ·,·, , ECONOMIC LIFE · EMBLEMS ' · A Latvia, a democratic republic, the largest of the three Baltic ~ Republics, is situated between the other two, and I , and lies on the Eastern shores of the , where i f2 the chief routes of Western and Eastern meet. ("Baits" ~ in the means "white.") ~ ~ Latvia, with a territory larger than that of , Den­ mark, Holland, and , became independent on November 18, 1918. The Republic has been recognized de jure by all the other countries of the world. Latvia has four provinces: Kur­ zeme (), Zemgale (), (), and (Inflantes ). Kur-zeme means the land "zeme" inhabited by the Kurs ( cours) a Latvian seafaring tribe. Zem­ gale is the frontier "gals" with Lithuania. Vid-zeme the central "vid" part of the Latvian land "zeme." Latgale is the land where Latvia borders on . FRONTIERS, AREA, etc. The total length of the frontiers is 1,050 miles with a sea boundary of 307 miles. On land, Latvia is bounded by Estonia, Russia, , and Lithuania­ the routes to passing through this latter country. Lat­ via has an area of 25,402 square miles (as large as that of West Virginia) 29.2 per cent of which are forests (chiefly pine), 27.15 per cent arable land, and 25.2 per cent meadows and pasture. There are about 1,000 lakes and 500 rivers, the falls of which are used for power. RIVERS: , the Mississippi of Latvia, , ("big-river"), , and are all suit­ able for floating rafts and for internal navigation. The natural resources of the country are: amber, gypsum, chalk, clay, sulphur springs, mud for curative purposes, peat and bog-iron­ ore. About 2,000 various plants, among them many medicinal herbs, are to be found in Latvia. The soil is favorable for the cultivation of fruit, flax, and sugar-beets. The average tempera­ ture is 46 ° Fahrenheit; it is below freezing IO days of the year. POPULATION: about 2,000,000 i. ., 79 inhabitants to the square mile. The have cultivated their country for many thousands of years. The Latvians are not Slavs, but form a separate branch of the Indo-European family of nations together [ 1 1 with the , and their language is akin to Sanscrit. bricks, yarns, glass-ware, pottery, and china-ware, canned The Latvians, who are mostly Lutherans, possess about 240,000 fish, (sprots), candies, radio receivers, photographic cameras national , their own distinctive ornaments and a national and equipment, etc. The articles imported are: cotton, coal, costume, worn with a shawl. On an average they are fair artificial fertilizers, iron, rubber, , salt, automobiles, complexioned and reach the age of seventy. trucks, dried fruits, business machines, typewriters, tools, agri­ EDUCATION AND ARTS: School attendance is compulsory, cultural and industrial machinery. Shipping: In 1940 Latvia and English and German are the compulsory foreign languages had about 350,000 tons of ships. A Latvian-American Shipping taught, English being the of the Baltic Entente. Line was inaugurated in 1938. Latvia has an Institute for Historical Research, a University, TOWNS: , on the Daugava River, one of the oldest cities an Agricultural Academy, and Academy of Arts, and a Con­ on the Baltic Shores, founded before the twelfth century, has servatory of . The Latvians are good linguists, and they 350,000 inhabitants. It is the seat of the Catholic Metropolitan have their own distinguished painters, artists, and poets, as and the Lutheran Archbishop. It is the capital of well as an extensive literature. There are two Opera Houses, Latvia as well as her most important port, equipped with docks, in Riga and in Liepaja, and several theaters. The Opera House elevators and cold storage plants. It is also her commercial, in Riga has a permanent classical ballet. At intervals Singing industrial and cultural center. Riga is a modern town with Festivals are organized. The National Ligo, Mid-summer Night, beautiful parks and interesting historical buildings in her old Festival of songs and dances, is celebrated from June twenty­ streets. Modern hotels are available. Riga can be reached by second to the twenty-fifth. May first is the day when the Con­ car from every point of Europe. Air connection is maintained stituent Assembly met for the first time, and November with Stockholm and other European cities. The Cathedral of eighteenth is Independence Day. May fifteenth is the National St. Peter has the highest wooden steeple in the world. Day. Besides, there are children's sports and other festi­ vals, 's Day, Harvest Day, Day, "4-H" Club Liepaja (Libau), has 60,000 inhabitants and is the second contests and conventions, etc. Racial minorities enjoy cultural city in importance industrially and commercially. The well­ autonomy, and freedom of the press and of religion. known harbor, open all the year round, can be entered by the largest transatlantic steamers. The amber industry is centuries ECONOMIC LIFE: Owing to her geographical position Latvia old. There is a beautiful beach near Liepaja at Bernati. Good is a transit country. It granted full railway and harbor facili­ automobile roads connect the city with Riga. ties to Soviet Russia, who nevertheless did not use them, Soviet Russian traffic amounting to only 7 per cent of all the transit (Dunaburg, meaning , on the Daugava traffic in the best year. The majority of Latvia's population River) has 45,000 inhabitants and is the most important junc­ live by agriculture. Eighty-seven per cent of all the farms are tion in transit traffic with Soviet Russia, Poland, and the from 5 to 125 acres, and the farmers live in separate home­ . It is the center of the flax industry. steads. Great attention is paid to cattle-breeding and the culti­ vation of seeds and flax. Twelve per cent of the working (Mitau) has 30,000 inhabitants and a harbor on the population are engaged in industries, the main branches of Lielupe. It is the former capital of the Duchy of Courland and which are: metal working, chemical, radio, and textile indus­ Semigallia and is the center of the sugar industry. The Ducal tries, mechanical wood working and mineral working. The Palace, having 365 rooms, built by the famous architect, famous Minox camera, which is the world's smallest precision Rastrelli, is now the seat of the Academy of Agriculture. camera, is manufactured in Latvia and is a splendid example (Windau, meaning castle on the Venta River), of high quality Latvian workmanship. The chief articles of has 18,000 inhabitants; the harbor is ice-free all year round export are: timber, plywood, matchsplint, planks, boxboards, and accessible to transatlantic liners. It has the largest cold pulpwood, flax, twine, rayon, butter, bacon, eggs, cattle, seeds, storage plant and largest grain elevator in the world. Timber hides, liqueurs, fruit, rubbers, matches, paper, glue, cellulose, exports are extensive. [ 2] [ 3 ] Rezekne (Rositten) has 16,000 inhabitants and is the cultural deficit and in 1939 redeemed all her 6 per cent bonds in the center of South Latvia and has a large flax industry. of America. LATVIAN FLAG: Red (cherry )-white-red in the proportion of Kegums on the Daugava River near Riga, is the biggest hydraulic power station in . 2-1-2. LATVIAN : Tripartite Shield held by a red In Latvia there are fifty-seven towns with the right of self­ (left) and silver (right) crowned by three gold stars administration. (three re-united Latvian provinces: Kurzeme-Zemgale, Vidzeme, Health Resorts: Latvia, which is rightly called the Baltic and Latgale ). On the shield a rising golden sun on blue Riviera, has a great number of watering-places and health background for Latgale, a red lion on silver background for resorts that can be favorably compared to well-known foreign Kurzeme and Zemgale and a silver griffin on red background resorts because of their characteristic charm and the healthy for Vidzeme. Decorations : oak leaves and flags. The coat of climatic conditions prevailing. Latvia has fine fishing and arms is used on Latvian stamps. hunting. LATVIAN DECORATIONS: Civilian-Order of "The Three Stars" and "Order of Merit"; Military-"Order of King Wiesturs." Rigas ]urmala, , twenty minutes by train from Riga, shallow beach with pine woods. There are many hotels LATVIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM as translated by Rev. Dr. Geo. A. and boarding-houses. Simons, New York. , on the Gauja River, beautiful health spot, Livonian I. Bless Latvia, 0 God II. Our blooming Daughters Switzerland. Accommodation at the "Castle of newspapermen Our verdant native sod. near and authors." Where Baltic heroes trod, Our singing sons appear, Keep her from harm. May fortune smiling here Kemeri, near Riga, has State sulphur and mud baths. Finest Grace Latvia! and most modern hotel on the Baltic shore. It is surrounded by pine woods, three miles from sea-shore and there are bus and railway connections with Riga. POLITICAL - HISTORICAL BACKGROUND , near Riga, sulphur and mud baths. Hotels, board­ OF LATVIA ing-houses. Bus connection with Riga. Latvians, Lithuanians, and have inhabited the south-eastern shore of the Baltic Sea as organized State units WAYS AND MEANS OF COMMUNICATION: Latvia possesses a centuries before Christ. Even in pre-historical times they had fairly extensive system of railways as well as several airship, very close relations with the Scandinavian peoples. Like their steamer and motorbus services. In view of the widespread and kin the Lithuanians and their neighbors the Estonians, the steadily increasing motor traffic, very much is being done to Latvians are neither nor Slavs, nor are they Germanic, keep the highways in a good state of repair. A network of although they are tall and fair, with blue-gray eyes. The Lat­ telegraph and telephone lines stretches all over the country, vians and the Lithuanians speak languages of their own which and there are Post Offices in all the more important localities. are closely related to the ancient Sanskrit, being derived from .There are four radio stations: Riga, , Kuldiga, Liepaja. the same parent stock as the latter. The Estonians speak a language somewhat similar to Finnish. These sub-nordic CURRENCY: The Latvian monetary system is based on the Baltic peoples are of the Protestant and Roman-Catholic faiths gold franc and is pegged to the dollar and the pound sterling. and homogenously populate their countries, being pioneers of The unit is called the lat; it equals one gold franc and is divided this formerly uncultivated . The Latvians in par­ into 100 centims. The rates of exchange are: U. S. $1.00 equals ticular possessed a fairly highly developed technical civiliza­ 5.18 lats. One pound equals 25.22 lats. Latvia had no budget tion, were good agriculturalists, artisans, fishermen, and sea- [ 4] [ 5 ] men. The Historical Museum of Riga has rich material to Latvians and only about seven-hundred of them at the present prove this. live in the northern part of Kurzeme and enjoy full cultural autonomy. The intermarrying may soon bring the Livs of The Baltic peoples, from the twelfth century on, supplied Latvia to a complete extinction. England with timber, tar, and potash for her shipbuilding. Beginning with the second half of the twelfth century, German Upon being invested, the Archbishop-Prince promised in the merchants from Bremen and Luebeck, eager to obtain raw name of the to protect the Latvian princes whose superior materials, also landed on the shores of the Baltic, where they he became. Many sons of Latvian princes then traveled to purchased from the local peoples such commodities as honey, Rome for their education, and several became missionaries and flax, wax, dairy products, hides, furs, wool, and grain. German priests themselves. The foremost of these is Henricus de Lettis, historians claim that these German merchants "discovered" the well-known Latvian chronicler, who wrote the history of the Baltic countries. This hardly coincides with facts, for these 1 Latvia at the beginning of the thirteenth century. Baltic countries had extensive commercial relations with , England, and even the , as is testi­ l By the end of the thirteenth century all the lands of the Lat­ fied by the Roman author Tacitus. The also claim vians were united under the rule of the Archbishop. This union that they introduced culture into Latvia and founded Riga, the was called "", the Land of the Holy Virgin. The capital of Latvia, in 1201. Both these statements are far from police and military force of the Archbishop was the Livonian accurate. The Latvians had an ancient culture of their own, Order, a branch of the in . This Order and Riga, as it is evident from the Chronicle of Henricus de was fully subject to the Archbishop. The members or Knights Lettis, written in the thirteenth century, was a Latvian town of the Order were of different races, and a great number of the and port long before the Germans came and introduced Chris­ sons of the Latvian princes and seniores also entered the Order. tianity into the country. As a matter of fact a certain number of Celibacy being strictly enforced in the Order, these had been baptized by Scandinavian missionaries even Latvian nobles naturally left no descendants. At that time before the arrival of the Roman-Catholic missionaries who racial nationalism as it is understood today did not exist. Only came together with the German merchants. However, these suzerainty or political nationalism counted. Therefore it was Roman-Catholic missionaries were more active and used mili­ not necessary for the Knights of the to be only tary force, although the Latvians willingly adopted , of the German race. Even the Duke of Hereford, before ascend­ for it corresponded with their ethics and monotheistic philos­ ing the throne of England in 1399 as King Henry IV, was at­ ophy of life, as reflected in their folksongs. tached to the Livonian Order and was released by special Papal bull. The truth is that the in the year 1201 established the Bishopric of Riga with the consent of the Latvian kings and The Archbishop of Terra Mariana, or Livonia, as German princes: V esthard of Semigallia, Lamekin of Courland and historians prefer to call it, waged in the fifteenth and sixteenth ,Talivald of Livonia, who signed special agreements with the centuries cruel wars with the Muscovites who pushed toward Albert I-the first Bishop of Riga. In 1254, the second l the Baltic Sea and tried to seize the business of the Latvian and Bishop of Riga, also named Albert, the former Primate of Estonian Hanseatic cities. The Muscovites very often were Ireland, was invested by the supreme ruler of Europe, the badly defeated by the military forces of the Archbishopric, the Pope Innocent II, as Albert II, Archbishop-Prince of the lands Livonian Order and the Latvian militia, who always jointly of the newly baptized Latvians. The suzerainty of the Arch­ fought against the historical enemy, as, for example, in 1502 at bishopric embraced the princedoms of Kurzeme (Courland), Smolina, when the Czar of 's huge armies were com­ Zemgale (Semigallia), and Vidzeme (Livonia), so called by pletely annihiliated. German historians after the name of a small tribe, the Livs, in the vicinity of Riga. The Livs (Finnish fishermen from Kar­ The successes of the Livonian Order in these wars against jala) were gradually absorbed by the numerically stronger Moscow placed it in a predominant position as .regards the

['6] [ 7] I Archbishop. By the beginning of the sixteenth century the for help to the Protestant rulers of , who incidentally Holy See was sorely weakened by the Lutheran Reformation. were at war with Poland. King Gustavus Adolphus finally At the same time Latvian cities joined the , conquered Vidzeme (Livonia) and Riga, and the treaty became wealthier and therefore tried to gain greater inde­ was signed on September 15, 1621. Only the southeastern part pendence from the Archbishop. All this resulted in a civil of Vidzeme, the catholic Latgallia, also populated by Latvians, war between the Archbishop on one side and the Livonian but called by Inflantes, was left to Poland. Order and the cities on the other. Very soon the cities embraced . The Livonian Order openly conspired with for­ Owing to the fact that Poland, being engaged herself in a eign countries against its sovereign, the Archbishop. Gotthard deadly struggle with Moscow, lost the war with Sweden and Kettler, the last Master of the Order, first offered Livonia to the thus became weakened, the Duke of Courland and Semigallia German Emperor, Ferdinand I, in compensation for military continued to enjoy his semi-independent status. However, he aid against the Muscovites. When this was rejected by the did everything possible to free himself from Polish suzerainty. Emperor, who had no army at his disposal and was himself The Dukes of Courland and Semigallia negotiated treaties with rather a puppet of ambitious German princes, Kettler appealed Sweden, , Holland, , the Vatican, , and to the mighty King of Poland, Sigismund, and soon an agree­ England ( 1654 ). The Duke of Courland also proclaimed his ment was reached. The Master of the Livonian Order, Kettler, neutrality in the war between Russia, Poland and Sweden at proclaimed himself Gotthard I, Duke of Courland and Semi­ the beginning of the eighteenth century, thus preserving the gallia. He became vassal of the King of Poland, who by the independence of his country. Dynastic Union of 1386 signed between Poland and Lithuania, was also nominally Grand Duke of Lithuania. Kettler then The Duchy of Courland and Semigallia on the southern side dissolved the Livonian Order and permitted the knights to of the Daugava (or Duna, or Rubo) River, which is the core of marry and to keep the lands they held in fief. He himself present day Latvia, flourished under the rule of the Dukes of married the sister of the Cardinal Prince Radzivill, who carried the House of Kettler in the seventeenth and eighteenth cen­ on the negotiations on behalf of the King of Poland. The turies. One of the Dukes, Jacob, who ruled from 1642 to 1682, of Vidzeme (Livonia) was annexed by Poland, who developed shipbuilding and a great overseas trade. He took negotiated at that time also a complete union with Lithuania. of the island of Tobago at the beginning of 1654, The treaty with Duke was signed on November buying it from the Earl of Warwick. After England had reac­ 28, 1561. The complete or final Union of Poland and Lithuania quired title to the island of Tobago, the Latvian colonists were was signed in 1569. The of Poland and transferred from Tobago to New York at the end of the seven­ Lithuania, allied with the Duke of Courland and Semigallia, teenth century. was victorious in her war with Moscow ( 1582) and thus a new status was created on the shores of the Baltic Sea with The Latvian population of the province of Vidzeme (Livonia) the Commonwealth of Poland predominating. At that time the was rather happy under the rule of the Kings of Sweden, who Cathechism of St. Canisius was translated into the Latvian protected the Latvian peasants against the descendants of the language, and printed in 1585 in Wilno, the capital of Lithuania. knights of the dissolved Livonian Order, and did their best to A Latvian-Polish dictionary and other Latvian books were also promote. schools, organize courts and a good administration. published in Wilno at that time. The Bible was translated into the Latvian language (1685) thanks to the financial help of the Swedish Crown. The Kings After a while the Polish clergy in Vidzeme (Livonia) com­ of Sweden also began to take back the lands of the Archbishop menced a Roman-Catholic counter-reformation. The newly which had been illegally seized by the secularized knights. created Livonian nobles, the former knights of the Livonian The so-called Swedish "land-reduction" was the reason the Order, were afraid of losing their privileges and unjustly great landowners of Livonia once again betrayed their sov­ gained lands. Therefore, together with the cities, they appealed ereign, this time King XII of Sweden, in his war against [ B] [ 9] in the beginning of the eighteenth century, just gendarmes, but was bloodily suppressed. At any rate some as they had betrayed Poland in order to retain their lands. reforms followed. Czar Peter naturally promised these landowners that he In 1915 Czar II, by special decree, permitted the would maintain their privileges, and they therefore took his Latvians to organize their own military units in the war against side. The peace treaty of Nystadt signed between Sweden and Germany. This signified political autonomy. They fought brave­ victorious Russia on August 30, 1721 , guaranteed all privileges ly and lost more than 35,000. Aft~ the Soviet Russian revolu­ and lands owned at the time by the great landowners without tion on November 7, 1917, and after the perfidious Soviet Rus­ questioning their title. From that time the Baltic great land­ sian-German treaty of Brest-Litovsk, March 3, 1918, ceding the owners were the most devoted followers of the Czars and intro­ to Germany, the Latvians, like the Estonians, duced in Vidzeme ( Livonia) the most detestable serfdom for Lithuanians and Poles, proclaimed their independence, this the peasants, who revolted many times in the second half of time complete, from Soviet Russia. had already pro­ the eighteenth century. Even the Empress of Russia, Catherine claimed her independence on December 6, 1917. The Latvians II, was alarmed and herself visited Vidzeme. An investigation fought valiantly for their freedom against Bolsheviks and the was ordered, but the nobles succeeded in suppressing it in Germans, and received military support from England, France, Petersburg. and Poland. On November 18, 1918, the ancient Latvian red­ white-red flag of the twelfth century was once again hoisted The Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, however, continued over the castle of Riga, capital of Latvia, to symbolize Latvia's to be independent until the final partitioning of Poland in 1795. unity and independence. Peace treaties were signed "for At that time the Duchy was also annexed by Russian military eternity" with Germany and Soviet Russia in 1920, and soon forces. The local great landowners acquiesced to this annexa­ Latvia was recognized as a sovereign State by all the World. tion as Czar Paul had promised to grant them the same Secretary of State, Ch. E. Hughes, granted recognition to Latvia privileges as were enjoyed by their fellow peers in Vidzeme in 1922 on behalf of the United States of America. ( Livonia) . It is worth mentioning that Pulaski, famous in American history, was an officer of the Guards of Duke Charles of Courland. ( Son of August II King of Poland and Saxony.) Freedom of Baltic States and Poland - Guarantee Now all the Latvian inhabited provinces of Courland, Semi­ for Freedom of the Baltic Sea gallia, and Vidzeme ( Livonia), including Latgallia (Inflantes) , Latvia flourished as an independent state for twenty-two were united under the foreign rule of -the czars. The liberal years. Then, on August 23, 1939, Germany and Russia again ideas of the period following the French Revolution influenced signed a treaty at the expense of their neighbors. With the Czar I to liberate the Latvian peasants from bondage tacit consent of Germany, the Bolsheviks stabbed Poland in in 1804, although without granting them land. Their status the back during her war with Germany, assaulted Finland in became similar to that of the farmers in Ireland. However, a the most perfidious manner and by vile and brutally aggressive strong Latvian national movement soon arose, and the farmers action occupied the Baltic States on June 15-17, 1940. A reign organized cooperatives for the purpose of purchasing the land of horror was created by the Bolsheviks in Latvia. In less than from the Baltic barons. A Latvian press, schools, arts, music, a year's time more than 200,000 Latvians were killed, im­ letters, theaters, etc., testified to a vigorous trend for self-expres­ prisoned, or deported to by the Communists. Amongst sion. The Latvians would side neither with the numerically them was Dr. K. Ulmanis, President of the Republic, a former smaller Germans nor with the Russians, both of whom tried to professor of Lincoln University, Nebraska. Since June 22, 1941, cajole them with flattery and promises. During 1904-1905 a Germany and Soviet Russia are in a deadly war. The Baltic revolution again broke out against the barons and the czarist States became once more bloody battlefields. More dead, more [ lO] [ 11] destruction, more sufferings! The sole consolation is that the legal grounds-is the immortal American Declaration of Inde­ Bolsheviks were beaten and fled from Latvia: we hope they pendence. The fundamental principles of this great document are gone for ever and that the democracies will eventually be are as valid today as they were ·in 1776, and civilized progres­ victorious! sive human society now, as ever, can only be based on the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and .the pursuit of happiness. Latvia never agreed to Soviet annexation and, thank God, We cannot conceive of national life without: Family-life, Pri­ neither have the Great Democracies. Latvia desires only to be vate Property, Religion. We cannot conceive of International free and independent, to worship God, to enjoy the fruits of her Relations, of economical and cultural intercourse between own toil and to be left in peace. However, she will struggle nations without: International Justice and Law. There can be against all foreign military occupation, including German no existence for small nations or racial minorities until these occupation, until the attainment of complete and unconditional principles are generally accepted. And the big and powerful independence. countries will not enjoy the blessing of peace until a new order is founded on the basis of universal justice, voluntary Neither the Germans nor the Russians can have any preten­ cooperation and equal freedom for all mankinq. . sions to the Baltic States, historically or otherwise. Confirming this the German Government in the fall of 1939 even repatriated all persons of the German race from Latvia. VISION OF NEW EUROPE It is evident from the above expose that while Poland, the In the new Europe we envisage there will be less chauvinism, Baltic States and Finland are independent and united, struggles less unrestricted sovereignty, fewer tariff barriers and fewer between Germany and Russia over the domination of the Baltic monetary systems. We look forward to great freedom of trade Sea are impossible. Therefore in order that the Baltic Sea may for all nations. A great co-ordination of creative economic be free to all shipping, which is necessary for world trade, and and political forces, voluntarily grouped in natural regional to avoid repeated clashes between Germany and Russia, it is , will raise the standard of living throughout absolutely indispensable that Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, ­ Europe. The seas will be free and the crushing load of arma­ tonia, and Finland be reinstated as independent countries with ment expenses will be abolished, no armies will be needed, their pre-war sovereignty. They themselves will find means except police forces. Racial minorities will enjoy cultural au­ for closer collaboration among themselves. Latvia and the tonomy, free religion and will have the right to emigrate, and other Baltic Nations of Estonia and Lithuania have abundantly sufficient territories will be set aside or opened anew for de­ proved that they not only can exist economically, but that they sired exchanges of populations. In areas of mixed populations can prosper without outside assistance. They are nations special trustees will be established as administrators. V olun­ capable of self-government. and have always been ready to do tary adjustment and coordination upon the basis of humani­ their fair share and play their part in the concert of nations. tarian policy will save Europe in the demobilization period. Progressive labor laws and social legislation will establish peaceful and contented relations among all classes. The LATVIAN VIEWPOINT spectres of internal strife, the spectres of communism, anarchism and naziism will have been wiped out. There will be freedom The Latvian nation is well acquainted with the brutal methods to worship God! There will also be great possibilities for of unrestricted and barbaric force and oppression, and, as a American investments, large markets for American industrial numerically small nation, Latvia can only appeal to the public and farming products and opportunities for scientific and tech­ opinion and moral conscience of mankind. Latvia pleads on nical employment. the basis of law and justice, on the basis of moral rights and humanitarianism. It is well to remember that the first national This is the New Democratic and Cooperative Order of Europe declaration-pleading for the freedom of a nation on moral and that Latvia hopes for. The guarantors of this Normal Order of [ 12] [ 13 ] Europe will be the Great Democracies, who are now fighting and supporting the fight for this new order of human freedom and enterprise. In this great struggle there can be no appease­ ment. This struggle is more than a war between rival nations­ this is a holy crusade, against the destruction of the human spirit. This is a struggle of all that is good and fine, constructive and true in human life against all that is evil, cruel. and destructive. This struggle cannot- it will not-fail humanity.

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