Lithuania The cession of Memel to Germany, though accepted as
inevitable by public opinion in Lithuania, has brought about the resignation of the Mironas Cabinet and the formation of a Government of national concentration. Its most important features are that it contains members of the dissolved Oppo- sition, and four Generals, of whom one, General Chermius, is Prime Minister. Lithuania is in fact under the control of the Army, and of its leader, General Rastchikis, who has remained outside the Cabinet in order to concentrate on military problems. The new Government will not adopt a hostile attitude to Germany, as Lithuania's prosperity de- pends on maintaining satisfactory commercial relations with her ; it is believed that this is possible under the terms on which Memel was surrendered. But military preparedness is demanded by Lithuania's resolve to defend herself if attacked in the course of German aggression against Poland. Thus the neutrality proclaimed last year by Lithuania, as one of the Baltic States, does not preclude resistance to aggre- sion ; and its natural corollary, in present circumstances, is to pursue the closest co-operation with Poland—a strange reversal of the policy of eighteen years. It is thought that Lithuania will be supported in this attitude by her Baltic partners, Latvia and Estonia. Since Russia makes extensive use of the ports of these two States she has a direct interest in their independence.
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