It is a sad mark of our times that many nations. from the Balkans to the Baltic. have found themselves in a like position. too close to a powermad nation that would adopt any means to subvert adjoining nations to their particular brand of government and political control. It is for us in the Western World. especially in this country of ours. continually to call attention to the plight of so many millions of people not so fortunate as to enjoy the fruits of political freedom and independence with which. due in many ways to our geographical position. we have been blessed. Twentytwo years ago the Soviets. from Moscow. set about the consolidation of their conquest of the three free Baltic States through a policy of mass deportations to slavelabor camps in faraway Siberia of socalled antisocial elements within each nation. It was the Soviet intention to subject the remaining population to their own imperialistic control. and to allow them the most minimal degree of selfgovernment and autonomy within the monolithic Soviet state. But in following this course of action the Soviets forgot one extremely important factor: people have an inborn urge for freedom to live within societies of their own making. and to determine their own future under leadership of their own choosing.
Keywords matched
deportations