In addition. great strides were made in improving agriculture. industrialization progressed. Lithuanian literature flourished. and achievements were made in opera and music. In 1940. however. the Russians. in violation of a peace treaty. declared Lithuania a constituent Republic of the U.S.S.R. Since that time. the Lithuanians have been denied their sovereign rights as a free people. many thousands have been deported to Siberia. and thousands have been brutally murdered. Despite these hardships and atrocities. these courageous people have never given up the fight for the freedom that once was theirs. So today. on this solemn occasion. let us hope that their valor will soon have its just reward in liberty.
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deported