That part of Lithuania under Prussian dominion enjoyed better treatment at first. The kings of Prussia favored and protected the people. A chair of Lithuanian language and literature was established at Konigsberg Uni versity. Since the days of Bismarck, however, thinks have changed; the Lithuanian language has been suppressed and the people have been with hut little effect. In the early stages of the European War the Russians overran the Lithuanian part of East Prussia, but the victory of Hindenburg in the Mazurian Lakes region led to the German invasion of the Baltic provinces, while the whole of the great Polish salient also fell to the Germans. Russia having alienated Lithuanian sympathies, the people welcomed the German invaders in 1915. While recognizing Lithuanian sovereignty in 1916, the German government would not acknowledge the independence of the country. During the war the general movement for liberation among the subject races of Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary revived the smoldering national sentiment of the Lithu anians. They formed a State Council and pressed their claims for independence and for political union with their half-brothers, the Letts. In 1916 they appealed to President Wilson for recognition of sovereignty, though the country was in German possession at the time. A con
vention of Lithuanian delegates assembled in Vilna in October 1917 and adopted a resolution demanding independence. At a similar gather ing in the same place that independence was proclaimed by the delegates in January 1918. On 23 March the council announced that it advocated apermanent relation of alliance with Germany. Four months later (July 1918) the Lithuanian bureau of information in Switzer land revealed that the council proposed to offer the crown of Lithuania to the Duke of Urach, a lineal descendant of the ancient Lithuanian dynasty and an officer in the German army. But already in March a convention of American Lithuanians held in New York had declared for a republic and advanced the territorial claims referred to above. The inspired Ger man press denied that the council had power to form a state without conforming to German interests. Early in May 1918 it was announced in the American press that a Lithuanian deputa tion had been received by President Wilson. The end of the war on 11 Nov. 1918 and the ensuing Peace Conference at Paris in marked the beginning of a new era for Lithu ania. There are said to be over 700,000 Lithu anians in the United States. See WAR, EURO PEAN.