Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1298

 1246 AZERBAIJAN — LITHUANIA

AZERBAIJAN.

In October, 1917, the peoples of Transcaucasia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia united to form a federation of republics under one Government, with a House of Representatives or Seim. Serious disagreement arose and the federation broke up, Azerbaijan declaring its independence on May 28, 1918. The National Council or Constituent Assembly formed a Govern- ment of twelve Ministers. The British Government recognised this Govern- ment as a de facto administration in January, 1920. In April, 1920, the Bolshevist party (the Azerbaijan Soviet Independent Republic) overthrew the existing Government and broke off all relations with the Entente and ' other enemies of Soviet Russia.'

It is claimed for Azerbaijan that it consists mainly of the two former Russian provinces of Baku and Yelisavetpol, and that as at present constituted the territory is bounded on the east by the Caspian Sea, on the north by Dagh- estan, Northern Caucasus and Georgia, on the west by Georgia and Armenia, on the south by Persia The area is stated to be about 40,000 square miles.

The population, based on defective Russian statistics is estimated at 4,615,000, comprising 3,482,000 Azerbaijan Mussulmans, 795,000 Armen- ians, 26,580 Georgians, the remainder being Russians, Germans, Jews, &c. The racial basis of the population are Turco-Tartars, who number about three millions. Mussulmans represent about 75 per cent, of the population.

The capital of Azerbaijan is Baku (population 250,000) the centre of the great petroleum industry.

In the budget for 1919 the revenue is given as 665,000,000 roubles ; ordinary expenditure, 415,000,000 roubles ; extraordinary expenditure, 250,000,000 roubles. The Azerbaijan Government admits its liability for a portion of the Russian debt.

One of the most important industries of Azerbaijan is the petroleum industry of which Baku is the centre. Other industries capable of develop- ment are cotton, sericulture, fisheries, voticulture, cereals, cattle breeding.

There are railways crossing the country westward and northward from Baku, and others under construction to the south-west.

Reference.

Statements of Claims with accoiiipaiiriiif,' documents, maps, Ac, presented by the Azerbaijan Peace Delegation to the Peace Conference at Paris.

LITHUANIA.

(LlETUVA.)

Lithuania became a Grand Duchy in the early part of the thirteenth cen- tury. In 1386 the Grand Ouke Jogaila embraced Christianity and married the Polish Queen Hedvig, thus becoming King of Poland. During the reign of Vytautas (Vitold) the Great (1392-1430) Lithuania reached the zenith of her power and prosperity, her frontiers extending from the Baltic to the Black Sea. After the death of Vytautas the Great, Polish influence gradually increased in Lithuania, and in 1569 the Lithuanians were forced to unite with the Poles at Lublin, the Lithuanians retaining their own treasury, laws, courts of justice, and army. Both countries elected the same king and had a common Seim (parliament).

At the end of the eighteenth century Lithuania shared the fate of Poland.