ultimatum to Lithuania in 1938 Lithuania since independence, for many years preached the theory of war with the Polish and persistently declared that the territorial pretension to Vilnius, including Vilnius. Hostile two decades, however, had also its bizarre finale. Following the border incident, during which a soldier was killed KOP Stanislaus Serafin, the Polish Government edited the 17 March 1938. could become the ultimate note, which stated that for just settlement of the corresponding gravity of the situation is considered an immediate establishment of normal relations without any preconditions ". The answer was to be given within 48 hours. Otherwise, how was the next question: "the Polish government's own agents protect the legitimate interests of his country." note was immediately transferred to the Lithuanian side through the Polish embassy in Tallinn.
Between the Lithuanian state consolidated and crystallized the Lithuanian nation became a reality. In Lithuania, brought up a new generation of citizens, grown in isolation from any connection with the Polish state and its culture. During two decades, small and not preconceived breakaway group of activists has become rich in experience and established in its ideological basis, a large layer of governing and management. The concept of Lithuanian statehood based on the integration of society by fanning in the Polish threat.
Consequently, both countries does not maintain diplomatic relations with each other, and the closed border was the site of ongoing incidents. Between the Polish and Lithuanian transport was not personal, commercial, did not operate a post office and telephone communications. Meanwhile - ironically, the Lithuanian state was established and cemented only because of the political stabilization in the interwar period in Central and Eastern Europe, this was just hated by the establishment of Lithuania Poland.
pursuit of detente
conflict between the two countries rarely completely total, especially those that shared a 600-year tradition of the national community. Despite the official hostility, attempts are still relaxed, and even some of the Lithuanian elite seek to come closer to Polish. In his work Peter has collected detailed traces Łossowski official talks, confidential initiatives, all comparative surveys and projects designed to alleviate the dispute between the Polish and Lithuania, and even the normalization of relations. This was really a lot. The Stanislaus Swianiewicz (see: S. Swianiewicz, In Memory of Victor Sukiennickim, "Historical Papers, No. 63, Paris 1983, p. 61) mentions kidnapping by the police and the Polish edition of a certain Łukszy Lithuania, which is a Lithuanian, a social democrat, a political exile, and also accused of involvement in the assassination of Prime Minister Voldemaras . Łuksza border cut his wrists, but soon established his bandages, and that state police handed him the Lithuanian. This happened in the summer of 1937, so in the period of deep depression in their relationship, during the term decreed by the Minister Beck "hard-line" to Kaunas, which disclosure was the result of the assistance which the Lithuanian government gave irredencie Ukrainian in Poland, namely Pieracki killers.
Since 1929, discussions took place, Polish-Lithuanian, but they were kept secret. Participated in them: the foreign ministers - Lozoraitis and Beck, a friend of Pilsudski Prystor Alexander, a relative of the Marshal and a citizen of Lithuania Vladimir Zubow, trusted Lozoraitisa Kazimierz Narutowicz (nephew of the assassinated President of the Republic). Poland in these conversations (especially intensified in the era of the German threat after Hitler came to power) has proposed the establishment of diplomatic relations and the conclusion of a cooperation agreement. She also had to provide guarantees for the borders of Lithuania, which had to be relevant in the face of German wiles of Klaipeda. Poles also suggested that the sensitive issues of Vilnius to find a way out by giving Vilnius autonomy and full opening of the Polish-Lithuanian border.
In February 1937, chaired by Francis Charwata (future Polish ambassador in Kaunas) went to Gdansk, the Polish delegation for talks with the Lithuanians. The encounter did not happen. Despite the undeniable commonality of interests and many contacts unofficial, it was still not normalized relations. Setting President Antanas Smetony seemed to suggest that progress towards normalization, will not be possible if Poland does not use some form of pressure on Lithuania (see: R. Szeremietiew, Politics is the art of possibility Volume II, published by daybreak, Warsaw 1989 , pages 83-84).
In the publications of some Lithuanian authors even included a claim that the whole thing is connected with the crisis of March 1938 was a pre-contrived, because the Lithuanian government gave Warsaw to understand Polish it will accept an ultimatum. It was for him, even desirable, because they do not seen any other way to end the conflict, and because of the mood of the Lithuanian society. This question has not been fully explained and is not fully substantiated by Polish sources. One thing we can say that by sending their request to Kaunas, Beck was almost sure that they are adopted.
Ultimatum
March 17, 1938, the Polish government sent to Lithuania 48-hour ultimatum for the immediate establishment of diplomatic relations without any preconditions. Accreditation of representatives of Kaunas and Warsaw was to take place by 31 March 1938 In the state of combat readiness garrison regiments were left Vilnius and other garrisons near the Lithuanian border. From the depths of the country began arriving in the new entity. In many cities, organized vigils and demonstrations in antylitewskimi slogans.
One of them carried out in Warsaw, remembers Col. Mitkiewicz Leon, who later became military attache in Kaunas: "Crowd flooded the entire Avenue Ujazdowskie Nowowiejska from the street corner to near the Belvedere Palace. Before the building GISZ-u have set up banners and stood all the leaders of the demonstrations. The same loud cheers were repeated without a break: We want to Lithuania!, Chief, lead us to Kaunas! At one point, the utter darkness, illuminated by spotlights in the balcony, appeared Rydz Śmigły-Marshal, accompanied by several officers, solemnly greeted the national anthem and shouting: "Long live Marshal Smigly us! (...)".
Prof. Łossowski draws attention to the fact that these manifestations in a large extent, have been staged and that among the majority of the participants there was no real hostility to the Lithuanians. Looking at the modesty of Polish demands, despite overwhelming military superiority (the ratio of forces of 1:10), can probably assume that, in fact, no one in Poland, it was not a "march of Kaunas."
Meanwhile, the first news that the Lithuanian government is inclined to agree, came to Warsaw as early as 18 March. The official response was received on March 19 in the morning, for 10 hours before the deadline for the ultimatum. On the same day by an exchange of notes diplomatic in Tallinn, where the two governments announced the establishment of its representative offices in Warsaw and Kaunas on 31 March.
importance of standardization
The relationships between the Polish-Lithuanian relations, thus opening up an entirely new period. Traveling to Kaunas as a military attache, Colonel Leon Mitkiewicz received from his superior, the head of Division II of the General Staff, Col. . Tadeusz Pelczynski , the following guidelines: "We are very keen on the idea of \u200b\u200bLithuanians, senior commanders and staff members Lithuanian, that we do not intend in any way czychać their independent state, or threaten the independence of Lithuania, on the contrary, we respect and independence, and independence of Lithuania completely that we have with Lithuania as the best of relationships and that only back to Lithuania for Poland could guarantee its independence " .
Since the accreditation of members, the Polish Foreign Ministry has consistently, step by step, work towards a real normalization of relations. decided to begin work on the regulation of the most elementary issues in the relationship between the two countries. Since the restoration: the railway and road transport, postal and telephone communications. This goal was dedicated to the Polish-Lithuanian conference in California, which took place back in March 1938. The agreement in California created the possibility of further negotiations in Warsaw and Kaunas, which led to the signing in May of 1938, agreements on the overall communications post and rail traffic, as well as navigation and floating of the Niemen. What the former for many years failed to reach, now settled in a few months. This meant primarily to facilitate massive to the public. Finally became possible to a normal exchange of correspondence between the Polish and Lithuania. Opened up the prospect of mutual visits, to contact the family after many years.
In July 1938, it was the matter of economic relations. For the special delegation arrived in Warsaw Lithuanian. The Polish authorities have asked, however, that despite the conclusion of the Convention, the press and social factors Lithuania would not adapt to new forms, often attacking the Polish Government and while trying to keep the public in the Lithuanian state power against the Polish. It was not until the autumn came the breakthrough. The Lithuanian government has decided to include time to solve Liberation Union of Vilnius, and it amended the current attitude of the press. These signs of goodwill on the part of Lithuania is also allowed to relax from the Polish side. 22 December 1938. trade agreement was signed, normalizing economic relations with two countries.
Cooperation Polish - Lithuanian increasingly expanded, taking in new areas and leading to further contacts. For example, have been agreed internships Polish officers in Lithuania and Lithuanian in Poland. Progress could also be seen in the broader field of cultural cooperation. Everything clearly tended toward improvement, but, unfortunately, the months of standardization were numbered. In September 1939, Lithuania, despite strong pressures in Germany strongly guarded its neutrality. If it was, our frightfully long front rozciągnąłby a further 507 km, along the border with that country. Yet neutrality helped to unscrew the four divisions that could be exempt from Vilnius and point guard on the front.
normalization period the Polish - Lithuanian was short-lived - less than half of the year. Although at that time a lot has changed for the better, and followed by further improvement - it did not manage to overcome all the injuries, hostility and prejudice, have accumulated over the years. While they last into the background, there were no longer so openly - but there were more. There was particularly a fundamental breakthrough in the attitude and psyche of the Lithuanian society towards Poland and Polish people. They were soon to confirm the growing Accidents during the war.
Marie A. Roman
[On the pictures: Border Polish - Lithuanian after normalization of bilateral relations, anti Demonstration in Vilnius, Lithuania; Infantry Training Centre in Rembertow - First meeting of the Lithuanian Supreme Commander Gen. Stasys Raštikisa with the Polish army].
