LIETUVOS POLITINIŲ PARTIJŲ POŽIŪRIS Į LENKIJĄ 1920–1926 METAIS: NUO MODUS VIVENDI PAIEŠKŲIKI NUOLATINĖS KONFRONTACIJOS
THE POSITION OF LITHUANIAN RARTIES TOWARDS POLAND IN 1920–1926: FROM MODUS VIVENDI TO RERMANENT CONFRONTATION

Summary/Abstract: In the end of the First World War Lithuanian (having just regained Independence) international position was badly complicated by a terror conflict with Poland with respect to Vilnius that took place in 1919. However, despite the hostility to Poland entrenched in society, the leaders of political parties who envisioned greatest danger to the state’s independence from Soviet Russia and Germany actively sought for pacific means of resuming historical capital of the state and for ways of friendly affiliation of interstate relations. Modus vivendi appropriate for Poland and Lithuania was sought with mediation of League of Nations and great Western states in 1921 by the leaders of governing Cchristian Democrats and Union of Peasants parties. They were in favour of the second variant of Hymans’ project but only agreed to accept it on condition that League of Nations will take into account contra-suggestions of Lithuanian Government which reduce Poland’s influence in domestic life. Having approved the project there were hopes not only to regain the capital, to start economic relations useful for both countries but also to receive support from great Western states which was vital for Lithuania as for other Bbaltic states in seeking to protect from eventual threat of Soviet Russia and Germany.The propagandistic campaign by Lithuanian National Union and Social Democrats that caused general tension in the country, society’s and force structures’ discontent of the Government and also governing political parties’ inability to resist the pressure reflected lack of civic consciousness and inner political consolidation in the state starting its first steps of democracy.The political parties’ goal to use the problem of relationship with Poland in the fight and in such a way obtain as great support from society as possible, reduced the possibilities to solve interstate conflict to even higher extent. Aas Ccopenhagen negotiations in 1925 autumn illustrated, Cchristian Democrats’ attempt to reduce the tension between two small countries by starting economic relations of narrow nature was accepted with strong hostility by opposing Union of Peasants and National Unit Parties as well as by the majority of society supporting them. However the attitude of Cristian Democrats that it is possible to launch economic relationships with Poland and Social Democrats’ belief that it is even crucial to do that which were regarded as a first step in resuming Vilnius in fact reflected that the leaders of the parties had enough rational reasoning as well as mature attitude to international relations.Unsuccessful attempts to regulate the conflict with Poland in a pacific way and to regain the historical capital made the leaders of state’s political parties choose the state of permanent confrontation with Poland and to seek support in order to ensure safe existence of the state in the Soviet Union and Germany.

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