"Tipas apskritai labai dar įtariamas, bet reikalingas". Baronas Friedrichas von der Roppas ir Lietuvos valstybingumo atkūrimo planai

LTBarono Friedricho von der Roppo asmenybė ir veikla Pirmojo pasaulinio karo peripetijose susilaukė nevienareikšmio įvertinimo. Lenkų istorikai apibūdina jį kaip Pabaltijo demokratinių-liberalinių grupuočių atstovą, Sovietų Latvijos istorikai - kaip germanizatorių ir kolonizatorių „baronų" šalininką. Lietuviams, nors ir kaip karštai Juozas Gabrys tikino, kad baronas esąs tikras tėvynės patriotas, Roppas lieka vokiečių agentas. Po šveicarų ir lietuvių kilmės amerikiečio Alfredo Ericho Senno bei prancūzų istoriko Eberhardo Demmo tyrimų nekelia abejonių barono bendradarbiavimo su Vokietijos užsienio reikalų ministerija faktas. Tačiau Sennui tokie Roppo ryšiai neatrodo problemiški, Demmas abejoja, ar jis buvo tik aklas Reicho specialiųjų žinybų įrankis. Straipsnyje verifikuojant aukščiau įvardytus teiginius mėginama įvertinti Roppo veiklą atkuriant Lietuvos valstybingumą [p. 321].

ENThis article, verifying the widespread opinion in historiography (Ropp as an agent of the German Foreign Ministry), tries to evaluate Ropp's activity in restoring the statehood of Lithuania. It is doubtless that his origins (October 21, 1879-February 21, 1964), his studies in Germany, working in the colonies of the Reich facilitated a wide range of connections. The most significant was his acquaintanceship and later co-operation with Albert Ballin, director geheral of the Hamburg-America Shipping Company, who was closely related to Wilhelm II and was especially influential at Wilhelmsstrasse. Ropp's co-operation with the German Foreign Ministry should certainly be evaluated within this context. Ca. 1916 the baron became actively involved in creating a league of nations enslaved by Russia, because the Russian policy of the Reich provided conditions for it. Under the auspices of this league he contacted Lithuanians in Lithuania and Switzerland (Juozas Gabrys). From the end of 1916 Ropp directed his efforts to realise plans for a limited autonomy of Lithuania in alliance with Germany. In order to achieve this goal, he tried to establish a party in Lithuania which would represent all the social strata and support such a plan. Ropp especially tried to win support among the upper class of Lithuania and seek opportunities for compromise to co-operate with the Lithuanian Council. When he failed in his efforts, in October-November, 1918 he tried to take the initiative into his hands to organise a Lithuanian government. The conflict with the Council became more and more serious. In 1919 Ropp found an ally in Juozas Gabrys. But neither French support, nor their contacts with the supporters of Bermondt provided the expected results. On the contrary, owing to them the baron completely lost the confidence of Lithuanian society.