Klaipėdos problema Baltijos šalių santykiuose 1919-1939 metais

LTTarpukario laikotarpiu Klaipėdos likimas priklausė ne lik nuo teisėtos jos šeimininkės - Lietuvos - veiksmų, bet ir nuo tarptautinių aplinkybių, nuo užsienio valstybių pozicijos. Toms aplinkybėms susiklosčius palankiai, 1923 m. Lietuva prisijungė Klaipėdos kraštą, o 1939 m., joms susikomplikavus, jo neteko. Istorikai iki šiol daugiausia tyrinėjo didžiųjų valstybių - Prancūzijos, Anglijos, Vokietijos ir SSRS - požiūrį Į Klaipėdos problemą. Taip pat aptarta Lenkijos pozicija šiuo klausimu.1 Bet liko nepakankamai išaiškinta, kaip į Klaipėdos problemą reagavo Lietuvos šiaurinės kaimynės, bendro likimo sesės - Latvija ir Estija, taip pat Suomija, kaip ta problema veikė Baltijos šalių santykius. Tai ir mėginsime padaryti šiame straipsnyje, siekdami nustatyti, kiek anuomet Baltijos valstybės sugebėjo derinti savo užsienio politiką, padėti viena kitai sunkioje situacijoje ir ko iš tarpukario jos galėtų pasimokyti šiandien, plėtodamos tarpusavio ryšius ir politinį bendradarbiavimą. Labiausiai kreipsime dėmesį į Klaipėdai lemiamus 1923 metus [p. 18].

ENAfter the Treaty of Versailles, the resolution of the Klaipėda Question one way or the other depended to a large extent not only on the position taken on this matter by the Great Powers, but also on the policies of the smaller Baltic States. Finland, Estonia and Latvia approved Lithuania's annexation of Klaipėda in 1923. It was thought that after annexing Klaipėda, Lithuania would be unable to carry out any more provocations and that this example would suffice to prevent possible further German expansion in the region - a scenario which Estonia and Latvia particularly feared. The Baltic States sought to resolve the Klaipėda Question in Lithuania's favour primarily by diplomatic means. Seeing that one of the main stumbling blocks to Lithuania's gaining Klaipėda was the Polish desire to take over this region, in 1922 the Baltic states put pressure on Poland to relinquish her claims on Klaipėda in Lithuania's favour. Lithuanian diplomats failed to take advantage of such favourable conditions. Lithuania did not even inform her neighbours of the operation planned in Klaipėda. Latvia alone took direct part in Lithuania's action in Klaipėda in January 1923. Latvia not only allowed Lithuanian troops to cross her territory but also organised a large and effective force to support Lithuania. The position of the Baltic States on this matter changed little in later years. In 1925-26, Latvia, Estonia and Finland even proposed helping Lithuania maintain her control of the Klaipėda Region. This proposal was declined because in 1926 Lithuania signed a nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union. Economic rivalry between the ports of Klaipėda and Liepoja affected Lithuania's further relations with her Baltic neighbours, especially with Latvia. Nevertheless, following Hitler's rise to power in Germany, there was a noticeable improvement in relations between the Baltic States.In the secret clauses of the 1934 Baltic States' military treaty, Latvia and Estonia undertook to provide Lithuania with diplomatic support in the event of dispute over the Klaipėda Region. These countries supported Lithuania when relations with Germany deteriorated over this Question in 1934-35. Following the Munich Agreement of 1938, the Baltic States clearly altered their policy. Latvia and Estonia declared their neutrality and thus effectively changed their stance towards Lithuania.