Prof. Augustinas Voldemaras ir tarptautinis Lietuvos valstybingumo įteisinimo procesas (1918 11 11-1920 06 19)

ENProfessor Augustinas Voldemaras was one of the most famous founders and leaders of the re-established independence of Lithuania. He was born on April 16, 1883, in the Švenčionys district. In 1909, he graduated from the Faculty of History and Philology at St. Petersburg University. From 1914 to 1917, he worked in Italy and Sweden, thereby improving his professional skills. In 1917, he joined the political activities of Russian Lithuanians, and made firm declaration in support of full independence for Lithuania. In October of 1917, Voldemaras participated in the Congress of Russian Nations in Kiev. In 1918, he acted as representative of the Ukraine delegation in the peace negotiations between the RSFSR and Germany at Brest-Litovsk. Upon his return to Lithuania in 1918, he was appointed to the State Council of Lithuania on July 13. Voldemaras served as the leader of the first Cabinet of Ministers of Lithuania and as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from November 11, 1918 to December 26, 1918. He was also appointed Minister of National Defense for a time. Lithuanian foreign policy did not show distinct achievements during its early stage. Initially, the position of Lithuania had to be consolidated among European countries. Therefore, the concept of national diplomacy and direction of its activities needed to be defined. The first and most important strategic object of Lithuanian foreign policy was to gain international recognition of Lithuania and establish de jure status of its national borders. Augustinas Voldemaras possessed an intellectual superiority over his colleagues. For example, he was versed in 12 languages. His personal influence on the formation and implementation of the trends and stages in Lithuanian foreign policy was tremendous. 1st stage: from November to December, 1918. The characteristic feature of the period was the propaganda regarding the neutrality of Lithuania, and a secret orientation toward the States of Entente and the USA.Neutrality was the tactic of maneuvering between Germany and Entente. Augustinas Voldemaras was a rational and prudent leader. Irrespective of criticism, his delay in forming the Lithuanian Army was also a tactic, seeking retention of some, though fragile Lithuanian power, while being under German control. The concept of neutrality, and thus, a peaceful status of the country, conformed with the spirit of the world of that time. In 1919, the victors had organized the Peace Conference in Paris, and discussed eternal peace. Therefore, an official status of peace by Lithuania had to attract the attention of Western democracy. Gradually. Augustinas Voldemaras dissociated from Germany. Relations were broken with von Urach, the German king appointed to Lithuania. A demand was issued to Germany for recovery of damages to the inhabitants of Lithuania. And, Voldemaras seized the oppor tunity to favor the representatives of Entente. 2nd stage: from the end of December, 1918 to September, 1919. That was the period marked by the danger to Lithuania being threatened by Bolshevism, and the losses suffered as result of Polish aggression in Vilnius lands. Lithuanian diplomacy took a turn in replacing the idea of neutrality by one of armed resistance. A strict anti-Bolshevik position was deemed the best means to draw the attention of Entente and the USA in considering the State of Lithuania as being a barrier between Western civilization and Bolshevism. Furthermore, an anti-Bolshevik foreign policy enabled the national go vernment to receive financial, military and political support from the West. Moreover, the increasing political crisis in Germany weakened the impact on Lithuania by the German military. Such a situation generated conditions for organizing Lithuanian mili tary forces. Augustinas Voldemaras immediately seized the opportunity, when the crushed German Army was being pursued by the Red Army.The perspective for a struggle against the Bolsheviks in Lithuania instigated greater activity on the part of British, French and American diplomats in engaging contacts with Augustinas Vol demaras. After a series of meetings, Augustinas Voldemaras came to the conclusion that respectively, the Great Britain and the USA were in a position to provide the best political and economic support. A serious loss suffered as result of the battle against Bolsheviks was that Poland took power over Vilnius lands with an aim to annex Lithuania. Augustinas Voldemaras rea lized that an armed resistance on the part of Lithuania, consequent to a declaration of the resistance at an international level, held promise for greater support of Lithuanian political objectives by the Entente and the USA. It caused Western countries to pay attention to the aspirations of Lithuania. 3rd stage: from September, 1919 to June, 1920. The characteristic feature of the period was the clash of interests between Augustinas Voldemaras and other Lithuanian diplomats, seeking to gain international recognition of Lithuania. The tactics of some of the politicians had changed, due to the fact that Soviet Russia had began to interfere in the plans of Lithuanian diplomats with the proposal for beginning peace negotiations. Voldemaras had tended to retain contacts with the West; but such a position was contra dictory to potential negotiations with the Bolsheviks. Notable was a lack of political flexibility in the relationships of Voldemaras with the Latvians and Estonians. He was convinced that a revived Russia would make all efforts to regain Latvia and Estonia, along with their Baltic seaports. Thus, the grounds for unfriendly relations with Latvia were laid down. Despite his conviction, the negotiations on national borders between the Bolsheviks and the Latvians were progressing quite successfully. [...].