Stasio Lozoraičio politinė veikla dėl Lietuvos nedalomumo, taikos ir saugumo (1934 06 12-1938 12 05)

ENWhen Stasys Lozoraitis took over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following the sudden resignation by Zaunius, the primary concern of Europe and the world was the issue of war and peace. Lithuania faced the same issue. Lozoraitis was a keen observer of fluctuations in international politics. He started to steer Lithuanian diplomacy towards the political sphere of the most powerful West European countries. Thus, he hoped to ensure the security of a small country from aggression by one side or another. Movements of Nazi Germany seemed intimidating to Lithuania, as well as to Czechoslovakia, France, Belgium and Poland. Therefore, when Lozoraitis received a proposal to join the Eastern Pact, his answer was affirmative. In August 1934, Lozoraitis went to Moscow to include his consent for a regional treaty of cooperation among European nations. This treaty strengthened economic and cultural relations between the countries, provided considerable contribution to a greater and more effective clarification of the political environment, and aided coordination of common actions on the part of international organizations. Stasys Lozoraitis, together with other Lithuanian politicians, Klimas and Šaulys, and even officer of the armed forces, Raštikis issued declarations against a settled security system for Lithuania and continuation of strained relations with Poland. The expectations of Lozoraitis were to exact a reinforcement of the security of Lithuania and the other Baltic countries. He believed that improved relations with Poland, and newly established contacts, even on a consular, if not a diplomatic level, would serve to strengthen the security of the Baltic region and the solidarity of East and North Europe. He also assumed that a union of small countries could become a strong force of defense against their formidable and aggressive neighbors.He also assumed that a union of small countries could become a strong force of defense against their formidable and aggressive neighbors. According to Lozoraitis, improved relations with Poland would increase the international authority of Lithuania. The state of permanent conflict at the United Nations and other international institutions had generated discontent on the part of the political leaders of the major countries. Consequently, while Lozoraitis was acting as Minister of Foreign Affairs, continuous unofficial negotiations were pursued to discover common grounds of agreement with Poland. President Smetona, other members of the Government and certain politicians were impeding formation of good relations with Poland. The population supported such a position, because Lithuanians refused to reconcile with the occupation of their historical capital city of Vilnius, and the persecutions of Lithuanians by the Polish in Vilnija. Lozoraitis waited until March 17, 1938, when Poland delivered an ultimatum to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries. However relevant, this act, implemented in the form of an ultimatum, could not alter the political constellation during the eve of the Second World War. By his active participation in the United Nations, Lozoraitis was able to foresee the imperfection of the system, the helplessness international politics in influence, and the failure of the collective security system in preserving peace. Consequently, as of 1935, Lozoraitis began to turn his thinking to the concept of Lithuanian neutrality in the unavoidable war to come, already obvious by that time. In his opinion, the taking of a neutral stance would disassociate Lithuania from the coalitions and intrigues of the bigger countries, and thus, guarantee security and independence at home.By the end of 1935, Tallinn welcomed a meeting of experts from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Baltic countries for a drafting of neutrality laws according to the Scandinavian model. The drafting of such laws involved a great deal of time. By far the most complex management in foreign affairs for Lozoraitis proved to be the maneuvering of relations with Germany. German policy was unstable in respect to Lithuania because of the issue of the lands of Klaipėda. Failure to reach an agreement, and the spirit of insolence on the part of German politicians forced Stasys Lozoraitis to resign from his post at the end of 1938.

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