Ernestas Galvanauskas tarptautiniame Klaipėdos ir Vilniaus problemų sūkuryje (1922 09 28-1924 06 10)

ENWhile Ernestas Galvanauskas was heading the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, the major concern of the Ministry was attaining recognition by diplomatic offices of the great European countries of Lithuanian jurisdiction of Vilnius and Klaipėda lands, important national historical and ethnographic territories. During the 1920-1922 period, Poland had seemingly legitimated the violent annexation of Vilnius lands to the territory of Poland, and made pretensions to the whole of Lithuania, basing their arguments on historical tradition. From April to June, 1921, Galvanauskas had to defend the territorial integrity and independence of Lithuania in Brussels, and in August - in Geneva, until the Hymans project to grant autonomy to Vilnius lands was finally rejected. On January 13, 1922, the Council of the United Nations defined the new demarcation line between Poland and Lithuania. Lithuania objected to such a decision until the Second World War. At the Genoa Conference, Galvanauskas made a declaration against the internationalization of the Nemunas River, and Poland’s claim to the Upper Nemunas. Galvanauskas succeeded in convincing the International Commission of Communication of the impossibility of free communication in the situation when diplomatic relations were non-existent between countries. At that time, Galvanauskas was the Head of the Government of Lithuania. Despite the fact that he did not hold the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs, he led delegations at international forums, and defended the interests of his country abroad. After being appointed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he continued to raise the issue of Vilnius lands independence at international organizations. Nevertheless, Galvanauskas focused all his political experience, energy and forces at the most important matter of the time - the recognition of the city of Klaipėda and Klaipėda lands as territory of Lithuania.Klaipėda lands, severed from Germany by the Versailles Agreement, did not revert to Lithuania. The decision was motivated by the situation that Lithuania had been recognized neither de facto, nor de jure. Nonetheless, even after the recognition of the Republic, the lands were still not officially transferred to Lithuania, and the French Commissar continued rule. Galvanauskas was assigned the job of assuring the return the lands to Lithuania. His extraordinary political talents were demonstrated during the resolution of this issue. The international situation was ripe for taking advantage. The Ruhr was occupied, and the attention of France and other countries were fixed on relations with Germany. Galvanauskas was able to exploit the aid of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Soviet Russian politicians, and proceeded to rally the people, who were dissatisfied with the occupying French administration. He dispatched volunteers from Lithuania to support the rebels of Klaipėda. This carefully planned revolt, enacted in January-February of 1923, met with the successful return of the territory to the Republic of Lithuania. Nonetheless, international diplomacy still refused recognition of the annexation of Klaipėda lands to Lithuania. Galvanauskas had to continue the defense of the interests of his country at the United Nations. By June 8, 1924, the Convention of Klaipėda Land, the Statute and the Port Status had been signed in Paris and the capitals of other powerful countries. Settlement of the issue of Klaipėda lands had taken Galvanauskas over a year’s effort. The territory, at long last, had become an autonomous part of Lithuania. During the term of Galvanauskas as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the international situation of Lithuania had grown stable. All the European, as well as Asian and South American, countries had recognized Lithuania.The Minister also granted a great deal of attention to cooperation between the Baltic Republics. The agreement regarding the casualties of war and elimination of Oberost money, and the agreement on trade were concluded. Later, these agreements served to revitalize trade between the Baltic countries, and the whole of Lithuanian foreign trade.

• Klaipėdos krašto užėmimas.. Acta historica universitatis Klaipedensis 1995, 4, 1923 metų sausio įvykiai Klaipėdoje, 35-40.
• Lietuvos Užatlantės diplomatija, 1918-1929 metais: santykių su JAV politiniai ir ekonominiai aspektai.. Vilnius, 1995. 184 p.