Kaip kito požiūris į Lenkiją : Lietuvos viešoji nuomonė 1920-1923 metais

Abstract

The article attempts to evaluate opportunities of reaching an agreement between these two states as well as the impact of Poland's actions on the attitudes of the Lithuanian society by taking into consideration the effects of the Lithuanian and Polish relations onto the Lithuanian public opin ion in 1920-1923. Poland was considered to be a source of resistance against social reorganization (first of all, against the land reform). The culture, and, first of all, the language was deemed to be the basis of national identity, whilst further polo nisation of Lithuanians was seen as a major threat to it. The political might of Poland was considered to pose the greatest threat, which led the antagonism to be shifted into the political sphere. Due to the circumstances mentioned, and because of the conflict about Vilnius, an extreme animosity to wards Poland dominated in the Lithuanian society even before the occupation of Vilnius on Octo ber 9, 1920. The way used by Poland to occupy Vilnius - a march of a "rebellious" army right after signing of the armistice in Suvalkai on October 7, 1920, contributed to the establishment of "an insidious Pole" stereotype - a foxy enemy seeking to suppress the statehood of Lithuania by dirty means. The reaction of the League of Nations to the actions of Poland greatly undermined the trust in the West and reinforced sympathies for the Soviet Russia. These factors contributed to the fact that both the bilateral negotiations through mediation of the League of Nations and Hymans' projects brought about an adversarial reaction of the Lithuanian society. The tension was escalated by the rivalry among parties for the laurel of the greatest project opponent. The wave of resistance against Hymans' projects actually left the government of Lithuania with no alternative of action. After annexation of Vilnius by Poland and recognition of the eastern Polish borders by the Conference of Ambassadors, the Lithuanian society was convinced that it was not worth expecting a favour able solution of the issue with the help of the League of Nations. In time, a great part of the society and the majority of political parties got involved into the search for common enemies of Poland. There were no opportunities to successfully realize the factor of "Central Lithuania" and to attract Lithuania into federation or to induce it to establish close relations with Poland. The military-political campaign of Poland was based on an entirely erroneous understanding: the power position (due to the moods prevalent in Lithuania) was not effective for influencing Lithuania towards the desirable direction. The campaign and the development of mutual relations had brought about completely opposite results which not only pushed Lithuania into the camp of adversaries but also distanced it away from the West and approximated it towards the East.