Tarp Kauno Lietuvos ir respublikos : Aleksandro Meysztowicziaus asmenybė

Abstract

Aleksander Meysztowicz (1864-1943) was with out any doubt one of the most interesting political personalities of the Polish conservative movement. His political activity was focused on the problems of the territory of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Before World War I, he was one of the most dynamic politicians from the western provinces of the Russian Empire, especially during the time when he served as a representative of the State Council. In the new post war reality, on 21 November 1921, Meysztowicz was appointed to the Provisional Commission of the Government of Central Lithuania, an office he held until the end of its existence (he resigned on 21 February 1922). Equipped with a high degree of authority, Meysztowicz, according to the plan of the authorities of the Second Common wealth, was responsible for the preparation and carrying out of the election to the parliament (Seimas) of Central Lithuania. At the same time he was trying to conduct an independent line of politics in accordance with his own political beliefs, frequently acting against the expectations of the ruling classes of the Polish State. An example of such actions might be the apprehension of a network of Lithuanian spies and saboteurs. The independence of Meysztowicz's actions resulted both from his strong character and his political views, based on his life experiences on solving the problem of the Polish-Lithuanian relations. He presented these views in the article "Zmarnowane okazje" ('Wasted Opportunities'), written just before taking the chair of the Provisional Commission of the Government, in which he revealed himself as both a dedicated supporter of the extension of the Commonwealth's authority over the territory of the Republic of Lithuania, as well as an opponent of the direct annexation of the Vilnius province to the territory of the Polish State.