Reception of Federalist Ideas in Lithuania (1918–1922)

Abstract

The article deals with the alternatives of the Lithuanian state established on the national basis after the First World War which have received little attention in the historiography. A prevailing historians’ opinion states that there was no alternative for the national state, and the whole Lithuanian community had a determination to build a national state, thus nobody was seriously inclined to create a federation with Poland or with any other neighbouring state.
The creation of ethno politic state was actually the climax of Lithuanian national movement, the result which crowned the whole process. Nevertheless, the movement was often treated by the southern neighbours of Lithuania as anti-Polish fanaticism rather than consistent development of the national idea. In Poland itself federalists were dominated by annexionists who controlled the parliament and were more successful in the military and political sphere. In general, the political practice was not favourable for the federalist ideas.
However, the above ideas had existed in Lithuania; plans to create Lithuania’s federation with Latvia or Poland were had been made. This article presents a more detailed analysis of the projects aimed at establishing federalist or any other close ties between Lithuania and Poland. Two stages of the spread of federalist ideas have been distinguished: the first is the development of the ideas until the announcement of the Lithuania – Poland conciliation project by the president of the League of Nations, Paul Hymans in spring, 1921, the second – the process of discussing this project and its rejection.
Lithuanian politicians had consultations regarding federal or confederate relations both with the representatives of Polish authorities and Polish political or social organizations in Vilnius when quite a few projects of confederate relations were discussed. The projects might have been used by P. Hymans while he was working on his plan. The second variant prepared by P. Hymans with the planned transfer of Vilnius to Lithuania and its defined confederate relations with Poland was approved by many influential Lithuanian politicians including the Prime Minister Kazys Grinius, ministers Ernestas Galvanauskas and Jonas Simkus. The project was supported by Tomas Narusevicius as well as many other famous Lithuanian diplomats who thought that it was the last chance for Lithuania to regain Vilnius through the mediation of Western democratic states.
The Hymans project was rejected due to the resistance of the political parties, the army as well as the policy of Soviet pressure. The specifics of the resistance mechanism have not been clarified yet and are to be studied.