Messages from emigrant newspapers show that the situation in 1917 It was unenviable in Lithuania, it was told in the LRT RADIO program "Diary of Independence". "Keleivis" published in Boston quoted the revocation of the commission for Lithuanian affairs established in Warsaw: "Of all the countries covered by the fire of war, Lithuania found itself in the worst situation, and especially Vilnius, which is located close to the war front and where many soldiers are gathered. […] The portions of bread in Vilnius have been completely reduced and neither potatoes, nor groats, nor flour are given anymore. It's not a famine, it's just the death of people."
The Council of Lithuania begins its activities
"Vilnius. The Lithuanian Conference [...] finished its meetings. Only on that last day did it finalize the list of members of the Council of Lithuania, which is now approved by the German occupation authorities. […] At the end of the meetings, the issue of Lithuanian signs and national colors was raised. The conference was closed with a raised, joyful whoop. Almost all the discussed questions were decided with extraordinary unity, one could say with one voice", - in 1917. "Lietuvos Aidas" reported in the news column.
First of all, as a body sanctioned by the occupation authorities, the Council of Lithuania presented the decisions of the conference and the members of the Council themselves introduced themselves to the head of the Lithuanian military authority, Colonel Franz Jozef Izenburg-Birštein. The Council of Lithuania itself had to be formally approved by the occupation authorities. During the meeting, on behalf of the Council of Lithuania, Dr. Jonas Basanavičius read a letter in German and Lithuanian, addressed to the Eastern Commander-in-Chief, General Field Marshal Prince Leopold of Bavaria.
The letter printed in "Lietuvos aide" reads:
"We thank your royal majesty for allowing Lithuanian public figures from all parts of Lithuania to gather in their old capital and discuss the future of their nation and its homeland during this difficult time of war.
After the Lithuanian nation ceased to exist as a state and after a long time came under foreign rule, it seems that the time that has been waiting for more than one generation has finally arrived, when Lithuanians hope, straining all their forces, to rebuild the state of Lithuania from a new national foundation...
We ask Your Royal Highness to approve the Regional Council made up of all sections of society and to give it rights so that it can take care of the reconstruction of Lithuania already during the war."
FJ Izenburgas-Biršteinas read the very formal answer of the Bavarian prince, which did not really promise anything to Lithuania and was limited to general phrases: "Prince Leopold calls for this purpose the Council of Lithuania, which, under the leadership of the Military Government, will have to consider the foundations of the future government and economy of Lithuania. Lithuania must turn into a country of culture, where all its inhabitants are allowed to live and develop as Lithuanians while protecting the identity of Lithuanians."
The Lithuanian Congress, fully understanding the ambiguity of its position, among other documents, trying to raise the question of the fate of Lithuania to the international level, sent a telegram to the Holy Father: "We, representatives of all areas of Lithuania and various castes [...] have gathered [...] to consult about the sufferings of the current war and the independent future of our nation, using this lovely opportunity to express our sincere thanks to Your Holiness for the appointment of a day to collect donations for war-weary Lithuania throughout the Catholic world, and also for the fatherly offer to the warring states of peace, which we all long for and through which we hope to regain the political rights of our people, With your Holiness powerfully interceding for us, we most humbly pray for the blessing of our works."
The main challenge is that Lithuania will have a future only together with Germany
All the newspapers published in Lithuania at that time reported on the formation of the Lithuanian Council and the actions of the occupying authorities in approving it. In the article "Establishment of the Lithuanian Land Council", the Lithuanian-language newspaper "Dabartis" of the occupation government writes: "A free meeting of 200 leading Lithuanians, who have a good name in Lithuania, in Vilnius, at the Lithuanian capital established by Gediminas, on the 21 this month elected the recently authorized representation of the Lithuanian region of the Eastern Commander-in-Chief; it is made up of 20 Lithuanian parties."
In addition to the official announcement, the same article prints, as we would say today, the word of the editor, in which, in addition to many pathetic twists, the main message of the occupying power is strongly heard - only together with Germany, Lithuania will have a future.
"It seems that the Nemunas and Neris waters are roaring; the winds blow through the mounds around Kaunas and Vilnius; through the ancient holy places in Vilnius, in Trakai ir Beautiful. The voice of God greets Lithuania: "Lithuania, you are now blessed with a new blessing!"
Times are still important and difficult. The enemies do not yet see that Germany is under God's protection. War still holds its strong hand. In a difficult situation, Germany admitted that Lithuania is worthy of trust for joint work. Now the Lithuanians will be able to announce their worries and wishes about the future to the German authorities through the men of their nation...
Trust between Germans and Lithuanians will lead to mutual understanding and will allow it to grow and strengthen. Lithuanians will see who is protecting them, both now and in the future. May the establishment and operation of the Lithuanian Land Council lay the foundation for the development of the prosperity of the Lithuanian people and the land, may it successfully bring about the growth of strong trust between Lithuanians and Germans, which will withstand all kinds of storms."
Wilnauer Zeitung, published in German, pays a lot of attention to the certificates of the members of the Council of Lithuania themselves: "The two-sided certificate was beautifully printed by the Zeitung der 10 Armee printing house. The text is surrounded by black borders, artistically decorated with arabesques. Coats of arms are printed in the upper corners, the Lithuanian vytis on the left, the German Reich eagle on the right."
However, the most important decision of the conference is that the future of Lithuania and its relations with Germany will be decided by the Constituent Assembly elected by all Lithuanian residents. Seimas. September 23 The Council of Lithuania elected a presidium, whose members were Antanas Smetona, Steponas Kairys, Ričardas Mironas, Jurgis Šaulys and Petras Klimas.
The situation in Lithuania is changing
Lithuanian newspaper "Išeivių draugas" published in Scotland writes about the fact that the situation of Lithuania is changing and its affairs are getting more and more attention in the international space. The article "Autonomy for Lithuania" briefly but accurately defines the ways of solving Lithuania's future:
"Russian Minister of Overseas Affairs Tereshchenko announced that Russia is ready to recognize Finland's [...] independence and Lithuania's broad autonomy. Berods, it is too late to talk about Russian grace; Today, the fate of Lithuania lies more with the Germans than with the Russians, because the Germans have all of Lithuania under their control.
One way or another, both the Russians and the Germans talked about Lithuania, so the point is that after the war, Lithuania will feel freer than it was before the war."
Almost at the same time as in Lithuania, a session of the Seimas of the so-called Curonian Spit, one might say, present-day Latvia, took place (the Curonian Council elected it for relations with the German occupation authorities). The members of the Curonian Seimas, most of whom were German landowners, are much more loyal to the occupiers and associate the future of Curonian Spit only with Germany. The appeal of the Seimas to the Prince of Bavaria is presented by all newspapers.
"Lietuvos Aidas" reports in its September 28 issue: "For the first time on September 18 the assembled Curonian Seimas in its ceremonial meeting in the Mintauja Palace... decided to expand the representation and sent the following letter to Prince Leopold of Bavaria:
We, on behalf of the people of Curonian Spit, pray for the protection and defense of His Majesty the German Kaiser and the mighty German state. With full confidence we place our destiny in the hands of His Majesty and his appointed authority. We want to work together with her now to rebuild the Curonian Spit. Please allow the Council elected from among us from all classes and occupations to work together, renewing the historical arrangement and management of the land for the well-being of our beloved homeland."
Russia is facing increasing difficulties
Today, 100 years after the war, it is difficult for us to imagine what a terrible thing that Great War, which we are used to calling the First World War, was. Perhaps the numbers published in the Boston-based Lithuanian newspaper "Keleivis" will help you better imagine the thought of global slaughter: "It is reported from London that in one week [...] the British army lost 27 soldiers and officers."
The situation in Russia is in the center of attention of the whole world. Famine, poverty, the turmoil of the war and the February Revolution, the country is facing more and more difficulties. Failures on the fronts and internal turmoil are worrying not only Russia's enemies, but also its military allies. At the end of September, the Germans successfully attacked in Latvia and occupied Jakobštāt (that's how Jūrmala was called in those days) and threatened an attack on Daugavpils.
"Išeivius friend" writes: "When the Germans take Dvinska, the Russians will swear to run headlong on the entire front from Riga to the Black Sea, leaving Romania to the Germans. [...] No matter how you look at it - dark days for Russia."
Not only the situation at the fronts, but also the internal situation is surprising. The mess can be judged from several facts published in the same newspaper:
"Much land was left empty, unsown, large estates and lives destroyed, looted, burned or abandoned. In many places, the workers, incited by the agitators, abandoned their work and took from the ready-made goods until they ran out. […] Again the biggest trouble with delivery, communication. There is a lack of wagons, servants, and above all, order and order. […] It is not uncommon for one city to be full of all kinds of edible things, the prices are very cheap, and next to it, a few tens of doors away, the prices are inhuman […] real hunger. The Pairus army pushes things even further into disarray. Because a soldier in uniform is now a bigger gentleman everywhere than a general used to be. […] Wagons of deserters and soldiers are crowded everywhere on the railways, they don't know where and to whom."
"Dziennik Wilenski" presents the impressions of an Englishman who visited Moscow: "The city is full of deserters and soldiers from the front who came here to 'rest'." Most of the factories are not working. Workers demand such compensation that entrepreneurs are at risk of bankruptcy. Even the homes of rich people have been denied servants. […] A thriving nightlife and plenty of entertainment. The precious year is unimaginable. Especially high food prices."
The severity of Russia's economic situation forced the government to start printing money: "It is reported that the new Russian government will soon issue 2 billion rubles of paper money. If the Russian government does this, the price of money will probably fall even more, because money is based on gold, not paper, not even silver and copper. Since Russians can't hold gold on so many rubles, it's clear that paper money will be cheaper than mushrooms."
The situation in Lithuania was unenviable
Of course, attention to the situation in Lithuania was not so great, but the messages of the diaspora newspapers show that the situation was truly unenviable. The socialist newspaper Keleivis, published in Boston, quotes the revocation of the commission for Lithuanian affairs established in Warsaw:
"Of all the countries covered by the fire of the war, Lithuania found itself in the worst situation, and especially Vilnius, which is located close to the front of the war and where many soldiers are gathered. […] For nearly two years, crops in Lithuania have greatly decreased, because everything is requisitioned for the enemy's army, even crops are allocated for seed, even the last cow of a villager. […] The portions of bread in Vilnius have been completely reduced and neither potatoes, nor groats, nor flour are given anymore. It's not a famine, it's just the death of people."
Despite such a difficult situation, the occupation authorities continued to fight against people who tried to bring food products to Vilnius from rural areas. First of all, because everything that was grown in excess of the amount prescribed by the norms for a person had to be delivered for the needs of the army.
"Dziennik Wilenski" prints a warning from the occupation authorities about the so-called "pushers" - that is, people who illegally transported food from the province to Vilnius: "Vilnius repeatedly violated the decrees of the Lithuanian military authorities regarding food requisitions. […] The importation of food products from rural areas into the city, especially so-called "fertilizers", without the written permission of the authorities is prohibited, as before. Persons who violate these requirements will be punished, and confiscated food products will be requisitioned without compensation."
The occupying Lithuanian authorities tried to at least minimally maintain order and sanitary cleanliness in Vilnius, where dysentery and typhus became a real scourge. Paulis, the city commandant, was even forced to take repressive measures. The mouthpiece of the occupation government "Dabartis" publishes the commandant's order:
"An announcement about the frenzy of eaters in public kitchens.
In the coming weeks, everyone who eats in public kitchens is bound to freak out. Every person who eats in public kitchens will receive a call from the city manager for himself and his family members to go to the designated culling facility at the designated culling facility with all his family members... The culling facility will note in the letter of invitation that the culling has been carried out properly. You have to put those letters in and give them to the public kitchen before the day when you pick up your meal...
Anyone who does not present a verification that he is undressed, or that he was not undressed through no fault of his own, will no longer receive a meal from the public kitchen."
Another sad report from Vilnius, "Dziennik Wilenski" reports: "The building of the summer theater in the Botanic garden [now the Bernardine garden of Sereikiski Park], where the German theater was recently located, is to be demolished in the near future, and the wooden structures will be used for fuel. The building is not maintained, the fence from the Vilnius side was recently demolished by the poor and is being rebuilt. We believe that the Society for the Support of Polish Art will in time take further measures to prevent the destruction of the building."
Of course, the world was not only painted in black colors, it is colorful at all times - the message of the "Passenger" "Decided to kiss the flag" proves it once again:
"In New York, Judge Brewer ordered Thule Albers to kiss the American flag and then raise it while waving, 'God save America and its people.' Because that person, they say, had insulted that flag."
Algimantas Blijus, LRT RADIO program "Independence Diary",LRT.lt
