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Lithuania B‑class Mid‑importance

This article is within the scope of WikiProject Lithuania, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Lithuania on Misplaced Pages. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.LithuaniaWikipedia:WikiProject LithuaniaTemplate:WikiProject LithuaniaLithuania B This article has been rated as B-class on Misplaced Pages's content assessment scale. Mid This article has been rated as Mid-importance on the project's importance scale. Review comments: Renata (talk) 07:53, 15 March 2008 (UTC)

"Relevant" Fact

For starts the Anschluss had nothing to do with Poland's southern borders. Furthermore it had nothing to do with Poland issuing Lithuania the ultimatum. Dr. Dan (talk) 01:10, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

It had absolutely everything to do with it. If there was no Anschluss, the "no war, no peace" situation could have continued for years. It explains why the ultimatum was given in March 1938 and not, say, sometime in 1939. Just read any book. Renata (talk) 01:19, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

A simple thing is to provide a scholarly ref that draws this connection, and we are done. I assume this will be restored. I also think it is relevant to clarify that in the L-Soviet treaty, the Soviets recognized the border in exchange for the Lithuanian support in the war.--_{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk} 02:29, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

It is not really relevant why they signed the treaty . The relevant issue is what came out of it; ie a Lithuanian ally against Poland. Oh, and BTW, collapse of Lozoraitis' efforts to negotiate had nothing to do with JP's death in May 1935. They continued till Jan 1936 when Beck made anti-Lithuanian speech and Smetona responded in kind later. But that's too much detail for this article. Renata (talk) 02:55, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

Actually, based on what I read, death of Piłsudski, who always had a sentiment towards Lithuania, meant a rather significant deterioration in attitude towards Lithuania in the Polish foreign policy - so it is rather relevant. Beck would not have made that speech if Piłsudski was still alive. --_{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk} 03:34, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

Beck (from what I am reading) was rather moderate. Eidintas does not give an explanation why he gave that speech and is rather abrupt why the negotiations collapsed. But the fact that they continued for 8 more months after JP death alone supports that it had nothing to do with it. If you can find a reliable citation, feel free to add it. But as of right now it's just your speculation. Renata (talk) 03:51, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

Here's a quick ref for death of Piłsudski interrupting P-L negotiations.--_{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk} 06:53, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

Back to the topic. "It" had nothing to do with this. Instead of reading "any" book, take a look at any atlas (I've provided a map so you don't have to go out of your way looking for one). Nor have I ever heard before that the Anschluss was the reason for the Second World War. Of all of Hitler's actions it was the least opposed by the West. And unlike in most cases of the other aggressive actions of Hitler, the Austrians were overwhelmingly in favor of it. The Anschluss is not the reason that Poland gave Lithuania its ultimatum. The commonly held view is that the "ultimatum" was the result of the Polish-Lithuanian border incident, and the desire of the Warsaw camarilla of Rydż-Śmigły to flex a little muscle. The distant borders of Austria's borders to Poland's (then, as now) southern borders was, and remains irrevelant to the reason for this ultimatum, and played no significant role in the subsequent events of September 1939. Nor would Lithuania's agreement to accept this ultimatum, affect Poland's southern or northern borders, as Poland had diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, and even superficially cordial diplomatic relations with Germany and Italy, the article has Jozef Beck vacationing in Sorrento, during this crisis (he was at the Berghof for New Year's 1939). Whether this ridiculous extrapolation of the Anschluss remains in the lead of this article as the explanation of Poland's ultimatum to Lithuania hardly seems worth arguing about, as the majority of these articles edited by this "little club" are full of such nonsense anyway. It remains a major flaw in the project, but more and more knowledgeable and rational editors are fortunately correcting this tendency of presenting this kind of erroneous information, and the subsequent attempts to defend it. Dr. Dan (talk) 03:21, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

Citations

German's absorption of Austria on March 12, 1938. and the subsequent sharp rise of tension in the international situation gave Poland an opportunity to resort to drastic measures to force Lithuania to open diplomatic relations. - Eidintas, page 154

Lietuvos ir Lenkijos santykiai iš esmės pakito po to, kai Vokietija 1938 m. kovo 11 – 12 dienomis užgrobė Austriją. Lenkijai kilo realus pavojus iš Vokietijos pusės.

Practically simultaneous with the Trasninkai incident was the Anschluss of Austria. The Czechoslovakian situation was also unstable. As a result, with the aid of allied appeasement, the fragile interwar peace of Europe was being threatened by Adolph Hitler. Poland was watching events with a keen eye. Germany was becoming more and more of a threat to Polish national security. It was becoming increasingly evident to Polish political and military leaders that their country would not be able to defend itself single-handedly. Therefore, they looked for options to strengthen Poland's hand vis-a-vis the Reich.

Last week, the example of Germany fortnight ago in bringing within the Reich the whole of Austria without bloodshed (TIME, March 21) appeared to be irresistibly attractive to the Polish Government. - Times in 1938

Need more?

Renata (talk) 03:46, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

No, but thank you for proving my point, yawn. Dr. Dan (talk) 04:09, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

Question for Tymek

How does this addition tie into anything? It cites a specific incident -- too specific to draw any conclusions -- without giving any "bigger picture" explanations... Please clarify what it is its purpose. Renata (talk) 21:06, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

Let me agree with Tymek on this one. Other than being poorly formulated in terms of English grammar and syntax (I might re-write it), it is appropriately located under Acceptance and Aftermath, shows a change in the the relations between the two countries without question due to the ultimatum, and it is "sufficiently" referenced (the Holy of the Holies) to be included in the article. Furthermore after the barn door has be opened by someone, it too late for that person to blame anyone else for the escape of the horses. Since other irrelevant nonsense has been added and defended, as the song goes, now Anything Goes, or is fair game. I'm sure when it's finally done, you won't even recognize the article any longer. Dr. Dan (talk) 22:05, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

Renata, general Stasys Raštikis was not an ordinary general, he was the commander of Lithuanian army. Visit of such high-ranking official marked a significant change in mutual relationships, and as such it should be included IMHO. Interestingly enough, after the ultimatum, Polish and Lithuanian sports organizations began organizing various competitions, games and tournaments, including such a weird event as a weight-lifting game between Warsaw and Kaunas, suggested by the Lithuanians in May of 1939. I did not include this in the article, as I do not think such facts are relevant. Dr Dan, thanks for a tip on my grammar and syntax, obviously my English is not as good as your Polish (BTW dzieki is spelled like this) Tymek (talk) 03:02, 27 March 2008 (UTC)

If I'm not mistaken Tymek, the word is correctly spelled "dzięki", but I'm often too lazy to use diacritics. Besides I got my spelling off of google no less, and that should probably get me a few days of indulgence from purgatory. Dr. Dan (talk) 00:17, 28 March 2008 (UTC)

And Tymek, was the proposed weight lifting competition a "weird" event, because it was to be between Warsaw and Kaunas, or because it was it was suggested by Lithuania? Dr. Dan (talk) 00:24, 28 March 2008 (UTC)

Oh please. It was weird IMO, as weight-lifting competitions of teams are not common. Usually they sum up scores of individual athletes, not teams. Warsaw, Kaunas or Lithuania has nothing to do with it. A weight lifting game between Katowice and Bratislava would be weird to me, too. Tymek (talk) 00:44, 28 March 2008 (UTC)

It doesn't seem weird to me (and I'm sure its not the first or last time that such a competition was suggested or held). Anyway, what about "dzięki"? Since you brought it up, I hope you're right and I'm wrong, because my "Polish language ego" is probably suffering worse than your English counterpart. And I'd like to settle that matter. Dr. Dan (talk) 01:17, 28 March 2008 (UTC)

I know who was Rastikis, but I don't understand/see what exactly is that "significant change"... I and wrote the whole thing! So a random reader would - no doubts - be lost also. "Warmly welcomed" sounds cryptic and is not exactly encyclopedic. Also, please use proper citation templates, like {{cite journal}} or {{cite web}}. Thanks, Renata (talk) 14:33, 27 March 2008 (UTC)

After years of "no war, no peace" (hope you remember Pilsudski's question to Voldemaras, asked in Geneva on December 10, 1927?), without keeping diplomatic relations between the two countries, such a visit was a major change, and sincerely I do not understand your problem, Renata. It was not an ordinary event, nothing like this had happened before. I do not speak Lithuanian, and I do not know how it was presented in Lithuanian press. In Poland this visit was widely described. The General came to Warsaw Main Rail Station by train on May 9, 1939, at 8:50 am. He was welcomed by Marshall Rydz-Smigly, then he went to Warsaw castle to meet President Moscicki. At 4 pm he laid flowers on the Tomb of Unknown Soldier. On the next day, Rastikis made a speech in Polish, then he met minister Jozef Beck and went to visit armament factories in the Central Industrial Area. Thanks for the tip about templates, feel free to add them. Tymek (talk) 18:28, 27 March 2008 (UTC)

1927 crisis

I think the 1927 crisis, which resulted in Lithuania agreeing that there is no war, but peace, should be discussed here. Sources for start: , , , . --_{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk} 02:11, 28 March 2008 (UTC)

As it is obvious from all the provided citations despite shaking hands, there was actually no peace achieved. While the story might seem pleasing to one of the sides, I do not see any resolve in it, There are also known border skirmishes with numerous casualities for almost all the 18 years since 1920.

Ruling of the Hague tribunal in 1931, that Lithuania does not have to allow Polish transit through Lithuanian territory, only proved the status quo. I'm not sure, but as much I do remember, Hague ruled this, declaring Poland as aggressor in Vilnius case. To make sure I'll need to check my books.

Lithuanian government did understand, that after the coup there was small possibility, that Poland would use the coup to justify aggression against Lithuania. It seems Pilsudski did also understand that as a possibility. In his diaries there is a record from 1927: "could not sleep all night, considered whether to attack Lithuania". Although, as the linked article proves, there was active efforts form Germany and Russia to avoid this.--Lokyz (talk) 14:47, 28 March 2008 (UTC)

Yes, as the history has shown, Germany and Russia proven to be true great friends of the Lithuanian nation, indeed.--_{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk} 16:30, 28 March 2008 (UTC)

1931 ruling

Can we get more details on the 1931 "ruling in Lithuania's favor by an international court in the Hague"? --_{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk} 02:11, 28 March 2008 (UTC)

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