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The general election in the Republic of Central Lithuania was an election to the
Vilnius Sejm (parliament) of the
Polish
Polish may refer to:
* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe
* Polish language
* Poles
Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...
-dominated
Republic of Central Lithuania
The Republic of Central Lithuania ( pl, Republika Litwy Środkowej, ), commonly known as the Central Lithuania, and the Middle Lithuania ( pl, Litwa Środkowa, , be, Сярэдняя Літва, translit=Siaredniaja Litva), was an unrecognize ...
on 8 January 1922. The new parliament was intended to formally legalize incorporation of Central Lithuania into Poland. Such measure was fiercely opposed by
Lithuania, which claimed the territory for itself. The election was boycotted by non-Polish population and its results were unrecognized by either the
Lithuanian government in
Kaunas or the
League of Nations
The League of Nations (french: link=no, Société des Nations ) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference that ...
.
[ The elected parliament convened in February and, as expected, voted on 20 February 1922 to have the Republic incorporated into Poland. At the end of March 1922, Central Lithuania became Wilno Land of the Second Polish Republic.
]
Background
In the aftermath of the Żeligowski's Mutiny
Żeligowski's Mutiny ( pl, bunt Żeligowskiego, also ''żeligiada'', lt, Želigovskio maištas) was a Polish false flag operation led by General Lucjan Żeligowski in October 1920, which resulted in the creation of the Republic of Central Lithuani ...
aimed against Lithuania, a new state was created by general Lucjan Żeligowski in Vilnius Region
Vilnius Region is the territory in present-day Lithuania and Belarus that was originally inhabited by ethnic Baltic tribes and was a part of Lithuania proper, but came under East Slavic and Polish cultural influences over time.
The territor ...
in October 1920. The new Republic of Central Lithuania depended on Poland's economic and military support and was governed by Polish military. The territory was fiercely contested by Lithuania and Poland. In demographic terms the city of Vilnius
Vilnius ( , ; see also other names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population of 592,389 (according to the state register) or 625,107 (according to the municipality of Vilnius). The population of Vilnius's functional urb ...
was the least Lithuanian of Lithuanian cities, divided nearly evenly between Poles and Jews
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
, with ethnic Lithuanians constituting a mere fraction of the total population (about 2–3% of the population, according to Russian 1897[Demoscope]
and German 1916 censuses). The Lithuanians nonetheless believed that their historical claim to the city (former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state that existed from the 13th century to 1795, when the territory was partitioned among the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Habsburg Empire of Austria. The state was founded by Lit ...
) had precedence and refused to recognize any Polish claims to the city and the surrounding area.
The League of Nations mediated the dispute and strongly advocated a plebiscite
A referendum (plural: referendums or less commonly referenda) is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of ...
where the local population would vote to be incorporated either into Poland or Lithuania. However, neither Poland nor Lithuania wanted the vote. Poland had control of the territory and saw no reason to jeopardize the '' status quo'',[ especially since it had already lost two plebiscites against Germany (in East Prussia and ]Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia ( pl, Górny Śląsk; szl, Gůrny Ślůnsk, Gōrny Ślōnsk; cs, Horní Slezsko; german: Oberschlesien; Silesian German: ; la, Silesia Superior) is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia, locate ...
).[ Lithuania did not want to recognize that Poland had a legitimate claim to the region and was afraid to lose the vote, especially if Polish military remained in the region.][ As both sides stalled, the plebiscite idea was abandoned in March 1921. Poland and Lithuania entered direct negotiations under mediation of ]Paul Hymans
Paul Louis Adrien Henri Hymans (23 March 1865 – 8 March 1941), was a Belgian politician associated with the Liberal Party. He was the second president of the League of Nations and served again as its president in 1932–1933.
Life
Hymans was ...
.[ He prepared two projects that envisioned a Polish–Lithuanian union, but both of them were rejected by Poland and Lithuania by December 1921. In October 1921, after the failure of the negotiations, the Republic of Central Lithuania scheduled elections for 8 January 1922.
]
Elections
Preparations
The territory, where elections were to take place, was carved out to maximize the number of Polish residents;[ for example, Polish-inhabited regions of ]Lida
Lida ( be, Лі́да ; russian: Ли́да ; lt, Lyda; lv, Ļida; pl, Lida ; yi, לידע, Lyde) is a city 168 km (104 mi) west of Minsk in western Belarus in Grodno Region.
Etymology
The name ''Lida'' arises from its Lithuan ...
and Braslaw were included while Lithuanian-inhabited areas around Druskininkai
Druskininkai (; pl, Druskieniki; be, Друскенiкi; yi, דרוזגעניק, translit=Druzgenik) is a spa town on the Nemunas River in southern Lithuania, close to the borders of Belarus and Poland. The city of Druskininkai has a population ...
were excluded.[ According to official Polish election reports, 735,089 people lived in the designated election territory. Of them 11.5% were Jews, 8.8% were Belarusians, and 7.2% were Lithuanians.][ Requirements for the candidates to the parliament included age (at least 25 years of age), education (at least primary school), and language (good knowledge of Polish).][ Polish authorities formally allowed freedoms of press and of assembly, but provided up to one year in prison for campaigning against the election.][ This provision was aimed at the Lithuanians, who decided to boycott the elections. The Lithuanian government protested the election and even attempted to revive the idea of the plebiscite under supervision of the League of Nations, but the League was done mediating the Polish–Lithuanian dispute.][
Only Polish parties and groups proposed candidates for the election. The right-wing parties advocated for unconditional incorporation into Poland while left-wing sought a special autonomous status with Poland.][ There was a significant propaganda campaign before the elections. The Lithuanians attempted to win support from the Jewish and Belarusian communities. The Jews generally leaned towards Lithuania, which was seen as more tolerant and more willing to make concessions for the support.][ However, at the same time, Jews were afraid that support of the Lithuanian cause would be interpreted to be a hostile act against Poland and could worsen their position.][
]
Results
63.9% of the entire population took part in the voting, but among different ethnic groups the attendance was lower (41% of Belarusians, 15.3% of Jews and 8.2% of Lithuanians).[ Jewish turnout varied greatly from rural (37.8%) to urban areas (6.3%).A. Srebrakowski, Sejm Wileński 1922 roku. Idea i jej realizacja, Wrocław 1993]
A. Srebrakowski, Stosunek mniejszości narodowych Litwy Środkowej wobec wyborów do Sejmu Wileńskiego
In Vilnius, the Jewish turnout was only 1.4%.[ The two largest political groups in the new parliament were the Association of National Parties and Organizations with 43 seats and the Popular Councils with 34 seats. All the other groups gained 28 seats altogether.][ The list of all seats in parliament included:
* Association of National Parties and Organizations (43)
* Popular Councils (34)
* Polish People's Party of Wilno Land (13)
* ]Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
*Botswana Democratic Party
*Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*Demo ...
(4)
* Popular Assosiation "Odrodzenie-Wyzwolenie" (5)
* Popular Assosiation "Odrodzenie" (3)
* Polish Socialist Party of Lithuania and Belarus (3)
Sejm Wileński 1922 : przebieg posiedzeń według sprawozdań stenograficznych w opracowaniu kancelarji sejmowej
', Vilanous, 1922.
These results were disputed by Col. Chardigny, the Chief of the Military Inter-Allied Commission of Control
The term Military Inter-Allied Commission of Control was used in a series of peace treaties concluded after the First World War (1914–1918) between different countries. Each of these treaties was concluded between the Principal Allied and A ...
sent by League of Nations, who officially declared that results are not valid, as most of the Lithuanians, Jews and Belarusians boycotted the elections, and there was use of military force. As a result of electoral malpractice such as not asking for valid voter identification, noted by delegates from the League of Nations, the elections were not recognized. On 13 January 1922 the Council of the League of Nations issued a statement that the elected parliament was not a legal representative of the local population.
Aftermath
The parliament gathered on 1 February 1922. On 20 February it voted for formal incorporation into Poland and dispatched a delegation to Poland.[ The Polish ]Sejm
The Sejm (English: , Polish: ), officially known as the Sejm of the Republic of Poland ( Polish: ''Sejm Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej''), is the lower house of the bicameral parliament of Poland.
The Sejm has been the highest governing body of ...
passed the law proposed by the Central Lithuanian parliament on 22 March 1922 and two days later the Republic of Central Lithuania ceased to exist. All of its territory was incorporated into the newly formed Wilno Voivodeship. The border changes were accepted by the Conference of Ambassadors
The Conference of Ambassadors of the Principal Allied and Associated Powers was an inter-allied organization of the Entente in the period following the end of World War I. Formed in Paris in January 1920 it became a successor of the Supreme W ...
of the Entente[ and the ]League of Nations
The League of Nations (french: link=no, Société des Nations ) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference that ...
.[ Lithuania declined to accept the Polish authority over the area][ and continued to treat the region as part of its own territory and Vilnius as its legitimate capital, with Kaunas designated only as a temporary seat of government. The Polish–Lithuanian diplomatic relations were not restored until the Polish ultimatum to Lithuania in 1938.][
]
References
{{Reflist, 2, refs=
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[{{cite book, first= Michał Eustachy , last=Brensztejn , year=1919 , title=Spisy ludności m. Wilna za okupacji niemieckiej od. 1 listopada 1915 r. , publisher=Biblioteka Delegacji Rad Polskich Litwy i Białej Rusi , location=Warsaw , oclc=233508723 , language=pl]
[{{cite book , last=Čepėnas , first=Pranas , author-link=Pranas Čepėnas , title=Naujųjų laikų Lietuvos istorija , year=1986 , volume=II , publisher=Dr. Griniaus fondas , location=Chicago , pages=657–660 , oclc=3220435]
[{{cite book , last=Eidintas , first=Alfonsas , author2=Vytautas Žalys , author3=Alfred Erich Senn , author3-link=Alfred Erich Senn , editor=Edvardas Tuskenis , title=Lithuania in European Politics: The Years of the First Republic, 1918-1940 , edition=Paperback , date=September 1999 , publisher=St. Martin's Press , location=New York , isbn=0-312-22458-3 , page=78]
[{{cite book , last=Eidintas , first=Alfonsas , author2=Vytautas Žalys , author3=Alfred Erich Senn , author3-link=Alfred Erich Senn , editor=Edvardas Tuskenis , title=Lithuania in European Politics: The Years of the First Republic, 1918-1940 , edition=Paperback , date=September 1999 , publisher=St. Martin's Press , location=New York , isbn=0-312-22458-3 , pages=84–85]
[{{cite book, last=Lerski , first=George J. , author-link=George J. Lerski , author2=Piotr Wróbel , author3=Richard J. Kozicki , title=Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966-1945 , year=1996 , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FPxhOu_n1VYC&pg=PA309 , page=309 , publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group , isbn=978-0-313-26007-0 ]
[{{cite book , last=Liekis , first=Šarūnas , title=A State Within a State? Jewish autonomy in Lithuania 1918–1925 , publisher=Versus aureus , year=2003 , isbn=9955-9613-5-X , pages=159–166]
[{{cite book, first=Piotr , last=Łossowski , author-link=Piotr Łossowski , title=Konflikt polsko-litewski 1918-1920 , location=Warsaw , publisher=Książka i Wiedza , year=1995 , isbn=83-05-12769-9 , page=11, language=pl]
[{{cite journal, doi=10.1093/hgs/12.1.27, first=Michael , last=MacQueen , title=The Context of Mass Destruction: Agents and Prerequisites of the Holocaust in Lithuania , journal=Holocaust and Genocide Studies , issue=1 , volume=12 , pages=27–48 , year=1998 ]
[{{cite web , first=Grazina , last=Miniotaite , title=The Security Policy of Lithuania and the 'Integration Dilemma' , publisher=NATO Academic Forum , date=1999 , url=http://www.nato.int/acad/fellow/97-99/miniotaite.pdf , page=21 , accessdate=2008-03-14 ]
[{{cite book , first=Eric , last=Phipps , author-link=Eric Phipps , author2=Romano Avezzana , author3=Raymond Poincaré , author3-link=Raymond Poincaré , author4=Maurycy Zamoyski , author4-link=Maurycy Zamoyski , author5=M. Matsuda , chapter=Decision taken by the Conference of Ambassadors regarding the eastern frontiers of Poland , title=League of Nations, Treaty Series , volume=15 , year =1923 , pages=261–265 , publisher =]League of Nations
The League of Nations (french: link=no, Société des Nations ) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference that ...
, url =http://www.forost.ungarisches-institut.de/pdf/19230315-1.pdf , accessdate =2008-03-11
[{{cite book, first=Gintautas , last=Vilkelis , title=Lietuvos ir Lenkijos santykiai Tautų Sąjungoje , publisher=Versus aureus , year=2006 , isbn=9955-601-92-2 , pages=81–83, language=lt]
[{{cite book, first=Gintautas , last=Vilkelis , title=Lietuvos ir Lenkijos santykiai Tautų Sąjungoje , publisher=Versus aureus , year=2006 , isbn=9955-601-92-2 , pages=103–104, language=lt]
[{{cite book, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hAVpAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Klub+Rad+Ludowych%22 , title=Dzieła wybrane: Moja tułaczka w Czechosłowacji / do druku ... , volume=3 , first=Wincenty , last=Witos , author2=Eugeniusz Karczewski , location=Warszawa , publisher=Ludowa Spółdzielnia Wyd. , year=1995 , page=542 , isbn=83-205-3497-6, language=pl]
Central Lithuania
Elections in Lithuania
Elections in Poland
1922 in Poland
1922 in Lithuania
January 1922 events
Republic of Central Lithuania