George Matulaitis Journal

272 But, until now they have held back in order not to antagonize the Masons abroad and also so that Poland would not be labeled as a reactionary state. This could be detrimental to relations with other countries. O Lord, it seems that everywhere action is being taken against the Church! I pointed out to him that it was not a good thing when priests are too involved in politics. Were there not too many priests in Parliament? His Excellency replied that Monsignor Ratti had been of the same opinion, but now agrees that the priests had acted correctly in becoming members of Parliament. I also asked him how we should regard the activities of Pi = sudski and Osmo = owski here. The Archbishop said that neither of them had any authorization from Parliament to implement any kind of political program here. Parliament disapproves. The Polish representatives have come with their own declarations. (It is true: today the announcement was made that Vilnius is to be immediately united, annexed to Poland.) I also inquired whether Pi = sudski was really the Head of State. He said that Pi = sudski had been designated such for two weeks, and this has not been retracted. The Parliament has a great deal of trouble with Pi = sudski, but it cannot do without him, since he has the Army on his side. On the other hand, Pi = sudski’s actions are detrimental to Parliament and to Poland because he is a socialist and a Party man. Everywhere, in society and within the armed forces, he is carrying on political agitation. He is also not a man without vanity. For a long time he has been dreaming whether he will enter Vilnius on a bay or a gray horse. He has the idea of restoring Lithuania and Belorussia to the boundaries of the ancient Lithuanian Grand Duchy and of creating a Jewish state. This is contrary to the wishes of Parliament, and so he is regarded as betraying the national cause. He is also destroying Poland financially. He acquired 15 million and distributed it among his supporters and to finance agitation. There is to be an official investigation by Parliament. The economic situation in Poland is rather difficult. There are few trains; funds are low. The workers’ wages have been greatly increased by the socialists, and for this reason the cities are going into debt and the state itself must borrow money.