George Matulaitis Journal

289 1921 After an interval of thirteen months, Bishop Matulaitis resumed writing in his Journal. The 1921 entries are fragmentary, recording events and meetings with various persons from late February to early April. Once again, Vilnius and the surrounding area were under a new government. The city had been occupied by General ÷ eligowski 1 and the Polish Army on October 9, 1920. This area was then named Central Lithuania and placed under the control of the Provisional Governing Committee made up of military and civilian personnel. The Lithuanians contested the occupation, and the League of Nations sent in a Military Control Commission, which ordered a cease-fire and designated a neutral zone around the territory occupied by the Polish Army, separating it from independent Lithuania. Members of this Control Commission came to Vilnius to investigate further the situation. Some of the Polish politicians advocated a plebiscite in the Vilnius area similar to the one to be held in Upper Silesia. As the political climate shifted once again, both the clergy and the people of Vilnius were caught up in a fresh wave of political turmoil. Bishop Matulaitis had a constant stream of visitors from every walk of life and was kept in touch with current events. However, he was careful to retain his neutral stance, since his primary concern was to uphold the interests of the Church and to care for his flock, although he was well aware that his position was becoming more and more difficult. February 19 General Stefan Mokrzecki 2 invited me to join the honorary committee to raise funds for the plebiscite in upper Silesia. 3 We elected a panel of auditors so that the people, confident of 1 Lucjan ÷ eligowski (1865-1946): Polish general and supporter of Marshal Pi = sudski. He was now in control of Vilnius. 2 Had recently been appointed by ÷ eligowski to succeed Witold Abramowicz as head of the Provisional Governing Committee. 3 Komitet Honorowy Górnego Í l 's ka, as it was called in Polish. The plebiscite was to take place March 20, 1921.