George Matulaitis Journal

recent patriotic program given by the Polish students at city hall, and at the time we both applauded. There was nothing wrong with that, was there? I believe that all are my children: Poles, Lithuanians, and Belorussians. I have to serve them equally. I must rejoice and grieve with them all. But tell me, what would the Lithuanians have said to me if I, who so often attended various Polish celebrations and ceremonies, had ignored their invitation and refused to come to their program? I must be shepherd to all without distinction.” Meanwhile, His Excellency Bishop Bandurski had come in. He supported my position and helped me end this unpleasant conversation with General Mokrzecki and Archbishop Hryniewiecki. His Excellency the Archbishop continued to complain that he was being sharply attacked by the press. He had asked Father To = oczko to answer these untactful comments and publish a rebuttal. He mentioned the paper Stra? Litwy. 1 He turned to me and spoke heatedly: “So, these newspapers of yours (emphasizing the word wasze in Polish) dare to speak about an old man in such a fashion?” I calmly replied that I myself do not own or edit any newspapers. Then I added jokingly: “After all, we have only those papers which are permitted by His Honor the General.” 2 When I was left alone with General Mokrzecki, I said to him in all seriousness: “Tell me, sir, whether the presence of His Excellency Archbishop Hryniewiecki, his interviews published in the press, and finally all his activities here—are they not purely political, with a political objective? And if the Archbishop himself is engaged in politics, what am I to do with other priests? How can I forbid them to get involved in politics or to defend themselves when attacked? All that I am doing is trying to calm the people down and to restrain them as much as I can. And if I had not done so, hostilities would have been even worse and the results unfortunate. I have tried to reconcile all the nationalities — Belorussian, Lithuanian, and Polish. I have done my best to make peace among them all so that they may live 298 1 Its English title is The Guardian of Lithuania . Printed in Polish, it was a paper for the Lithuanians of Vilnius who knew Polish. Edited by Mykolas Bir i ka, it ran only for a few months before it was confiscated by the Polish authorities on April 1, 1921. 2 General Mokrzecki had censorship rights over the Vilnius press and had already exercised them by closing down various publications.