George Matulaitis Journal

309 they will not even recognize the existence of the Belorussians. The Lithuanian nobles and the polonized gentry especially are noted for their Polish chauvinism. Mr. Uzquiano asked some questions about Bishops Hryniewiecki and Bandurski. He told me that there would be no plebiscite. It is clear to him that Vilnius should belong to the Lithuanians. Then he asked about the Jesuits and said that he had noticed that they too were excessive Polish nationalists. I said that the present Father Superior is somewhat wiser and calmer, but that Father Rudnicki had been greatly at fault regarding nationalism. In his sermons and during the meetings of the St. Casimir Workers’ League he would allow agitators to criticize the Bishop of Kaunas, the clergy of Samogitia and incite the crowd against them, etc. I spoke out in praise of Father Muckermann, who served every- one. If only there were more like him. March 22 At about nine o’clock in the morning I received a telegram that Monsignor Michalkiewicz 1 is coming home via Baranovichi, Volkovysk, and Lida. I told his servants to prepare his rooms and to go to the station. I asked Chancellor Chalecki to go and meet the Monsignor. Fathers Lewicki and Puciata also went. However, they all missed the Monsignor at the station. At ten o’clock I learned that he had already come home. I immediately went to greet him. I saw that he had a graying beard, but otherwise appeared to be quite well, in good health. At first, he had been in Mi<sk and had stayed with the Bishop [ +ozi<sk i]. Afterwards, they had taken him to prison in Moscow. After some time they released him and allowed him to live in in the city. He went to stay with a priest near a church among the Georgians. Monsignor Michalkiewicz did not complain that the Bolsheviks had treated him badly either in prison or 1 Michalkiewicz had been arrested by the Bolsheviks April 29, 1920, while attempting to flee from Vilnius to Warsaw.