George Matulaitis Journal

antagonize the Poles. Now I suspect that we will have an unpleasant reaction on the part of the Poles. At 6:30 in the evening two of the members of the Military Control Commission created by the League of Nations paid me a visit: Colonel Chardigny, the Frenchman, and Nase, the Belgian. For an hour and a half we discussed the situation here and the allocation of those lands that would bring about peace in the area. I shall record all my con- versations with the representatives of the League of Nations under sepa- rate cover. 1 Mr. Jonynas 2 came to see me yesterday. From my earlier conversations with the League of Nations delegates, I gathered that it is quite certain that they do not intend to give Lida and Gardinas 3 to the Lithuanians. Consequently, the Lithuanians should determine their border in advance, an absolutely minimal one on which they would make no fur- ther concessions. I expressed my opinion to Mr. Jonynas in these terms: “I do not understand why we should at all costs demand to have both Gardinas and Lida. 4 These areas have become thoroughly Belorussian, and we will not be able to make them Lithuanian again. 5 On the contrary, if they are joined with Vilnius, they will exert a Belorussian influence. Then too a time will come when Russians and Belorussians will make every effort to regain Gardinas and Lida and, in tearing these cities away from Lithuania, may detach other territory as well, especially those areas where both the Lithuanian and Belorussian languages are used. It is better to be satisfied with a smaller, but more homogenous Lithuania, one which would include fewer foreign elements. Thus, we ought to be content with the following border: Oze- Ratyncia-Druskininkai (which are within our diocese), then Pariecia- Rodunia-Bastunai; after that, leaving aside the Grodno-Lida-Mo = odeczno railway line, go on up to Asmena and Lake Medziol. Here the Lithuanian ethnic element is relatively strong, and that part which has become Belorussian can readily recover its Lithuanian identity. Thus, 313 1 Aside from what is mentioned in this Journal, such a record has not been found. 2 Ignas Jonynas (1884-1954): a Lithuanian history professor. He officially represented and acted on behalf of the government of independent Lithuania in Vilnius while the city belonged to Poland. 3 At this time both Lida and Gardinas, cities in the south, were on the contested border between Lithuania and Belorussia. Poland was also interested in acquiring these cities; at this time they were occupied by the Polish Army. 4 According to the Treaty of Moscow signed on July 12, 1920, by both Lithuania and Soviet Russia, these cities were allocated to Lithuania. That is why some of the Lithuanian politicians were insisting that they be retained. In fact, both were already occupied by the Polish Army and remained under Polish control until WW II. 5 Historically, Gardinas and Lida ( Grodno and Lida in Belorussian) had belonged to Lithuania for cen- turies and had close historic ties to Lithuania proper. However, demographic and ethnic changes had made these areas predominantly Belorussian.