Proclamation to the inhabitants of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania
- Proclamation to the inhabitants of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Proclamation to the Inhabitants of the Former Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a bilingual proclamation, formulated by Józef Piłsudski, and printed in Polish and Lithuanian, after the Polish capture of Vilnius (Wilno), on April 22, 1919. It was a statement of Piłsudski's political intentions[Davies, p.51] , and contained a blueprint for his Międzymorze federation.]In issuing the proclamation bilingually, he was appealing to Lithuanian nationalism, hoping to once again recreate the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, an idea very dear to him. The style of the proclamation, the ideas contained within it, and the dramatic turn of phrase, were definitely Piłsudski's, and reflected his position on the political and military situation he wished to resolve.[Davies, p.52] .]Piłsudski pledged to ordain "elections which would take place on the basis of secret, universal and direct voting, without distinction between the sexes" and to "create an opportunity for settling your nationality problems and religious affairs in a manner that you yourself will determine, without any kind of force or pressure from Poland."[Davies, p.51] Piłdudski's proclamation was aimed at showing good will both to Lithuanians and international diplomats. The latter succeeded as the proclamation dealt a blow to the image of 'Polish conquest' and replaced it with the image of 'Poland fighting with Bolshevik dictatorship and liberating other nations'; however the Lithuanians who demanded exclusive control over the city were much less convinced.][Czubiński, p.92] Piłsudski's words also caused much controversy on the Polish political scene as they were not debated in the Sejm, and this caused much anger among Piłsudski's opponents from the "endecja" faction. Deputies from PSL Piast demanded incorporation of the Wilno Region into Poland, and even accused Piłsudski of treason. However Piłsudski's supporters in the PPS managed to deflect those attacks.][Czubiński, p.92] ]References
Further reading
* citebook | authorlink = Norman Davies | last = Davies | first = Norman | title = "White Eagle, Red Star: the Polish Soviet War, 1919-20" | publisher = Pimlico | year = 2003 | isbn = 0-7126-0694-7 | origyear = 1972 | other = First published New York, St. Martin's Press, inc. 1972.
*Antoni Czubiński, "Walka o granice wschodnie polski w latach 1918-1921" Instytut Slaski w Opolu, 1993
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