Search

Copyright of Parlamento Studijos is the property of Parlamento Studijos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article examines the issue of Lithuania’s debt to the United States during the years 1934–1940, a debt period that has not yet been thoroughly analyzed by historians. Unlike the previous period, during this time, the Lithuanian government acknowledged the debt but, like other countries, did not make any payments towards the principal or interest until the outbreak of World War II and Soviet occupation. Similarly to Nazi Germany’s refusal to pay reparations to France, Great Britain, Italy, and other countries for the consequences of World War I, these mentioned states concurrently failed to fulfill their financial obligations to the United States. The Lithuanian government pursued a policy of non-payment, taking into account the position of major debtor nations, citing Lithuania’s economic difficulties, the loss of the Klaipėda Region, and the restoration of the Vilnius Region, among other factors. The Lithuanian authorities proceeded cautiously, valuing relations with the United States and hesitating for a long time to propose a new, favorable agreement on the debt issue to the Americans. Unlike the heads of Lithuania’s foreign affairs and finance ministries, Lithuanian envoy Povilas Žadeikis advocated debt reduction and repayment. He recognized the sensitive view of the debt issue held by American society and some segments of the Lithuanian diaspora, as well as the negative perception of debt non-payment by the U.S. Congress. The envoy justified his position by emphasizing the potential need for significant future moral and material support from the United States. Ultimately, the debt was not repaid, as the outbreak of World War II and its consequences relegated the debt issue to a secondary concern for the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A confidential meeting of Lithuanian diplomats in the USA took place in Washington on October 25–26 1943, at the time when the foreign ministers of the allied countries – the USA, Great Britain and the USSR – were meeting at the Moscow Conference. The Lithuanian diplomats discussed the general international situation, the challenges facing Lithuania, the uncertain fate of the diplomatic institutions themselves, and preparations to help Lithuanian refugees in Europe and exiles in Siberia. Decisions were made. Traditionally, attention was also paid to cooperation with Lithuanian organizations in the United States, with which it was sought to act in harmony. The representatives of Lithuania in America undertook to cooperate and consult with Lithuanian political organizations in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the first decade of the Republic of Lithuania, trade with the United States of America was not favorable. A temporary trade agreement was signed in 1925 without a consular section. This partially hampered the activities of Lithuanian consuls in the United States, as they were lacking some privileges. Consuls, especially Povilas Žadeikis, constantly raised the idea of the need for a consular agreement. The ambassador, Bronius K. Balutis, spoke about the need to have a permanent trade and consular agreement, but the government of Kaunas felt there was no rush. The idea of a consular agreement was strongly reinforced only after Žadeikis became the ambassador of Lithuania to Washington. The ambassador urged the government of the Republic of Lithuania to conclude and sign the agreement. However, it was not until 1940 that the text of the consular agreement was finally agreed upon, signed in Washington, and ratified by US Congress. Unfortunately, the Soviet occupation of Lithuania in 1940 prevented the ratification of the consular agreement in the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, and exchange of said documents became impossible. The agreement was forgotten. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On March 13-14, 1941 a regular meeting of Lithuanian representatives in the United States took place at the Consulate General of Lithuania in New York. The opportunity to consult and clarify important issues came after President Antanas Smetona arrived with his family in New York on March 10. Lithuanian representatives discussed their difficult financial situation, the possibility of finding funds to help Lithuanian refugees, the complicated relations between Lithuanians in the USA and the issues of their financial resources. The representatives of Lithuania agreed that only by merging the diaspora funds could it be possible to more seriously financially support Lithuanian affairs and help Lithuanian diplomats. The purpose of the meetings was to establish a common position on current political issues and on relations with Lithuanians in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the meeting of Lithuanian diplomats in New York on August 19–20, 1945 a discussion of the international situation, the issue of Lithuania and the fate of Lithuanian refugees after the Potsdam Conference was intended. The meeting shows that Lithuanian representatives in the United States are ready to cooperate with VLIK and Lithuanian organizations in the United States, especially with BALF as a welfare organisation in the care of Lithuanian refugees. Ways are being sought to protect Lithuanian refugees from attempts by USSR officials to return them to Lithuania occupied by the Red Army. Diplomats agreed with prof. Kazys Pakštas’ idea that deportees need to be moved en masse to certain territories in order to be able to continue preserving Lithuanian culture and Lithuanianness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activities of the Honorary Consulate of Lithuania in Boston in 1939-1971 have not yet been in the focus of research. The history of the consulate is directly linked to the representation of the first Lithuanian honorary consul lawyer Antanas O. Šalna. The article discusses the Lithuanian policy in the establishment of honorary consulates in the United States of America. It reveals the reasons of establishment of the Honorary Consulate in Boston, its solemn opening and the key facts of the life and activities of A. O. Šalna as well as the arguments of selecting him a candidate to the consul. It also focuses on the position taken by A. O. Šalna in 1940 and its relations with Lithuanian career diplomats (envoy Povilas Žadeikis and consul-general Jonas Budrys). The article describes the activities of the honorary consul after the loss of Lithuania’s independence, his relations with the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian émigré community in Massachusetts in the postwar period. It attempts to evaluate the role of A. O. Šalna in the Lithuanian diplomatic service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]