Justo Paleckio vieši protestai 1938 m. kovo mėnesį

Abstract

Šaltinių publikacijoje pagrindinis dėmesys skiriamas žinomo lietuvių žurnalisto, valstiečių liaudininko, jaunosios kartos lyderio, būsimos prosovietinės Liaudies vyriausybės vadovo Justo Paleckio viešiems protestams 1938 m. kovo mėnesį Lenkijai įteikus ultimatumą Lietuvai. Publikacijos pirmoje dalyje pristatoma Lietuvos ir Lenkijos santykių Vilniaus krašto praradimo kontekste 1920–1938 m. trumpa apžvalga, antroje išsamiau apariamas J. Paleckio viešų protestų pobūdis, jų aktualumas ir pirmą kartą skelbiamų dokumentų specifika. Skelbiami dokumentai leidžia susidaryti išsamesnį vaizdą apie prieštaringai vertinamo J. Paleckio veiklą ikiokupaciniu laikotarpiu

The publication of sources pays special attention to the public protests of the head of the future pro-Soviet People’s Government Justas Paleckis in March 1938 after Poland delivered its ultimatum to Lithuania. In response to the Lithuanian government’s submission to the Polish requests, Paleckis publicly protested and expressed his requests in three documents. The content analysis of the three documents published for the first time prompts a conclusion that during that period Paleckis was a vigorous advocate of Lithuania’s independence and the belonging of Vilnius Region to Lithuania; he was also an active opponent of Poland who was convinced that there could be no restoration of the common (union-type) state of Poland and Lithuania; he was a critic of authoritarian regime and the Lithuanian Nationalist Union which supported the undemocratic government of the country as well as the supporter of the democratic regime: he considered the democratic regime with “a representation of the nation convened on free grounds” where sovereignty was in the hands of the nation a supreme value. It should be noted that at that time Justas Paleckis did not say a word about the Soviet Union (not to mention any sympathies towards it), whereas the Communists acting in the underground were seen as the persons wishing well to Lithuania and expressing a favourable attitude towards its independence. The latter Paleckis’ attitude eventually proved to be wrong