Ostatni akt kształtowania granic drugiej Rzeczypospolitej - podział pasa neutralnego pomiędzy Polską a Litwą w lutym 1923 r.

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Demarkacijos linija; Demarkacinė linija; Karinis konfliktas; Lenkijos diplomatija; Lenkijos ir Lietuvos santykiai; Lietuvos ir Lenkijos santykiai; Neutrali zona; Neutralioji zona; Demarcation line; Military conflict; Neutral zone; Polish diplomacy; Polish-Lithuanian relations; Relations between Lithuania and Poland.

ENThe construction of the borders of the Second Republic in 1918-1923 was complex process, composed of a number of stages. Up to now, little attention has been drawn to the fact that the ultimate act of this process was a division of the neutral zone between Poland and Lithuania. The terrain in question was inconvénient for both sides. Nevertheless, the Lithuanian government did not concédé to its division in the fear that such an act could forejudge the international granting of Vilno to Poland, an eventuality it avidly opposed. The Polish government was unambiguously interested in the division, i. a. because it would have made it possible to open a Warsaw-Vilno-Dyneburg railway main line, a solution to which the Polish authorities attached great importance. The article présents in detail the endeavours pursued by Polish diplomacy, which aimed at a division of the neutral zone, as well as the stand of the League of Nations and the Entente powers. The factor which accelerated the decision made by the League of Nations was the seizure of Memel by Lithuania on 10-11 January 1923. The author also describes the ensuing situation in the zone and its division conducted on 15-17 February 1923. [From the publication]