Vilniaus lietuviai ir Lietuvos sostinės idėja

ENThis article analyses the role played by the Lithuanian Community of Vilnius in 1918–1939 when popularising the idea of Vilnius as the capital of Lithuania and in the propaganda discourse demonstrating that Vilnius was part of Lithuania. It is suggested that the position of the Lithuanian Community in Vilnius in 1918–1939 was determined by the Lithuanian–Polish struggle for the dependence of the city. The Lithuanian government defended the rights of the Lithuanians of Vilnius as a national minority using diplomatic instruments on the one hand, and supporting educational and cultural activities of Lithuanians in Vilnius on the other hand. The status and attitude of the Lithuanian Community of Vilnius underwent two stages, the watershed between them being March 15, 1923 when the Conference of Ambassadors recognised the eastern border of Poland, thus allocating Vilnius region to the Polish state. During the first stage (prior to March 15, 1923) the Lithuanian Community of Vilnius was directly engaged in the promotion of the idea that Vilnius was part of Lithuania and the capital city of the country. The Lithuanian Community for the most part focused on the representation of the interests of the Lithuanian state and defending Lithuania’s right to have Vilnius as the capital of the country rather than on the advocacy of the rights of the community (as an ethnic minority). During the second stage (after March 15, 1923) the Lithuanians of Vilnius assumed the role of an ethnic minority in the Polish state. At that time the Lithuanian Community strived to enhance its position in the city and consolidate Lithuanian cultural and educational centre in Vilnius.During the first stage the Lithuanian Community saw the representation of Vilnius as the capital of Lithuania as its key mission. During the second stage, however, the priorities of the Lithuanian Community of Vilnius shifted towards explicit representation of the fact of the existence of the Lithuanian Community, thus undeniably witnessing the Lithuanianess of Vilnius. In the course of the propaganda campaign aimed at liberating Vilnius, the existence of the Lithuanian Community of Vilnius served as a solid argument attesting the city’s Lithuanianess. The image of Lithuanians living in Vilnius region and suffering ethnic oppression, which was comprehensively covered by Lithuanian propaganda discourse, helped the Lithuanian society develop an awareness of Vilnius region as a natural Lithuanian space and Vilnius as a Lithuanian city and the capital of the country. [From the publication]