Prof. Kazys Pakštas Lietuvos tarnyboje Amerikoje 1939-1940 metais

LTLietuvos valdžia, pasinaudojusi K. Pakšto pasiūlymu, nusamdė jį skaityti paskaitų JAV lietuviams, artinant Lietuvą prie išeivijos. Siekdama lietuvių išeivių visokeriopos paramos sudėtingu prieškario ir karo pradžios laikotarpiu, ji neatsitik- - tinai pasirinko mokslininką K. Pakštą, kaip tautininkų valdžios opozicinės krikdemų partijos vieną iš vadovų, kuris garantavo greitesnį išeivijos, ypač gausios katalikų visuomenės, pritarimą. Ne paskutinę vietą užėmė ir jo, kaip buvusio JAV lietuvio, statusas. Straipsnyje bandoma aptarti K. Pakšto pozicijas ir veiklą JAV bei Kanadoje, įvertinti jo pasiekimus, bandymą telkti skirtingas išeivių sroves, santykius su Lietuvos pasiuntiniu P. Žadeikių ir kitais atstovais bei išeivijos vadovais. Aptariamos jo pasilikimo JAV sąlygos. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Bendrasis organas; JAV; JAV lietuviai; K. Pakštas; Kanada; Kazys Pakštas; Lietuvos okupacija; Paskaitos apie Lietuvą; Povilas Žadeikis; TSRS, Vilniaus Problema; Canada; Common organ; K. Pakštas; Kazys Pakštas; Lectures on Lithuania; Lithuania; Occupation of Lithuania; Povilas Žadeikis; US Lithuanian diaspora; USA; USSR; Vilnius Question.

ENThe growing international tension in 1938-1940, the outbreak of the war and complex relations with the neighbours forced the Lithuanian Government to strengthen its relations with Lithuanians in exile. It used the proposal of Prof. Kazys Pakštas to deliver reports in Lithuanian American colonies by bringing Lithuania closer to Lithuanians in exile and seeking their support. The services of the former American Lithuanian, famous scientist and former oppositionist guaranteed good results. It is important to note that he had an authority in the large Lithuanian American Catholic society. On recommendation from the diplomat Voldemaras Čarneckis, the Lithuanian Government hired the professor until the end of 1939 and allocated the amount of 10,000 litas to cover his travelling and lecturing expenses and added 9,000 litas in 1940. He was committed to coordinate the route, time and topics of his lectures with the Lithuanian envoy in Washington Povilas Žadeikis. However, Pakštas was rather independent in the US: his routes were made by the public figures of Lithuanian American Catholics; he used to select the topics for his lectures at his own discretion with due regard to the audience. The professor attempted to maintain a correct but non-committal relationship with Žadeikis who would enlighten him on the latest news from Lithuania but carefully followed Pakštas’ activities and did not spare criticism in his letters to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Juozas Urbšys. Following the retrieval of Vilnius, Pakštas was that mouthpiece who evaluated the situation in Lithuania and the relations with the USSR in a bold and rather objective manner; he also observed the imminent dangers. The professor said and explained to Lithuanians in exile everything that could not be said by the Lithuanian press and official Lithuanian diplomats in the US.He was rather favourably received by Lithuanian American Nationalists and Socialists (except for the Communists). Pakštas did not only deliver lectures on the topics of international policy with a special focus on the Baltic states and a special highlight on Lithuania to Lithuanians in exile but also to English- speaking Americans and French-speaking Canadians who provided a certain financial support to him (to cover travel and accommodation costs). It was important in order to explain the conditions of the retrieval of Vilnius and the loss of Klaipėda to foreigners. While travelling across Lithuanian colonies in June 1939-May 1940 (he delivered 119 lectures to various audiences), Pakštas was well aware of the moods in exile. He was the first to warn the members of the Lithuanian government that for the time being the conditions were not favourable to bring together different patriotic movements in exile into a single political body - the Council - fighting for Lithuania’s independence. He also explained the limited possibilities of material support of Lithuanian Americans (the raising of funds for Lithuanian affairs) due to the detachment of Lithuanians in exile from their Homeland and the negative evaluation of the coup d’etat. Pakštas planned his comeback to Lithuania in the autumn of 1940 through the Far East and the Soviet Union. Petras Žadeikis obtained the visas of Japan and the USSR for that matter. In the beginning of July Kazys Pakštas, knowing what was happening in the occupied Lithuania and feeling the prospective annexation of his Homeland, refused to depart from the US and planned to seek employment in a university in the US until the end of the war by gradually joining the political activities of Lithuanian Americans. [From the publication]