Литовское консульство в Кёнигсберге: обстоятельства основания и первый год работы (1921)

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: H. Hasfordas; Hermann Hasford; Karaliaučius; Konsulatas; Lietuvos konsulatas Karaliaučiuje; V. J. Gylys; Vytautas Jonas Gylys; Consulate; H. Hasford; Hermann Hasford; Koenigsberg; Lithuania; Lithuanian Consulate in Karaliaučius; V. J. Gylys; Vytautas Jonas Gylys.

ENLithuania failed to fulfil its promise made on 12 July 1920 to establish a consulate in November 1920 due to the following reasons: 1) qualified civil servants were lacking; 2) the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was directed towards relations with Poland in the context of Lucjan Zeligowski's occupation of the Vilnius Region; 3) a systematic preparation to incorporate the Klaipėda region to Lithuania was not initiated. Following the appointment of Herman Hasford to the position of vice-consul in Königsberg on 1 March 1921, the preparation for the establishment of the consulate evolved in several stages: 1) the budget was drawn up and potential premises were found for consulate's office; 2) the staff of the consulate was formed and the training was provided in the fields of consular work and management; 3) specific scheduled works were accomplished. The analysis of the first steps of Vytautas Jonas Gylys in Königsberg shows that the arrival of the consul was warmly welcomed by the highest local authorities. The Lithuanian consul managed to find out the interests of the Oberpräsident (provincial governor), the Oberbürgermeister (lord mayor) and the authorities of the Handelskammer (the Chamber of Commerce) and their expectations in terms of the relations with Lithuania. [From the publication]