Prezidento Antano Smetonos atvykimas į JAV 1941 metais ir išeivijos pozicija

• Authors: Juozas Skirius

Abstracts

EN

Following his departure from Lithuania on June 15, 1940, President Antanas Smetona stayed in Germany until he made a decision to relocate to the US. This decision was influenced not only by the unfavourable conditions of living in Europe but also by the continual instigation of his family (son, son-in-law, wife and sister-in-law J. Tūbelienė). He had aspirations to find a livelihood in the US, take up creative work, participate in the activities of Lithuanian émigrés and organize the struggle for the liberation of Lithuania. US authorities, however, unwilling to deal with A. Smetona’s political activities, on September 14 issued him with the visa on the condition of written promise to enter the US as a private person rather than an official. In September of 1940 the news about the possible arrival of the President in the US created a stir among the local Lithuanians. Wider right-wing stratums of the émigrés were for the most part excited about the possibility to meet the President of Lithuania. P. Žadeikis, Lithuanian envoy to Washington, and consuls J. Budrys and P. daužvardis coherently acted as if A. Smetona still was the President of Lithuania but was visiting the US as a private person. Members of Lithuanian National Union in emigration recognized the legitimacy of the President, approved of A. Smetona’s arrival, were excited about it and made necessary preparations. Socialist leaders in emigration, however, neither approved of the arrival nor recognized him as legitimate President of Lithuania and émigrés of communist deviation resorted to severe criticism. The most numerous movement of the émigrés – the Catholics – exercised the politics of tacking. First of all the difference of opinion was outward among the Catholic elite. Secondly, this was the period of formation of the American Lithuanian Council (Lietuvai gelbėti taryba/Amerikos lietuvių taryba) – collective institution of the leading political powers in emigration (Catholics, nationalists and socialists) and its stability was the primary aim especially for the Catholics. Thus, the Catholics recognized A. Smetona as the legitimate President of Lithuania yet spoke against his possible participation in political activities in emigration pointing at his political errors. The contradiction in the attitudes that the movements adopted towards A. Smetona was accountable for the oncoming political split among the patriotic émigrés. Lithuanian nationalists in New York were the first to show initiative and make preparations for the welcome of A. Smetona. As advised by Lithuanian diplomats, they addressed all émigré political movements inviting to join forces. On January 22, 1941 the Committee for the Reception of the President of Lithuania (Lietuvos prezidentui priimti komitetas) was constituted in New York on the basis of the commission summoned by the nationalists. However, it was J. Budrys, Lithuanian Consul General, who initiated the constitution of the said committee as he invited all Lithuanians in the US to cooperate. Catholic activists L. šimutis (editor in chief of Lithuanian periodical draugas (“Companion”) and the President of American Lithuanian Council) and J. Laučka (editor in chief of Lithuanian periodical Amerika (“America”)) requested the formation of such committee. The committee for the most part consisted of nationalists with few sandariečiai and one Catholic - J. Laučka. The leadership of the Lithuanian Roman Catholic Federation of America decided to play it safe and delegated J. Laučka, the representative of New York region of the Federation, to A. Smetona’s reception instead of a representative from the Centre. A. Smetona’s welcome on March 10, 1941 and reception dinner on March 13 were attended by representatives of all major émigré political movements with the exception of socialists and communists. In his speech the President presented the fact of his emigration as resistance to Moscow, encouraged the émigrés to join forces in the struggle for the liberation of Lithuania and promised to stay out of political activities in emigration.

• Publisher: Lietuvos istorijos institutas
• Journal: Lietuvos istorijos metraštis
• Year: 2010
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 77-91

Dates

published

2010

Contributors

author

Juozas Skirius

• Vilniaus pedagoginis universitetas

Identifiers

Biblioteka Nauki

57628044