The Representation of the Council of Lithuania in Germany Second Stage (1918 March 31–1918 November 15)

Abstract

The study concerns with the second stage of the representation carried out by the Council of Lithuania (since 1918, July the 11th – Council of the Lithuanian State) from the 31st of March 1918 – the establishment of the Lithuanian Bureau in Berlin – until the 15th of November, 1918 – the assignment of Jurgis Šaulys, the Lithuanian diplomatic representative, to the legation of Lithuania in Berlin. The purpose of the study – to reveal the specifics of the representation of the Council of Lithuania in Germany from the 31st of March, 1918 until the 15th of November, 1918.

A noteworthy trait of the second stage of the representation of the Council of Lithuania (from the 31st of March, 1918 until the 15th of November, 1918) in Germany is that the Lithuanian National Council (in Lausanne) (Conceil National Lituanien) wanted to take over the representation of the Council of Lithuania in Germany, by establishing a Lithuanian Bureau in Berlin and appointing their „delegates“, financing their activities in Germany. In reality, the subordination of the chosen „delegates“ by the Lithuanian National Council (in Lausanne) was disrupted by the authorisations given to them by Council of Lithuania on the 27th of May, 1918, according to which they had to tender their activities with the Council of Lithuania. The decisions about activities in Germany made by the Lithuanian National Council (in Lausanne) were only tendered with the Presidium of the Council of Lithuania, mainly with A. Smetona, who was paid a salary by the Lithuanian National Council (in Lausanne) for this. The representatives to discuss the procurement of supplies for prisoners of war and their returning were chosen by the Presidium of the Council of Lithuania, and this activity was financed by the Council of Lithuania from the funds dedicated for exiles and for the return of prisoners of war. In the middle of September to the end of October of 1918, the Lithuanian Bureau in Berlin, upon arrival of four representatives of the Council of the Lithuanian State have expanded their competencies with regards to the provisions and return of prisoners, and on the 28th of October 1918, after choosing K. Olšauskas as the representative of the Lithuanian state in Germany, the Bureau transformed into the representative office of the Council of the Lithuanian state in Berlin, which helped lay the foundations of diplomatic representation of Lithuania in Germany.