Large Polish forces were massed on the Lithuanian frontier, ready to march on Kaunas unless an ultimatum is answered favorably this afternoon. The demands include regular diplomatic relations, trade and communications facilities and recognition of Poland’s title to Vilna. Lithuania made offers to negotiate and Germany urged Poland not to use force.
Germany still poured troops into Austria, apparently headed toward the Italian, Czechoslovak and Yugoslav borders. Propaganda agencies called on the people for an outpouring today for the occasion of Hitler’s speech to the Reichstag. Its nature was not made known. Decrees uniting Austrian activities with those of the Reich were swiftly issued.
In Vienna there were widespread arrests. They included “clericals” who were accused of spreading false rumors. What was called “a great Spring cleaning” resulted in not only the arrest of Jews but continued driving them from employment and business. There was much pillaging, but the Nazis disavowed it.
The British Cabinet and Conservative party were badly divided over policy on Continental events, but an open revolt was not expected. Premier Blum received a vote of confidence, 369 to 196, but failed to draw the Right into a Cabinet of national union. Soviet Russia asked for an immediate conference of powers – excluding Germany, Italy and Japan – to deal with the menace to world peace.
The note, which was sent by way of Tallinn, Estonia, asks, it is believed in the tone of an ultimatum, that Lithuania agree to the following:
First, the establishment of normal diplomatic and consular relations with Poland.
Second, the opening of the Polish-Lithuanian frontier for normal road and railway traffic and direct telephone and telegraph connections.
Third, a change in those parts of the Lithuanian Constitution that proclaim Vilna to be the capital of Lithuania.
Fourth, the conclusion of a convention for the mutual protection of minorities and full rights for the Polish minority in Lithuania.
Fifth, the conclusion of a trade and tariff convention.
Sixth, full satisfaction for the recent frontier incident in which a Polish soldier was killed.
Columns of armored cars, a few divisions of motorized infantry and artillery and several squadrons of heavy bombers are awaiting orders at the border. The fifty-odd miles separating the frontier from Kaunas can be covered by motorized units in two or three hours. Troops would also be landed from planes on the Kaunas airfield.
The Poles do not expect strong resistance from the small Lithuanian army, which consists in peace time of 24,000 men – eight infantry, two cavalry and three artillery regiments and several motorized battalions. Fifty thousand “Shaulis” – members of a semi-militarized rifle society – can also be mobilized for defense.
Polish experts believe that the Lithuanian army’s equipment is poor. Lithuania has no war industries and her arms an munitions are of mixed origin and outdated.
The Polish Minister of War, General Tadeus Kasprzycki, is in Vilna and has personally supervised preparations for the troop movements.
The gravity of the situation was indicated to the Polish public in the following brief communiqué this morning:
“The Polish Government has taken the necessary steps in connection with the incident provoked by Lithuanians on the Polish-Lithuanian frontier.”
The authorities refuse to reveal the nature of these “steps.”
Nothing has yet been heard from Kaunas, but Warsaw hopes the Lithuanian Government will yield to its demands. Estonia and Latvia have tried to convince the Lithuanians not to reject the ultimatum.
It is felt here that the Soviet Union will not move in support of Lithuania.
It is predicted that should Warsaw order the march on Lithuania a proclamation would be made to the Lithuanians explaining the reasons for the occupation. They would be invited to select a government that would make peace with Poland and conclude a lasting political agreement. The Polish troops would then move out, since Warsaw has no desire to annex Lithuania.
Tomorrow, when the note expires, is Marshal Smigly-Rydz’s name day. The vigil of St. Edward’s Day was celebrated throughout Poland tonight and a torchlight procession of more than 100,000 marched through Warsaw’s principal streets to the Marshal’s house to pay homage to the Commander in Chief of the army.
Anti-Lithuanian speeches were made and a pledge was taken to stand by the army in this hour of emergency. “Lead us to Kovno [Kaunas]!” the crowd shouted.
WARSAW, March 17 (AP). – One hundred thousand persons, massed in Pilsudski Square, clamored tonight for strong action against Lithuania. Posters appeared saying, “We don’t want normalization of relations, we want annexation – we want Kovno.”
There were similar demonstrations at Cracow, Lodz, Lwow and Vilna.
KAUNAS, Lithuania, March 17 (AP). – The Lithuanian Government has received a note from Poland demanding a reply within forty-eight hours to a demand for settlement of their differences. The note was of “ultimative character,” it was disclosed tonight.
Earlier in the day Colonel Stasys Dirmantas, the Defense Minister, had told the Diet the government was preparing to close the incident on a legal basis. His statement and the return of a Lithuanian policeman allegedly held by the Poles in a series of border incidents had served to ease tension arising from the situation.
BERLIN, March 17 (AP). – The German Government, through its Ambassador at Warsaw, tonight urged Poland to refrain from pressing the Lithuanian issue to a point where forcible measures would become inevitable.
At this time of international tension, it was pointed out, the German Government deemed it inadvisable to aggravate the situation.
It was believed confidentially here that Germany’s representations, added to those of France and Great Britain in both Warsaw and Kaunas, would bring about appeasement.
PARIS, March, 17 (AP). – Lithuania, through her Minister to Paris, tonight notified Poland that she was ready to discuss settlement of the difficulties between the two nations. The communication was delivered by the Lithuanian Minister, Petras Klimas, to the Polish Ambassador, Jules Lukasiewicz.
Mr. Klimas, acting in the name of the Lithuanian Government, informed M. Lukasiewicz for transmission to Warsaw that Lithuania was ready to designate a diplomatic representative to meet an authorized representative of Poland. The meeting would be held in a neutral city, possibly Paris.
The task of the two men would be first to define clearly the positions of the two nations, and then to discuss a possible means of settlement.
A Lithuanian Legation spokesman said that Mr. Klimas had talked with M. Lukasiewicz at the Polish Embassy and that he expected an answer before Saturday.
“It is now up to Poland,” he added.
The Polish Embassy declined to make a statement.
Mr. Skirpa told the press that his country would resist any ultimatum with all its forces. He seemed, however, to be less pessimistic than any League circles regarding the future.
He said his government had informed him that the German population of Memel was quiet and unlike the German minorities in other countries had not sent Chancellor Hitler felicitations on his Austrian coup.
A reminder that just because the Poles were eventually victims of German aggression, it does not mean that they were themselves unwilling to use aggression against a weaker nation when convenient.
We have a modern tendency to assume that all victims are saints. Just not true.
This crisis doesn’t get much mention in the history books. I guess few people care to remember Poland going after Lithuania while ignoring the real danger.