Akshat Lal Vilna (Vilnius Dispute)

Background
• Many years before 1920, Vilna had been taken
over by Russia (1795).
• Vilna had been the capital of Lithuania in the
Middle Ages.
• Lithuania re established post WW1.
• In 1920 30% Polish, 2% Lithuanian.
• In 1920, the Poles seized Vilna.
What Happened After
the Poles Seized
Vienna

• Lithuania wanted the region to be its capital as it had always

been but the poles had seized it (launched in April 1919).
• They set up a puppet state (Central Lithuania from 1920-22).
• A regional parliament decided to merge this region with
Poland- vote.
• The League accepted this decision, Lithuania was not happy
and refused to establish regular diplomatic decisions with
Poland till 1938 ultimatum.
Leagues
Actions
• When Lithuania appealed for help
the league just protested to
Poland.
• Britain and France were not
prepared to act.
• The Diet (regional parliament)
voted (Feb 1923) to incorporate
central Lithuania into Poland.
• This decision was later accepted by
the League’s council- set the
border along the Foch Line- with
Vilna in Poland on March 15th
1923.
 I believe it was a failure:
1. It allowed the aggressor (Poland) to forcefully take territory
therefore failing to discourage aggression.
2. It showed the flaw of the league that Britain and France were
overly powerful and didn’t support the league(A plan was
drawn up, a resolution passed to send peacekeeping forces but
Success or 3.
it was put on hold for political reasons ie. Britain and France)
Lithuania was not happy with the outcome therefore it didn’t

Failure arrange diplomatic relations with Poland till 1938 upon the
Polish ultimatum (no international cooperation and not
discouraging aggression).
4. Showed that ‘moral condemnation’ (ie step 1) was not a strong
measure- weakness of the league’s method.
5. One reasons why it could be seen as a success- accepted a
decisions based on a vote (self determination)