Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, Europe, Volume IV

740.0011 European War 1939/7–2444: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, July 24, 1944—9 p.m.
[Received July 26—6:58 a.m.]

2737. The Embassy has sent forward a number of telegrams reporting material appearing in the Soviet press concerning the liberation of Vilna¹⁴ and the Soviet advance into Lithuanian territory. I wish now to point out certain implications of these developments which have not been stressed in press material.

(1) The Soviet attitude toward the Lithuanians has been outwardly somewhat more benevolent in recent years than toward the Latvians and Estonians. This was caused by various factors including, probably, common differences with Germany and Poland, the fact that Lithuania was a victim of German aggression in Memel¹⁵ and the fact that Lithuania did not sign a pact with Hitler just prior to the outbreak of the war. Apparently this relatively favorable attitude will continue to be manifested.

(2) Every evidence shows that the Soviets intend to restore to Soviet Lithuania the same status within the Soviet system as existed there immediately prior to June 21, 1941. The Soviet press has stated that committees would be formed to administer Lithuanian territory as it is liberated. There is no indicated [indication] that any important change is contemplated in the composition of high Lithuanian Government and party organs. It is noted that the head of the Lithuanian Communist Party, Snyeichkus,¹⁶ and the President of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic Palyotskis,¹⁷ are already in Vilna; but there is no evidence that they or their colleagues have yet resumed their functions. Nor has there been any report of the creation of a Committee for Foreign Affairs for the Lithuanian Republic. Presumably the local Soviet Lithuanian administration will be restored when larger portions of Lithuanian territory have been liberated.

(3) As far as can now be judged, the territorial limits of Soviet Lithuania will include, at least all of the territory composing the republic before the German invasion. Despite its very small Lithuanian population, the Soviet press has made it evident that Vilna will again be the capital city. As reported in my 2641, July 18,¹⁸ it has been stated in the Soviet press that Vilna has been returned forever to the Lithuanian people. This would appear to dispose of any conjecture that this district might be returned to Poland. The Vilna District will presumably be assigned to Lithuania in the same delimitation as in 1940. The Department will recall at that time a small portion of the Vilna Woewodstwo,¹⁹ together with the entire Vileika Woewodstwo, was included in the Byelo-Russian Republic. This arrangement will presumably continue.

(4) The Soviet press has yet given no indication of Soviet intentions concerning Memel. It would be natural to expect this district to be returned to the Lithuanian Republic. Its final disposition, however, may depend on Soviet plans with respect to northern East Prussia.

(5) The Suwalki District adjacent to Lithuania presents a special problem. This territory was an integral part of Poland in 1939, was included in the German sphere of interest in the second and final German-Russian demarcation²⁰ in the fall of that year and was subsequently, as I understand, actually incorporated into East Prussia. It is said to have considerable strategic value. The Poles could claim it as a former part of Polish territory well west of the Curzon Line. It might, on the other hand, be considered part of East Prussia and share whatever fate may await the northern portion of that province. An article in the Soviet press by a leading Soviet Lithuanian official, however, mentions a peasant uprising in the Suwalki District as a part of the resistance movement of the Lithuanian people against the Germans; so there is apparently a possibility that the province may be assigned to Lithuania.

Harriman

14. Soviet armed forces entered Vilna during the night of July 8–9. A special Order of the Day for July 13 announced the capture of the city.
15. The Germans seized Memel on March 23, 1939, after an ultimatum to Lithuania. See Foreign Relations, 1939, vol. i, pp. 87–90, 103–104, and Documents on German Foreign Policy, 1918–1945, series D, vol. v, pp. 418–532.
16. Antanas Sniečkus (Sniecnkus), First Secretary of the Communist Party of Lithuania.
17. Justas Paleckis.
18. Not printed.
19. A voyevodstvo was an administrative region similar to a province.
20. The text of the Supplementary Protocol on the delimitation of the Polish boundary was signed in Moscow on October 4, 1939; Documents on German Foreign Policy, 1918–1945, series D, vol. viii, p. 208.