The Beginning of United Political Activity of Lithuanian- American Patriotic Groups in 1947

Abstract

Abstract. The question of the political unity of the patriotic movements of Lithuanian Americans (Catholics, nationalists, leaguists, socialists) is one of the most important problems in the history of the diaspora. During World War II and the occupation of Lithuania, Lithuanian-American political activity was fractured, with the Lithuanian American Council and Lithuanian American Nationalist Organisations carrying out the same work of liberating Lithuania. Only at the end of 1947 did these competing organisations manage to come to an agreement to support the return of the Lithuanian American Nationalists to LAC as the fourth ideological movement. The reason why they agreed is the influence of VLIK and the fact that nationalists no longer impose preconditions and support the main documents of LAC operation. During the meeting, views on the number of members of each group were exchanged in the Council. The nationalists only requested to increase the number of representatives of each group to nine. The enlargement of the LAC Executive Committee and the division of members’ responsibilities were also discussed. This was left to decide to a specifically appointed commission.