Document on the Lithuanian Teachers’ Congress in Vilnius in 1922

Abstract

In October 1920, the Polish authorities took control of Vilnius and its surrounding region through military means. Soon after, local government institutions were established under the supervision of a Polish government delegate sent from Warsaw. One of the structures under his authority was the Commissariat of Vilnius, which was responsible for monitoring and overseeing life in the city and the surrounding districts. The activities of various ethnic minorities, including Lithuanians, came under the scrutiny of this institution’s officials. The published document, which details the Lithuanian teachers’ congress held at the end of 1922, serves as an example of Lithuanian activity during this period. It reveals the negative perception of Lithuanians by local Polish authorities, their views on the future of Lithuanian education, and reflects the broader Lithuanian-Polish relations of the time. The document indicates that the Polish authorities regarded the Lithuanians of Vilnius and its region as agents of Lithuania who posed a threat to Polish influence in the area. As a result, there were proposals to restrict their educational activities.