Relations between Lithuania and]
Poland have been strained ever since the first years of the post-War period, when in 1920, a Polish army coupled Vilna, the former Lithuanian north of the Niemen, thus driving a wedge between Lithtiania and Soviet Russia"
The Lithuanians have never agreed to that occupation even after. the Allied Powers in 1923 had decided that Vilna was definitely Polish. They transferred their capital to Kaunas, and retaliated by closing the Niemen and the port of Memel to the Poles.
The League of Nations since then has unsuccessfully attempted to solve the dispute.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that Germany claims Memel and its surrounding territory, attributed to Lithuania by the Versailles Treaty, as a part of East Prussian territory which must be returned to the Third Reich—Havas.
Marshal Edward—Rydz-Smigly, Chief Inspector (Commander-in-Chief) of the Polish Army, arrived at Vilna to-day and was welcomed with great enthusiasm by huge crowds, who shouted: "March to Kaunas and seize Lithuant The Polish ultimatum has not, yet been published, but it is stated to set a time limit for a reply from the Lithuanian Government, Among other things it is said to reject Lithuania's proposal for the appointment of a mixed commission to study. the frontier dispute, and demands the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which have been severed ever since Poland seized Vilna in 1920, and the appointment of a Lithuanian representative to Warsaw before March 31.
'The situation between Poland and Lithuania became tense early this: week when several incidents were' reported on the frontier. The first alleged that a Polish soldier had: deen killed by Lithuanian guards. Subsequently, relations became even more strained when fifteen Polish soldiers were stated to have crossed the frontier and kidnapped a Lith~ vuanian policeman—Reuter.
"Wait AVEWGHED AS' LiFMUANIA BOWS TO POLAND
Polish Troops Massed Tallinn, Mar, 18.
Havas learns from well-informed sources that Polish troops are massed fon two places near the Lithuanian Border, They are ready to enter Lithvanian territory and march on Kaunas if the Polish ultimatum is rejected, "The troops would move on March 19, which happens to be Marshal Plidsudsky's birthday, Kaunas, the Lithuanian capital, is 50 miles from the border, Polish authorities expect little re~ wslange from the Lithuanian army. It ig believed that the Polish army would publish an appeal to the Lithuanian population, calling for the resignation of the Lithuanian Go ernment and asking that the new government agree to. re-establish diplomatic relations with Poland. Polish troops would then leave Kaunas and) Lithuanian ferriter Hovas.
Commons Informed London, Mar. 18.
"Poland has delivered an ultimatum to Lithuania, with a time limit of 36 hours, embracing conditions she considers' indispensable for the avoidance of further incidents," announced the Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, in the House of Commons to-day at' question time.
The British Ambassador in Warsaw, he added, had expressed a hope to Poland that the dispute would not be used as a pretext for making wider demands. The British Govern ment, Int, Chamberlain informed the House, was in touch with both the Polish and Lithuanian governments, "The terms of the ultimatum have not yet been published, but messages from Warsaw indicate that the pring cipal demand fy for a renewal of diplomatic relations, which have been severed since the Polish seizure of Vilna in 1920.
It is understood that the ultimatum does not, however, require Lithuania to renounce her claims to Vilna, but requires a change in her Constitution, which describes Vina as Lithuan:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.