Lithuanian Diplomatic Service

The Lithuanian Diplomatic Service was a network of Lithuanian diplomats who represented independent Lithuania after its occupation by the Soviet Union in June 1940. The service continued to function on the basis of pre-war embassies and consulates until the collapse of the Soviet Union in August 1991.

The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence. Lithuania, along with Latvia and Estonia, came into the Soviet sphere. Instead of an outright military invasion, the Soviets wanted to portray that the Baltic states joined the Soviet Union voluntarily. After unconditional acceptance the ultimatum of June 13, 1940, Lithuania was occupied by Red Army and the Lithuanian government was replaced by the Soviet-approved People's Government. Republic of Lithuania was converted into the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic and officially annexed to the Soviet Union on August 3.

The United States did not recognize the annexation as legitimate according to the long-standing Stimson Doctrine. The Welles Declaration of July 23, 1940, applied the doctrine to the Baltic situation. The Executive Order 8484 protected financial assets of the Baltic states. Many western countries followed the American example and did not recognize the occupation. This formed the basis for the state continuity of the Baltic states and enabled Lithuanian diplomats stationed in various embassies and consulates continue their work on behalf of the independent Lithuania.

Already in November 1939, Lithuanian diplomats presented a memorandum to President Antanas Smetona suggesting several reforms that, in case of an emergency, would enable them to form a government in exile and continue to perform diplomatic functions with limited interruptions. However, the only change was a coded telegram number 288, variously dated from May 30 to June 3, 1940, from Minister of Foreign Affairs Juozas Urbšys that in case of a "catastrophe" Stasys Lozoraitis, Minister Plenipotentiary in Rome, was appointed as the chief of diplomacy. Petras Klimas in Paris and Jurgis Šaulys in Bern were appointed as Lozoraitis' deputies. Therefore, the diplomats were caught unprepared and disorganized when Lithuania lost its independence.

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