Peace must be right, honorable

Both of these dates are the discovery of Lithuania to the discovery of NATO and the long missing document, which seems to be even more important in today’s geopolitical context. The conversation with the European Parliament (EP), a scientist, discoverer of the February 16 act, professor Liudas Mažylis, a member of the Act of February 16, Vytautas Magnus University (VMU).

-How special is March 29th this year?

-Our entry to NATO’s day has a special meaning, especially since 2022, in the context of Russia’s aggressive war in Ukraine. It now marks some confusion in our global thinking. While observing the actions of the US administration, some are questioned by the strength of NATO foundation. It seems like that confusion goes on for a very long time, but those processes are still very fresh, and March 29 is becoming another opportunity to rethink everything.

– Is the position of US President Donald Trump shaking the foundations of NATO?

– the foundations did not move. I do not want to believe that one person’s actions have reduced security guarantees. But that shook Europe, I can really testify. We can no longer delay: it is necessary to increase your own contribution to the security of the continent. The EP is now specifically the subject of things that have to be effectively dealt with much earlier. It has to be operational. I am saddened that President Trump did three bad work. One is duties and tariffs. The second is just 17 percent. awarded to the US International Development Agency (USAID), and the third is postulated that the borders of the states are no longer in touch and that Ukraine will be required to « shrink ». All this is like a good thing, for peace. But neither I nor Lithuania nor Europe will ever accept peace at all costs. Peace must be right, honorable.

Collection: The last find of L. Mažylis is the signature of the signatories of the signatories J. Vileišis on permission to build the building. Photo by Edgar Cickiewicz

– How do you look at the actions of the new US administration in general, and can they be distinguished from Trump’s actions and words?

– Oh, one is what Mr Trump spontaneously rolves, the other that the administration prepares to him and he just says, and the third – what he does. We see retreat in the hybrid war. The fact that the Kremlin’s narratives are repeated by his lips. On the other hand, this must not reduce long -term confidence in the US as an important partner.

– Doesn’t it pay attention to Russia, Russia?

– Definitely so. EP I work in various committees, I am a replacement member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. For example, we see problematic processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Syria. In both cases, Russia’s « ears protrude ». And we are already tired of repeating that the aggressor is Russia. Her aggressiveness will not subside, and there the military industry has been out there, so we must arrange anyway.

– What specific actions do this require from the EP?

– There are a few important things to do in these couple of weeks. One, we were presented with a white book for arms. Well, the amount of defense for defense directly from the EU budget is ridiculously low, so you will have to borrow. It is not bad in itself, but not all states will be equally interested in it. Romanians, Poles, we are more. It is urgently analyzed what priorities are to be made to compensate for business restrictions. Of course, we voted on an unchanged determination to continue to support Ukraine. We provided solid support in Moldova.

The people of the February 16 era thought to the century ahead.

-March 29th is important and something else. Eight years ago you found the original of the February 16 act in the German diplomatic archive. How did the plan of those times go there as the year move, and you still find it today?

– I pick up the notes at that time and try to trace it. Then I was a professor, salary solid, as much as € 1,000! I think I have nothing to live creatively! This is the centenary of the state that is approaching, and the main document is supposedly disappearing. Is it really? VMU does not suppress the creativity, interdisciplinity flourishes, and you do not have to explain for a long time what you are knocking on that Berlin, you can travel, just not to go to a mission fund. Well, I’m neither a historian nor the archivist, so I have the solid foundations of other sciences, and even the skills of the collector, I felt, can be useful. I relied on the principle of the greatest probability because I had studied that one copy of the act had to be sent to Germany. As it turned out, with all signatures of the signatories, so the original. The German proficiency was also useful. In January 2017, I applied for work in Berlin. Thus, a collector’s excitement, academic and personal freedom, the upcoming centenary of the state and, as it turned out to be adventurousism, was formed, though I had never found such a trait.

– You probably often ask why professional historians have not found?

– It seems to me very simply. The circumstances of the Act of February 16 were well known and documented, so big scientific breakthroughs may not have been expected. And scientists are not required to look for artifacts. Meanwhile, I was interested in the folder « The Future of the Baltic Provinces: Lithuania ». It turns out that there was that important document there. It was also true that my assumption that could be comprised not with February, but with March documents, after all, in March 1918, Germany recognized Lithuania. I discovered there. Who could have known about it? The sources were not mentioned. When it comes to it, one believes that everything is lawful and otherwise could not be.

-Do you think there was and what was the impact to rethink the value of February 16?

– The century has given such an opportunity. The people of the February 16 era thought to the century ahead. They had to realize that what they would build, what foundations to put together, would determine the life of future generations. February 16 was just the beginning, meticulous and hard work then only began and continued all that important twenty years of independence. Now, a hundred years later, if we see us from beyond, I think he is happy. And that we live in a flourishing state. And that we don’t forget them.

-Has the emergence of the February 16 act encouraged others to look for and find other things?

– During those eight years, many meetings were told by the audience: drive and search, find that and that, you are lucky. It is difficult to say whether others have led to others, but the fact that various finds have spilled after 2017. See, rebel graves were discovered, the remains of Adolfas Ramanauskas-Vanags were recognized, the Tilze Act appeared in the underworld of the Insignia Cathedral.

– And personally, do you still find it?

– The nature of my activity has changed over the years, but the excitement is still creating. For example, my last find is the theme of signatories to my daddy, Professor Pranas Mažylis to build a building in Kaunas. On it is an autograph of the signatory: he was signed by Jonas Vileišis, the then Kaunas mayor. And there was no need to go to Berlin, and our family archives appeared. But that’s symbolic. After all, this was what Lithuania was on February 16th.