The Proclamation to the Inhabitants of the Former Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a bilingual proclamation, formulated by Józef Pià Âsudski and distributed mainly in Vilnius (Wilno) on April 22, 1919. The proclamation was printed in the Polish and Lithuanian languages after Polish forces captured Vilnius in the Vilna offensive during the PolishâÂÂSoviet War. It was a statement of Pià Âsudski's political intentions, and contained a blueprint for his MiÃÂdzymorze federation. The declaration was sharply criticized by both Polish and Lithuanian nationalists.
In issuing the proclamation bilingually, Pià Âsudski was appealing to the Lithuanians, hoping to recreate the PolishâÂÂLithuanian Commonwealth. The style of the proclamation, the ideas contained within it, and the dramatic turn of phrase were definitely Pià Âsudski's, and reflected his position on the political and military situation he wished to resolve. Pià Âsudski pledged to ordain "elections which would take place on the basis of secret, universal and direct voting, without distinction between the sexes" and to "create an opportunity for settling your nationality problems and religious affairs in a manner that you yourself will determine, without any kind of force or pressure from Poland."
Pià Âdudski's proclamation was aimed at showing good will both to Lithuanians and international diplomats. It succeeded with the latter, as the proclamation dealt a blow to the image of 'Polish conquest' and replaced it with the image of 'Poland fighting with Bolshevik dictatorship and liberating other nations'. However, the Lithuanians who demanded exclusive control over the city saw the proclamation as a facade for Polish imperialism. Pià Âsudski's words also caused much controversy on the Polish political scene as they were not debated in the Sejm. This caused much anger among Pià Âsudski's opponents from the National Democracy faction. Deputies from Polish People's Party demanded incorporation of the Vilnius Region into Poland, and even accused Pià Âsudski of treason. However Pià Âsudski's supporters in the Polish Socialist Party managed to deflect those attacks.