Lithuanian – Latvian consular cooperation in Vladivostok (1921–1922)

The present paper compares the geography of Lithuanian and Latvian consular representation in Siberia, the FER and the Provisional Priamurye Government in the period 1920–1922 and reveals the episodes of cooperation between Lithuanian and Latvian consular representatives in Vladivostok and the intention to transfer the consular representation of Lithuanian citizens to the consul of Latvia Mārtiņš Skujiņš in 1922. A review of Lithuanian and Latvian consular representation in Siberia, the FER and the Provisional Priamurye Government shows that Latvia had a far more extensive network of consular representations and used to appoint consular officers of higher rank. Latvia and Lithuania established consular representations in the places with the largest colonies of their fellow-countrymen and the highest number of refugees and optants. A similar practice of consular representation was followed – consular representatives to Siberia and the Far East resided in Vladivostok (they were appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and the latter would appoint consular agents for maintaining contact with regional centres, who usually had the status of honorary consular agents and were not remunerated for their work. China was under the jurisdiction of the consuls of both countries in Vladivostok; Japan was next to China in the case of Latvia. Several episodes of cooperation of Lithuanian and Latvian consular representatives in Vladivostok prompt an assumption that a regular contact was maintained and, if necessary, they substituted for each other at work and provided assistance in the delivery of diplomatic correspondence. The idea of assigning the consular representation of Lithuanian citizens to Latvian consul Mārtiņš Skujiņš in 1922 received opposition from the acting Lithuanian authorised representative in Vladivostok Kazimieras Jocis; therefore, it was not put into practiceVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŠvietimo akademij