The propaganda of Juozas Gabrys for Lithuania before 1914

During World War I, the Lithuanian politician in exile, Juozas GabrysParsaitis, acquired a certain notoriety on account of his somewhat controversial activities. Accordingly, his political efforts before and after the war have been somewhat neglected by historians.1 This neglect seems unjustified, particularly when the importance of his activities during his Parisian exile are considered, not only for the Lithuanian question, but also for the national movements in Europe in general. Gabrys had already played an active, if not a leading, role in the revolution of 1905 in Lithuania.2 Because of the persecution of the revolutionaries by the Russians in 1906, he had to flee the country. At first, he emigrated to Lausanne, and in 1907 to Paris. In doing so, he followed the path of many emigrants from Russia, who already numbered some 25,000 at that time. Approximately 4,500 of them were politically active.3 Gabrys studied law and history at the Sorbonne and was helped in particular by the famous French professor of history, Charles Seignobos, and by Mrs. Menard-Dorian, who directed a renowned literary and political salon in Paris.4 By 1910, Gabrys had written several books on the history and the literature of Lithuania. He also edited literary works, such as the profusely illustrated edition of the works of his political teacher, Vincas Kudirka, a study on the battle of Tannenberg-Grunwald, books on Lithuanian geography and Lithuanian language, as well as two literary anthologies of Lithuanian writers.3 These books were not as unpolitical as the topics suggest. Via such woik, Gabrys sought to demonstrate that Lithuania had a rich history and an important cultural tradition, and hence merited as a Kulturnation an identity as an autonomous state. Such an approach indicates that Gabrys was following the tradition of culturally-oriented Lithuanian nationalism, a tradition which had been begun by Jonas Basanavieius and Vincas Kudiika.6 In 1910, a new and more intense phase of Gabrys' activities began. With the financial support of the Society of Lithuanian Patriots in the United States

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