39 POLITIKOS MOKSLŲ ALMANACHAS 19 ISSN 2029-0225 (spausdintas), ISSN 2335-7185 (internetinis) http://dx.doi.org/10.7220/2335-7185.19.2 NORMALIZATION OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN POLAND AND LITHUANIA IN 1938 RAFAŁ CIEŚLA Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics, University of Wrocław, Poland Email: rafal.ciesla@uwr.edu.pl TADEUSZ JUCHNIEWICZ Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics, University of Wrocław, Poland Email: tadeusz.juchniewicz@uwr.edu.pl Relations between Poland and Lithuania in the interwar period were determined by an abundance of events which difered in complexity and importance. Tese events had to a smaller or greater degree an infuence on the shape of the conscience of the ruling elite and also the conscience of both Lithuanian and Polish citizens. Te consequences of the mostly unfortunate events were issues which caused some diferences in adopted positions on important social and political matters. Te eforts for normalization of diplomatic relations between Poland and Lithuania were undoubtedly taken by both of the countries, thus, on diferent levels of engagement. It was, however, the problem of diferent positions they adopted that unfortunately prevented them from reaching the goal of normalization in their diplomatic relations. Te lack of agreement led to the Polish ultimatum note directed at Lithuanian government. Te ultimatum note of 17 th of March 1938 for Lithuania concerned the normalization of relations between Po- land and Lithuania according to the international customs since the previous lack of the relations through Lithuania’s fault created a very unfavorable situation. Since the end of the I World War, the relations between Poland and Lithuania had not been cor- rect. Te two neighboring countries did not have direct railway, post or road connection. In modern times it was something unusual and unheard of. It is worth mentioning that