Memel Territory (Twilight of a New Era)

The Memel Territory, was created by the Treaty of Versailles in 1920 as a League of Nations mandate. It borders to the north-east with Lithuania and to South with East Prussia.



Its administration is in charge of France. A referendum, in a date not determined by the Treaty would be called to establish its status has: union with Lithuania or East Prussian or keep its present status.

The Memel Territory had no important industry, being dependent economically of Lithuania and East Prussia. The French administration agreed with the local authorities in giving economical subsidies and preferential tariff for French goods. Studies and funds for reconstruction of port infrastructure where negotiated.

The economic crisis of 1930 changed the status of Memel Territory. The economic aid given by France was planned to severely cut down and the reconstruction and modernisation of the port infrastructure was writing off. The Commission of Government, with the agreement of the LoN, transfer the mandate to Lithuania despite diplomatic protest from East Prussia, Poland and Germany. The Memel Convention signed between France, on behalf of the LoN, and Lithuania established the former mandate has an autonomous region of Lithuania.