Declaration of Independence of Lithuania 16.02.1918
Restored Independence

At the end of World War I, international circumstances arose for the establishment of the modern Republic of Lithuania. On September 18–22, 1917, a Lithuanian conference held in Vilnius adopted a resolution on an independent state, and the Council of Lithuania was elected, which essentially prepared for the restoration of statehood. The statement made by the Council of Lithuania on December 11, 1917 proclaimed the restoration of Independent Lithuania, but also envisaged strong ties with Germany. On January 26, 1918, Steponas Kairys, a member of the Council of Lithuania, proposed to the Council of Lithuania to proclaim the restoration of Independent Lithuania without ties with Germany, but the majority of the Council rejected this proposal. For this reason, four members of the Council (S. Kairys, Mykolas Biržiška, Stanislovas Narutavičius, Jonas Vileišis) withdrew from the Council.

The withdrawal of the Council members prompted the remaining members to search for a more appropriate wording acceptable to all members. At the Council meeting held on February 15, 1918, the text was finally agreed upon and it was decided to publish it the next day. On February 16, 1918, the Council of Lithuania unanimously adopted an act proclaiming the restoration of the independent state of Lithuania. The act of restoration of independence was signed by twenty Council members, signatories. February 16 was celebrated as the most important state holiday during the interwar period, and on March 11, 1990, the re-established state of Lithuania took over the tradition of celebrating this holiday.