There was a need to organize an authoritative political body that could represent all Lithuanians and work towards obtaining autonomy or full independence from Russia.
Lithuania was occupied by Germany when Russian Imperial Army abandoned the territory during the Great Retreat in September 1915.
[6] At the same time, the council adopted a declaration that Lithuania was a separate ethnic, cultural, and political entity that should be granted autonomy.
[2] The Temporary Committee declared its intentions to take over evacuated Lithuanian institutions, govern Vilna and Kovno Governorates, organize the return of war refugees, foster economic recovery of war-torn Lithuania, demand war reparations, prepare elections to the Constituent Assembly.
[10] This plan was presented to Duke Georgy Lvov, Prime Minister of the Russian Provisional Government, and was published in the official publication Laws (Законы).
14 March] 1917,[6] the Council of the Lithuanian Nation decided to organize the Petrograd Seimas hoping that it would boost its authority and recognition.
The full independence was supported by the right wing – the Party of National Progress (Augustinas Voldemaras, Martynas Yčas) and Christian Democrats (Mykolas Krupavičius, Juozas Vailokaitis, Petras Karvelis [lt]).
Socialists (Mykolas Sleževičius) and members of the Democratic National Freedom League (Petras Leonas, Stasys Šilingas) supported autonomy.
[12] The resolution explicitly called for an independent Lithuania organized on democratic principles that would guarantee equal rights regardless of nationality, sex, or religion.
Separately, they adopted their own resolution and presented it to the First All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies which convened on 16 June.
[23] Due to the disagreements and inability to adopt a common resolution, the Council of the Lithuanian Nation splintered and became inactive.
Socialists later argued that they did not oppose independence and that their position was just a tactic to tread carefully and keep the options open in the uncertain times of war and revolutions.
[25] Nevertheless, attempts at creating a political center failed and Lithuanians were unable to gain any kind of recognition or acknowledgement from the Russian Provisional Government.