Soviets Step Up Pressure : Diplomats, Some Journalists Are Ordered to Leave Lithuania : 2 American Envoys Get Short Notice

The Soviet Union today ordered U.S. and other foreign diplomats to leave Lithuania as tensions between the Kremlin and the secession-minded republic mounted, Bush Administration officials said in Washington.

The two American diplomats in Vilnius were given 12 hours to depart and will comply, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

At the same time, the officials said, at least some of the journalists covering Lithuania’s quest for sovereignty were also ordered to leave, the officials said. But details were sketchy and it was not clear how many were told to depart and whether any deadline was imposed.

Diplomats from countries other than the United States also were instructed to leave, but the officials said they did not know how many were involved.

In Washington, White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said acting Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger, in response to the expulsions, was protesting to the Soviet Embassy in Washington.

As the Soviets tried over the last few days to maintain authority in the Baltic republic the story of Lithuanian defiance of Moscow has attracted growing attention from the media.

Meanwhile, Lithuania’s president accused Moscow today of waging psychological warfare against his small Baltic republic, which on March 11 declared its independence from the Soviet Union.

“New troops and maneuvers suggest that this is a psychological war,” President Vytautus Landsbergis told a session of the Legislative Council (Parliament).

“Maybe (Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev’s) choices are limited, maybe there are obstacles around him,” he said. “But we have faith in the common sense and the goodwill of Gorbachev, and the leadership of the Soviet Union,” despite the escalating war of nerves.”

Soviet officials took a series of other measures designed to increase pressure on Lithuania to renounce its March 11 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union:

A military helicopter with a Soviet red star emblazoned on its side dumped leaflets on downtown Vilnius containing a copy of Gorbachev’s directive that the republic of 3.8 million citizens respect Soviet law.

Gorbachev’s military adviser indicated the army would seek out Lithuanian soldiers who have deserted and fail to return by Saturday’s deadline, “even if some people don’t like it.”

The Soviet Union informed Poland it is suspending visa-free travel for Poles and Lithuanians across the border, the official Tass news agency said.

Earlier today, Lithuania made an urgent appeal for international help in stopping what it said were preparations by the Soviet Union to use force against it.

In its “appeal to the world’s nations,” Lithuania said: “The independent republic of Lithuania has existed legally and peacefully since March 11. Unfortunately, during the past few days it has become more and more evident that another state is preparing to use force against the republic of Lithuania and its citizens.”