763.72119/3526
The Ambassador in Great Britain (
Davis
) to the Acting Secretary of
State
No. 36
London
, December 30,
1918.
[Received January 25, 1919.]
Sir: With reference to Mr. Laughlin’s despatch No.
10265 of the 6th instant,28
relative to the recognition of the Lettish National Council, I have the
honor to transmit herewith, a copy of the original, with translation, of a
letter dated the 20th instant, addressed to me by Mr. Henri Simson,
containing a protest against the alleged violation by Germany of Article XII
of the Armistice, signed on November 11 and renewed on December 13,
1918.
The writer states that the German forces are evacuating Latvia without having
received any order from the Allied Powers, and that they are ravaging the
country and supporting the Bolshevik forces.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure—Translation]
The Representative of the Provisional Government of
Latvia (
Simson
) to the American Ambassador in Great
Britain (
Davis
)
London
, 20
December, 1918.
Your Excellency: I have the honor to inform
you that the German armed forces, contrary to the stipulation of Article
XII of the
[Page 481]
Armistice dictated
by Marshal Foch on November 11th, and renewed on December 13th, 1918,
are evacuating Latvia without having received any order from the Allied
Powers.
The German forces are opposed to the organisation of the local
authorities, and are supporting the Bolshevik troops by delivering up to
them arms, munitions and fortified posts. In the course of their
retirement the German troops are systematically devastating the country
and are pillaging and murdering in concert with the Russian troops who
are coming in to take their place.
In the name of the Provisional Government of Latvia I energetically
protest against the flagrant violation by Germany of the terms of the
Armistice, and I request your Excellency to be good enough to transmit
to your Government the request of Latvia that Germany be compelled to
respect her own signature.
Please accept [etc.]
