File No. 861.00/3103
The British Chargé ( Barclay ) to the Secretary of State
Memorandum
The British Chargé d’Affaires presents his compliments to the Secretary of State and has the honour, in accordance with instructions received from the Foreign Office, to make the following communication with regard to the position of the small states on the western frontier of Russia.
At the present moment great anxiety is felt in these states as to the position in which they will be left if German troops are withdrawn from the occupied territory, which, it is feared, will then be left undefended and open to domination by the Bolshevists.
Of the states in question, it is possible that Finland may be able to defend herself, though it is also possible that a renewal of civil war between the Red and White parties may take place. In the case, however, of the Lithuanians, Esthonians, and Letts, it appears that [Page 840] their territories must be open to attack by the Bolshevists long before any local defence forces can be organized, unless help can be provided from outside. Such developments would be contrary to the interests both of these states themselves and also to those of the civilized world, and it seems to the British Government that the most satisfactory solution would perhaps be for the Swedish Government, or the Scandinavian Governments in cooperation, to act upon the suggestion which has previously been put forward and to undertake to afford military protection to the territories in question.
The British authorities are, however, informed that the Esthonian National Council, if they were provided with about 40,000 rifles and 1,000 rounds of ammunition per rifle, might perhaps be in a position to raise a force capable of holding the Russian frontier. The Letts would not be able to raise a force as rapidly as the Esthonians but might in a month or three weeks be able to organize a force up to about 10,000 men, which would enable them to protect their Russian frontier. This would, however, be dependent on their being assisted by a small force of 2,000 foreign troops. Up to the present the British Government have not found it possible to get into communication with any responsible authority in Lithuania and consequently no accurate estimation of the position there can be made.
An appeal has, however, been received from Lithuania, in which country Bolshevism is strong, for help to be rendered as soon as the Germans are withdrawn, and it is understood that M. Waldemar, a Lithuanian representative, has lately reached Sweden. It is proposed to discuss the position with M. Waldemar, and to ascertain from him as accurately as possible what assistance will be required by the Lithuanians. The British Government hope that in any case the Scandinavian Governments, even assuming that they do not find it possible to reconsider the decision which they previously reached, to refuse protection to these states, will in any case be ready to supply the Lithuanian, Lettish, and Esthonian authorities with the arms and ammunition necessary for defensive purposes. Should they be prepared to furnish supplies for this purpose the British Government are ready to replace as soon as possible the amounts of clothing supplied.
In these circumstances, His Majesty’s Government have sent instructions to their representatives at Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Christiania to approach the Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian Governments in the sense indicated. The British representatives at these capitals have also been instructed to recommend to such Lithuanian, Lettish, and Esthonian authorities as they may be in [Page 841] touch with, to endeavour to reach some arrangement with the retreating Germans under which a sufficient supply of arms and ammunition should be left behind by the latter to render possible the defence of the frontiers of the respective states.
The British Chargé d’Affaires is instructed to inform the United States Government of the suggestions made by His Majesty’s Government and to add that, if the United States Government concur in the suggested course of action, it will be much appreciated if the American representatives at the Scandinavian capitals could be instructed to make representations in a similar sense to those made by their British colleagues.
[Received November 1.]