File No. 763.72119/1389
The British Chargé ( Barclay ) to the Secretary of State
Memorandum
His Majesty’s Chargé d’Affaires at Petrograd received a visit on January 23 from the Esthonian members of the Constituent Assembly who informed him that the German Government had a week before made an official offer to them of a guarantee of the independence of Esthonia provided that the latter accepted a German protectorate. This official offer was followed by private hints that in the event of its refusal Esthonia would be occupied. Mr. Lindley’s visitors explained to him that they had originally desired that Esthonia should become an autonomous state within the Russian Republic but the situation at Petrograd rendered the fulfilment of this wish unlikely as it was their conviction that a monarchy would be restored sooner or later and they had suffered so much under the monarchy that much as they disliked the idea they preferred the alternative of a German protectorate. They added that the area of Esthonia was about forty thousand square kilometres, its population a million and a half, of which 95 per cent were Esthonians, and its capital Revel. They went on to say that the German offer required an answer, and before answering they desired to know if they could rely on Great Britain’s support at the peace conference of their desire for independence. In this case they would risk the threat of German occupation. Mr. Lindley promised to obtain the views of His Majesty’s Government by telegraph and added that his personal opinion was that they could not be indifferent to the fate of the Baltic provinces. They will call again on Mr. Lindley about January 30 to learn the reply of His Majesty’s Government. He expressed the [Page 816] view that their original intention of contenting themselves with autonomy was a wise one but that should that prove impossible it would seem desirable to do everything possible to prevent their falling under German domination.
The Lettish representatives on the Constituent Assembly also called recently at the British Embassy in Petrograd on the same subject and were given a similar answer, care being taken to avoid encouraging them to expect His Majesty’s Government to continue the war solely for the sake of their country.
Mr. Lindley submits that the question of the future of the Baltic provinces should be given serious consideration. He points out that without them Russia will hardly continue to be a great western power while their accession to Germany would immensely increase the latter’s strength. It would therefore seem desirable that if possible Russia should retain them, failing which that they should be independent and form a block with Scandinavia, Finland, and perhaps Poland.
He suggests that a reply should be returned to the effect that His Majesty’s Government will do all they can at the peace conference to prevent annexation by Germany against their will and to secure some form of international guarantee of the independence of any states that may come into existence as a result of the war.
His Majesty’s Chargé d’Affaires has received instructions to communicate the above to the United States Government and to add that His Majesty’s Government consider that the most suitable reply to the Esthonians would be that contained in the preceding paragraph. They are anxious to learn the views of the United States Government and His Majesty’s Chargé d’Affaires is instructed to ask for a reply as soon as possible.