File No. 861.00/1459

The Ambassador in Russia ( Francis ) to the Secretary of State

No. 1017

Sir: I have the honor to report that on January 25, 1918, two members of the recent Constituent Assembly, who are representatives and residents of Esthonia, called at the Embassy and in a conversation with the Counselor stated as follows:

Esthonia has been promised independence by the Germans who have sent delegates to Esthonia for that purpose but with the condition that the district fall under German protection. At a meeting [Page 817] of the political leaders of Esthonia in December and January it was decided to accept independence but not German protection and they wish so to reply to the German offers but have not yet done so because their country is so small that they would be compelled to submit.

They therefore wished to approach the Allied Ambassadors with the request that this question of their independence be discussed at the peace conference at the close of the war and likewise inquired whether a representative of Esthonia might be included therein. They further asked whether the United States could guarantee their independence if Russia would, or could, not. I learn that they have approached the French Ambassador and the British Charge in a similar sense, who have duly informed their respective Governments.

After explaining to them in some detail the attitude of the Government of the United States as outlined not only in the instructions of the Embassy but in the public utterances of the President, especially our policy of desiring to await an expression of the will of the majority of the Russian people, and of the principles of democracy for which the United States had entered the war, the gentlemen were informed that the matters discussed above would be duly brought to the attention of the Department of State.

On the 5th instant the Embassy received a telegram which was likewise sent to the other Allied diplomatic missions, a translation of which is herewith enclosed.1

While the reply of the Embassy has appeared to satisfy the Esthonian representatives for the moment, a further expression of the policy of the Department might doubtless serve to encourage a people who appear to find themselves in most trying circumstances.

I have [etc.]

David R. Francis
  1. Not printed.