Paris Peace Conf. 184.01502/9: Telegram
The Chargé in Denmark (Grant-Smith) to the Commission to Negotiate Peace10
[Received April 22—2:20 p.m.]
324. Following from Greene, Libau. “Greene 9, April 20. 1. On my return Libau on April 16 after 6–day trip to front, Bait Landeswehr troops attempted to arrest at railroad station General Missin, Lettish Chief of Staff, and four officers and orderlies who had accompanied and conducted our trip. Attempt was made while they were [Page 142] with us, getting out of our special car. I refused to allow arrest, asking German officers by what authority action was being taken. Shortly afterwards, Rittmeister Armitstead, a Bait officer in Russian Army formerly, presented himself stating he represented Committee of Safety of local front troops; that fearing ministry of provisional government would turn Bolshevist they had taken steps to secure safety of front by removing these ministers; that negotiations were being conducted respecting establishment of provisional cabinet in the interest of all classes of population without any exceptions; that the Committee desired to inform the American Mission of the events which had occurred.11 I declined to enter into political discussion with Bait officer while armed Bait soldiers without credentials were interfering with our party in presence of German troops and officers representing the supreme police military power of General Von der Goltz, and if the government had been overturned and there was disorder, then the exclusive police power at this station. I also refused to submit to further interference or arrests of members of our joint party unless by authority of General Von der Goltz. I took General Missin to our house where he now is. I am informing General Von der Goltz of occurrence at station and that General Missin is a guest at our house.
2. In Libau I found that Bait Landeswehr troops from the front, apparently mostly of Baron Manteuffel’s battalion known as Attacking Battalion which was in neighborhood of Mitau when we first went to front, had come to Libau by train and on afternoon April 16 had deposed ministry by force. Prime Minister Ulmanis and Minister of Finance were with British Mission and three ministers were in asylum on British destroyer and Minister of Home Affairs Walters and Minister of Supplies were prisoners. Sahlitz, Minister of Defense, who accompanied us on trip to front, had left our party at Preklum. He is now at large in interior.
3. Libau was heavily patrolled both by German and Landeswehr troops. I personally witnessed one scene of violence in streets by Bait soldiers who were brutally arresting an apparently unarmed civilian. But in general there was little apparent violence though atmosphere very tense. So far as we know one Lett was killed at government printing establishment, one at navy yard and several Letts and Baits reported killed in fighting at Durben.
4. It was reported that at navy yard German Westphalian troops of Captain Pfeiffer’s command insolently marched to headquarters Lettish troops with band playing, disarmed and ejected all officers and soldiers, killed one orderly and plundered and ransacked place. [Page 143] Letts have withdrawn to woods close to navy yard and are instructed not to fire on Germans. Dawley has visited navy yard and confirms looting and wrecking property, killing of orderly, etc., but we have not as yet positive evidence what troops committed outrage or antecedent evidence.
5. General Von der Goltz’ attitude: He does not wish to interfere with interior politics of Latvia; as supreme police power he bears responsibility for order in Fortress Libau which order he is in position to maintain.
6. Facts are that front troops operating under his supreme command came to Fortress Libau by military railroad and by force of arms deposed ministry of provisional government, interfering decisively in interior policies of Libau, and with bloodshed and violence.
7. We knew Bait plot was brewing but had not expected it to break so soon. Various events related in our written reports precipitated matters. I believe coup d’état was executed with connivance and assistance older Baits and the Germans by young Baits who had fought excellently against bolshevism at front. If coup fails, rashness of gallant young hotheads will be deplored by the Baits and Germans. If it succeeds the profit will largely accrue to Germans and Bait barons. Young Baits say coup was necessary to save country from interior bolshevism; that national government of Latvia continues and will be reconstituted in the interests of all parties. With a few this is genuine but the dominant motives of Germans and older and abler Baits are to embarrass Allies and return to power the old Bait baron regime, somewhat modified to suit new conditions but fundamentally the same.
8. Deposed provisional government was inherently very weak. It failed to include Bait and Jewish representation and so had their intense hostility. This failure was mistake. It was self-constituted, and so its title as a popular government was defective. It failed to secure help from the Entente and so could not gain popular confidence. It asserted itself too much against German domination and so was allowed to be extinguished. But it was a de facto government and the best foundation on which to have built a stable and representative government with the necessary help from outside which was essential. Its violent overturn by young soldiers is a serious reflection on General Von der Goltz’ responsibility under article 12 of armistice, is an affront to Allies and crime for which there should be a reckoning.
9. In eyes of common people of Latvia the old tyranny in all its rigor backed by armed might of Germany has returned in defiance of Allies and America. Lettish soldiers have been instructed not to resist and so far have shown admirable fortitude and forbearance [Page 144] under intense provocation and almost intolerable circumstances. For moment people are quiet. They look westward for help from the democracies or eastward from bolshevism. But their patience will not last indefinitely. They will not tolerate baron dominance and will eventually resist the new regime with bloodshed. In proportion as their hope of help from West dies they will turn Red.
10. We are sending full written reports covering military and political situation to Paris by Colonel Solbert, military attaché at Copenhagen, whom I have asked to come to Libau on British destroyer, or by Colonel Dawley. A British destroyer will take one of these two officers to Danzig. Our 10, April 20,12 covers military situation with definite recommendations covering both military and political matters and will, we believe, furnish sufficient information on local situation to enable you to take action you deem advisable.
11. Naval forces at Libau have been increased by arrival two French destroyers. It is important that American destroyer or tender be sent.
12. Under present circumstances I advise against sending of further food supplies until a definite policy to meet the grave situation here has been adopted. Greene.”
- This telegram was badly garbled in transmission; it has been corrected on the basis of copy enclosed with report of Lieutenant Colonel Greene to the Commission, April 23; received April 28 (Paris Peace Conf. 184.01502/10).↩
- The overthrow of the Provisional Government of Latvia on April 16 was reported by Lieutenant Colonel Greene in telegram No. 8, April 16, forwarded by the Chargé in Denmark in telegram No. 319, April 17, Foreign Relations, 1919, Russia, p. 675.↩
- Infra.↩