Paris Peace Conf. 184.01502/69
The Chief of the Mission to the Baltic Provinces (Greene) to the Secretary General of the Commission to Negotiate Peace (Grew)
On June 28th my memorandum on the Baltic States44 was submitted to you and later discussed with the Peace Commissioners, and particularly with General Bliss.
I should now like to add the following to this memorandum:
Bolshevist Offensive Against Russian Northern Corps
The military situation in the Baltic regions continues critical. The Bolshevik garrison in Petrograd appears to have been reinforced. A Bolshevist offensive is also now in progress against the Russian Northern Corps. This corps has been driven back and according to a telegram from Lieutenant Hale of our Mission is short of munitions and its position is precarious. (See attached telegram from Lieutenant Hale.)45
Fighting Between Esthonians and Balts
The temporary armistice between the Esthonians and Northern Letts on the one hand and the Baits on the other, which was arranged at Wenden by British, French and American representatives on June 10th, came to an end. Serious fighting has been in progress between these forces with heavy casualties. At the present time the Esthonians have advanced to the outskirts of Riga which they are bombarding. (The last telegram from Lieutenant Stonestreet of our Mission is attached.)46
Nothing could be more unfortunate than this fighting which is consuming men and material of the anti-Bolshevist forces which should be united in the fight against Bolshevism. In place of an offensive against Petrograd we have it against Riga—which had already been [Page 214] recovered from Bolshevism—during the course of which the best anti-Bolshevist troops are decimating one another. Leaving aside the question of the original blame for this fighting, it is now clear that the Esthonians in advancing on Riga in Latvia are aggressors and that all American food and help for them should cease until this internal fighting has come to an end.
German Evacuation
Personally, I have been opposed to the precipitate withdrawal of the German forces from Lithuania and Latvia which was recently ordered. In my memorandum of June 28th I have done full justice to the danger of German domination. At the same time I am not forgetting the Bolshevist peril and I do not favor the evacuation of the German troops until steps have been taken for the control and support of the local forces and the Russian volunteers.
Furthermore, when the time for the evacuation of the German forces comes it should be arranged in an orderly and businesslike way by an Evacuation Committee on the ground authorized to treat direct with the German command.
Recommendations
Meanwhile the summer is slipping by and with it the chance for finally clearing the Baltic Provinces of Bolshevism, capturing Petrograd and organizing an aggressive movement against Bolshevism. To do this peace behind the Bolshevist front must be restored and maintained; credits, supplies and munitions for the local forces and Russian volunteers furnished; and an effective degree of control for these local forces established.
I propose:
- (1)
- That vigorous steps be taken immediately to strengthen the Northern Russian Corps under General Rodzianko and the Russian volunteer forces under Prince Lieven. This can be done by advancing war materials to these forces by the Liquidation Board against the credit of Russia represented by Admiral Kolchak, the latter agreeing to recognize General Rodzianko and Prince Lieven as the respective leaders of these two forces.
- (2)
- To expedite the negotiations between Esthonia, Latvia and Lithuania on the one hand and the representatives of Admiral Kolchak on the other with a view to a definite understanding whereby the military support of the territorial troops of Esthonia, Latvia and Lithuania can at once be undertaken as part of the agreement of the Allied and Associated Governments with Admiral Kolchak, the representatives of the latter guaranteeing the autonomy of Esthonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
- (3)
- Adoption of a policy whereby all support, including food, will be immediately withdrawn from nationalities which like the Esthonians divert their energies into internal warfare instead of the campaign against Bolshevism.