861.00/5669A: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Davis)
6171. Ambassador Bakhmeteff has spoken again concerning developments in the Baltic region and has urged that there be an effort to restrain the Baltic Governments from making peace with the Soviets.
The attitude of the Department as stated in its telegram 6116 of October 23, 4 p.m.73 remains unchanged. You may make this known informally to the Foreign Office. The British Government has actively supported the Baltic nationalities, it is presumed in order to maintain a barrier on the one hand against Bolshevism and on the other against German penetration. It would seem that the British are in the best position to exercise constraint if the Baltic peoples are to be restrained from yielding to German or Soviet influence.
I should like to know confidentially whether it is possible that the British Baltic policy is regarded as unsuccessful and whether there is again a disposition to negotiate with the Soviets.
In this connection I shall be pleased to have your comment as early as possible on my No. 6149 of November 4, noon,74 and on the statement concerning the prospect of peace with Russia made by the Prime Minister November 8 at the Lord Mayor’s banquet.75