7601.61/18: Telegram

The Commissioner at Riga (Young) to the Secretary of State

141. Esthonian authorities request written statement from me regarding purpose visit of United States naval vessels to the Baltic and that their presence is not in the nature of a demonstration against Soviet Government. This request probably on account of article 7, section 4 b, Esthonian-Bolshevik peace treaty.49 I had previously informed Esthonian authorities that the visit of our vessels was without any international significance.

Young
  1. “Except as regards those occasions which are provided for by international rights, to forbid the entry of and navigation through their territorial waters by any naval ships, torpedo boats, gunboats, etc., etc., which may belong to those organizations and groups who have as their aim the prosecution of an armed struggle with the other contracting party or which may belong to those Powers in a state of war with the other contracting party and who are aiming at an attack upon the other contracting party, provided that such aim shall be known to that one of the contracting parties to whom those territorial waters and ports may belong.” (File no. 760i.61/11.)