800.51 W 89 Latvia/11: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (Coleman)
48. Your despatch No. 1186, August 29. Please acknowledge Foreign Office note of August 28 and state:
“The Government of the United States is gratified to note that the Government of Latvia is prepared to enter into negotiations with a view to the settlement of the indebtedness of Latvia to the United States. Under existing legislation it is impossible for the World War Foreign Debt Commission as at present composed to conduct the negotiations in Europe, and the Government of the United [Page 276] States is therefore unable to accede to the suggestion of the Government of Latvia that the negotiations be conducted at Riga. I am instructed to state that the World War Foreign Debt Commission will be happy to negotiate at Washington with a representative duly authorized by the Latvian Government in regard to the indebtedness in question at as early a date as is convenient to the Latvian Government.
With respect to payments heretofore made by Latvia to Great Britain on account of relief obligations without the making of corresponding payments to the United States, I am instructed to point out that the Government of the United States has always considered that it had been definitely understood that the United States should stand with respect to payments on account of relief obligations in as favorable a position as any other nation holding similar obligations.”