711.60p12A/9: Telegram
The Chargé at Riga (Sussdorff) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3 p.m.]
90. Department’s telegram 60, October 30 [20] 4 p.m. 1928. Competent Latvian Foreign Office official believes that Department’s arguments will probably remove Latvia’s objections but requests that Legation ask Department for a list of countries which have already signed arbitration and conciliation treaties with United States identic with draft treaties proposed to Latvia. American Consul, Tallinn, reports that Secretary General of Estonian Foreign Office informed him that he did not see how the Department arguments could change Estonia’s viewpoint. He explained that Estonia proposed the first amendment because she is not a member of The Hague Court of Arbitration and the second amendment to avoid complications with Soviet Russia. In the Estonian-Soviet negotiations for a conciliation treaty the Soviet Government proposed to Estonia a method of choosing a super-arbiter similar to that contained in Department’s draft and Estonian government declined Russian proposal. Despatch follows in today’s pouch. As I shall probably go to Tallinn on November 11 Department may desire to send me further instructions before that date.