The Ambassador of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics presents his
compliments to the Secretary of State and has the honor to bring to his
attention the enclosed authentic text of a statement made today to the
press by Mr. Maxim M. Litvinoff, People’s Commissar
of Foreign Affairs of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
The views set forth in the enclosed statement represent the position of
the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in regard to
the outstanding problems of international relations.
[Enclosure]
Statement to the Press by Mr. Maxim M. Litvinov, People’s
Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics, March 17, 1938
“Having joined the League of Nations for the purpose of organized
cooperation with other peace-loving countries the Soviet Government
has never missed a suitable occasion to recommend the most effective
guarantees of peace which it has seen in the organization of the
system of collective security within the framework of the League of
Nations as well as in regional pacts of mutual assistance against
aggressors.
“The Soviet Government followed this path in practice when it
concluded such pacts, with France and Czechoslovakia, pacts, which,
in the absence of aggression do not menace any country whatever. The
violations of those international obligations which derive from the
Covenant of the League of Nations37 and from the Kellogg-Briand [Page 540] Paris Pact,38 as well as
the attacks on some states by other states which occurred in the
course of the past four years provided occasions for the Soviet
Government to demonstrate not only its condemnation of these
international crimes but also its readiness to take an active part
in all measures aiming at the organization of a collective repulse
of the aggressor even disregarding the inevitable prejudice to its
relations with the aggressor. At the same time the Soviet Government
voiced warnings that international inaction and impunity of
aggression in one case would inevitably lead to the repetition and
multiplication of similar cases. Unfortunately the international
developments have justified these warnings. They received a new
confirmation in the armed invasion of Austria and in the forcible
deprivation of the Austrian people of their political, economic and
cultural independence. While formerly cases of aggression occurred
on continents more or less remote from Europe or on the outskirts of
Europe and affected, along with the interests of the victim of
aggression, the interests of only a few countries situated in the
immediate proximity, this time the violence has been perpetrated in
the center of Europe and has created an indubitable menace not only
for the eleven countries now contiguous with the aggressor but also
for all European states, and not only European ones.
“Thus far the menace has been directed against the territorial
integrity and against the political, economic and cultural
independence of small nations, but the inevitable enslavement of
these countries will create prerequisites for pressure and even for
attacks against large states as well. In the first place arises the
menace to Czechoslovakia, but owing to the contagious character of
aggression the danger threatens to grow later on into new
international conflicts and this already manifests itself in the
alarming situation which has arisen on the Polish-Lithuanian
frontier. The present international situation places before all
peace-loving states and the great powers in particular the question
of their responsibility for the destinies of the peoples of Europe,
and, not of Europe alone. The Soviet Government, being cognizant of
its share in this responsibility, being also cognizant of its
obligations under the Covenant of the League of Nations, under the
Kellogg-Briand Pact and under the treaties of mutual assistance
concluded with France and Czechoslovakia, I can state on its behalf
that on its part it is ready as before to participate in collective
action which would be decided upon jointly with it and which would
aim at checking the further development of aggression and at
eliminating the aggravated danger of a new world massacre. It is
prepared immediately to take up, in the League of Nations or outside
of it, deliberation with other powers on practical measures which
circumstances demand. [Page 541]
Tomorrow may be too late, but today time for it is not yet gone if
all states and the great powers in particular take a firm and
unambiguous stand on the problem of the collective salvation of
peace.”
