Foreign Relations of the United States, The Soviet Union, 1933–1939

741.61/722: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Grummon) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, June 22, 1939—noon.
[Received June 22—10:30 a.m.]

329. The representatives in Moscow of the three Baltic States⁹² for whom guarantees are demanded by the Soviet Government are mating no attempt to disguise their distrust of the intentions of the Soviet Government with respect to the Baltic and their alarm at the possibility that their countries will be “sacrificed” by Great Britain and France through the acceptance of Soviet demands which are regarded as designed to establish Soviet hegemony over the Baltic region.

The Latvian Minister here has informed me in confidence that in an interview which he had with Molotov on June 6 the latter had informed him that a guarantee of the Baltic States had been discussed only in principle and that when the discussions were completed Latvia would be informed of their results. I understand that a similar reply was given by Molotov to the Estonian Minister here. The Latvian Minister further stated in strict confidence that his Government had confidence in the intentions of the British Government and that he was satisfied that the British Ambassador⁹³ here and Strang⁹⁴ with whom he had discussed the matter were fully aware of the implications of the Russian demands and of the attitude of his country but that less confidence was felt in the French Government which it was feared might be prepared to sacrifice the interests of the Baltic States in order to obtain Soviet inclusion in the anti-aggression front.

The Minister added that since Molotov has been Commissar for Foreign Affairs Soviet policy had stood clearly revealed as one of a reversion to Russian nationalism. He stressed emphatically the intention of Latvia to defend by force of arms if necessary any attempt to invade its territory or impair its independence either by Germany or by the Soviet Union. A member of his staff has offered his personal opinion that since the chief concern of his Government is that the Kremlin might be given a unilateral right of decision as to what constitutes a threat to the independence or neutrality of the Baltic States and that a formula which would require the consent of England and France in determining the validity of any such threat would be less objectionable to the countries concerned.

Grummon

92. Dr. Ladas Natkevičius was the Lithuanian Minister in the Soviet Union.
93. Sir William Seeds.
94. William Strang, head of the Central Department of the British Foreign Office, temporarily in Moscow in connection with the Anglo-French alliance negotiations with the Soviet Union.