741.61/722: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Grummon) to the Secretary of State
[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 [Page 938] 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.