760i.6111/46: Telegram
The Chargé in Estonia (Leonard) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 5—9:45 a.m.]
83. In addition to the places named in my telegram No. 77 of October 3,31 upon inquiry at reliable sources I have been confidentially informed that the Soviet confidentially has asked for a military cavalry base at Valga on the Latvian border, a garrison at Turi for motorized troops and flying fields at Lihula and Ropla. The Estonian authorities replied that these demands were outside the provision[s] of the mutual assistance pact and have referred the matter to the Estonian Minister at Moscow to make representations there in the hope that the Soviet committee will be instructed to make no demands outside of the provisions of the pact. The above development is causing worry among Estonian authorities. Rumors of demands for other places than the above are denied at official sources.
Exchange of letters between the Estonian Foreign Office and local Soviet Mission took place yesterday thereby finally ratifying the pact of September 28 signed in Moscow.
- Not printed. The places mentioned in this telegram were the port of Paldiski and the islands of Ösel and Dagö (760i.6111/43).↩