7601.6111/49: Telegram
The Minister in Estonia (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
87. Have seen actual text of secret protocol which supplements Treaty of Mutual Assistance. It contains five clauses: (1) That Soviet [land] and air forces in Estonia are to be in isolated garrisons and are not to exceed 25,000; (2) that Soviet ships shall have privilege of taking on stores, et cetera, in Tallinn for the duration of present hostilities provided the period does not exceed 2 years; (3) that if either Estonia or the Soviet Union is at war with a third party the other contracting party may by common agreement remain neutral; (4) that a mixed commission shall be set up to work out the operation of the agreement, and (5) that the foregoing shall constitute a confidential annex to the Estonian Soviet agreement of September 28.
Minister for Foreign Affairs informs me that he is unable to foresee how the new relationship with the Soviet Union will work out or how long Estonia can maintain her integrity. It depends essentially on the world situation though there will be a period of acute anxiety when the Soviet forces enter Estonia. At that time Communist elements of Estonia may attempt to make trouble. The criterion will be the assistance, if any, they received from the Soviet Government. In Moscow both Stalin and Molotov went out of their way to give assurances that the Soviet Union did not intend to alter the political situation of Estonia. According to Stalin the Soviet Union desired only to work out an effective and practical collaboration based on [mutual confidence?] in order to serve its strategic needs. Selter continued that in his opinion Soviet policy had only one aim: war with Germany. He thought that a conflict between them was inevitable. The Foreign Minister also confirmed that pending the construction of Soviet bases on the islands large number of Soviet troops would be based in and around Haapsalu. In conclusion Selter stated that the negotiations with the Soviet technical committee were really terminated. There would be a final meeting at 4 p.m. today to approve the actual wording of its text.
A high official of the Foreign Office told me that there was still an open question of organizing a mixed force of Estonian cavalry and Soviet motorized units to be based at some place in Estonia to be designated by the Estonian high command. He thought that from the length of time which it would take to carry out technical details of the agreement with the Soviet Union that Estonia could look forward to a breathing spell of at least some months.
[Page 958]He rather believed it would be in Soviet interests not to disturb or alter the internal structure of Estonia for the present. Estonia intended to play her part in the agreement loyally and would side with the Soviet Union if the latter went to war with Germany. One thing though was disquieting: in the Soviet efforts to assuage Estonian fears Molotov spoke of Mongolia,36 how Soviet forces were there without infringing on “independence”. My informant found this portion alarming.
From all quarters it is emphasized that in the negotiations both in Moscow and in Tallinn the Soviet representatives have adopted a most cordial tone. As gossip, I may add that Mrs. Laidoner, wife of the Commander-in-Chief, a former Czarist officer who has always been violently anti-Bolshevist, tells me that her husband has been utterly amazed by his contact with the officers of the Soviet technical committee. He finds their technical training on the highest level. He describes them as men of great culture, speaking faultless French and frequently several other languages. Indeed Mrs. Laidoner gives the impression that her husband has been “taken into camp”. She also quoted her husband as forecasting that Latvia would fare quite differently; that the Kremlin was very much irritated by Latvian military preparations and attitude in general.
Repeated to Paris.