760N.00/116
Memorandum by the Third Secretary of Legation in Latvia (Abbott)53
In a conversation with Mr. Łęcki54 this morning, I asked him if the rumors prevalent in Riga, that the Latvian Government had decided to conclude a mutual assistance pact with Russia, were true. He replied that according to his information they were not, but that shortly after the conclusion of the German-British Naval Agreement, the Latvian Government became rather panicky and, believing themselves abandoned by Great Britain, seriously considered seeking support from Russia. He agreed with my suggestion that it was at this time that an inquiry was made by the Latvian Foreign Office to the Government of Estonia regarding a step of this kind (Mr. Carlson’s recent despatch55).
Mr. Łęcki went on to say that it was for the purpose of discussing this new political orientation that the conference of the Ministers [Page 300] was called. At the conference it was decided not to approach Russia regarding a mutual assistance pact since by that time it appeared that further developments in connection with an Eastern pact of non-aggression were imminent, and it was decided that the best policy would be to wait and see what happened. He added that Estonia and Latvia had been pressing Poland to take some action, and that his Government’s reply was that the initiative rested in German hands.
Mr. Łęcki added that at the recent conference of Lithuanian foreign representatives it was decided that every effort must be made to settle the Vilna and Memel questions. The opinion of the conference was in favor of taking up the Vilna question first, but owing to the opposition of the Minister of Justice it was finally decided to negotiate with Germany first.