740.0011 European War 1939/3876: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union ( Thurston ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 1:08 p.m.]
687. The Soviet move against Estonia and Latvia appears to have been made without preliminary discussion with the Governments of those countries and almost without warning. In view of the reference to Estonia and Latvia made in the Soviet ultimatum to Lithuania I called yesterday afternoon at 2 p.m. on the informant (name in my 620, June 4). He assured me categorically that the Soviet charge that Lithuania had entered into a military pact with Estonia and Latvia is completely unfounded and said that he was at a loss to account for the unexpected action of the Soviet Government in making the assertion, adding that no discussions on the subject had taken place between the Soviet Government and the Estonian and Latvian Governments. He added that the public presentation of the charge in question opened the door for action of any kind but assured me that there [was no?] evidence that immediate action was contemplated. I assume, therefore, that the Soviet ultimatum must have been presented between the time of my interview and the announcement of it at 1 o’clock this morning.