740.0011 European War 1939/4013: Telegram
The Minister in Latvia (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:15 p.m.]
135. The source of the following is confidential but excellent:
The Soviet forces entered Estonia in much more warlike formation than in Lithuania or Latvia, giving impression that they expected, perhaps even desired, trouble. It is clear that Soviet policy attaches very special importance to Estonia. This is emphasized by the fact that Maris Coudert,48 commanding the Leningrad area, met General Laidoner at Narva 2 days ago and is now in Tallinn and that Zhdanov also arrived there today. He is now in conference with President Pats. The latter is proposing that a new government be formed under the Premiership of Rei, Estonian Minister in Moscow. The fact that Zhdanov was selected to come to Estonia has been interpreted in Tallinn as an extremely bad sign. In all the Baltic negotiations in Moscow last September Zhdanov was the most difficult of all the Soviet leaders and is regarded as the principal Soviet “fire eater”. However, on his arrival in Tallinn he appeared to be in very good humor and the Estonian Government is beginning to hope that the Soviet attitude of the last 2 days which has been extremely exacting may now be moderating. My informant, however, is not sanguine and foresees the possibility that after the setting up of new governments in the Baltic States the Soviet Union will insist on plebiscites which if held under Soviet bayonets might readily be perverted into a legalistical incorporation of these sooner or later into the Soviet Union. He also foresees the possibility that the Soviet Union may insist on the elimination of foreign diplomatic and consular representatives from the Baltic States.
The informant went on that according to most reliable information the Kremlin is in a state of acute anxiety and confusion over foreign political developments. Stalin’s policy was premised on a long and exhausting war. With the collapse of France this policy too has collapsed. Hitler’s recent statement that he did not desire the destruction of the British Empire literally caused panic in the Soviet mind. Acute fear has revived that the problems of Western Europe will be solved at the expense of Russia. To be the only major power on the Continent which might be opposed to the Axis is of course not a comforting thought.
The reference to the Revue Baltique cited by Molotov in the Soviet protest the informant said was explained by the article contributed [Page 379] by the Lithuanian Premier Merkys to the first (and only) number. It appeared February last and was forwarded to the Department from Tallinn.
The informant stated that the plane carrying Antheil was most probably shot down not by a submarine (see No. 63 of June 16, midnight, from Tallinn) but by two pursuit planes which were seen prior to the event escorting the plane in question one on each side. The witness was a veteran, entirely responsible Estonian pilot. The Estonians think that the Soviet authorities wished to do away with La Bonne’s49 despatches reporting his conversations in Moscow which were going forward with two French couriers in the plane in question. The Soviets they think were fearful lest the despatches in question fall into German hands.