500.CC/3–1945
The Latvian Minister (Bilmanis) to the Secretary of State 87
Sir: The Department of State Bulletin of February. 18, 1945, in reproducing the report of the Crimea Conference, announced that an international conference would be called to meet at San Francisco on April 25, 1945, to prepare the charter of a general international organization to maintain peace and security. Also Latvia would have to live under this organization after peace and normal life are again restored in Europe. Thus it would be quite in order for Latvia also to participate in the elaboration of such a charter bearing on its future life. In almost all declarations issued in result of the conferences [Page 142] of the great democratic powers it has always been emphasized that all peace loving nations, big and small, would freely participate in the post-war peace organization. Actually, it can be understood from the texts of these declarations that all peace loving countries would be welcomed into such an international peace and security organization.
Latvia has always been a peace loving country, and following the invitation expressed in Article 3 of the Declaration by United Nations, immediately on January 4, 1942, announced its willingness to join the United Nations.89 In this connection it offered them all possible assistance in winning the war and turned over to the United States Government all its merchant vessels in the Western Hemisphere. Those Latvian vessels that have not been sunk by German U-boats are still conveying goods for the United Nations. The Latvian nation has also conducted an underground struggle against the Nazi invaders under the guidance of the Latvian Central Underground Council.
Unfortunately, Latvia does not have a government in exile, as its legal President and the legal cabinet members were deported to the U.S.S.R. in 1940,90 and at present it is still occupied by foreign military forces. However, on the basis of the Emergency Powers issued to him by the legal Latvian Government, Mr. K. Zarine, Latvian Minister in London, has authorized me to participate in any international conference taking place in the Western Hemisphere.
Taking into consideration all the above facts, I have the honor to inform you that Latvia would be willing to participate in the San Francisco Conference in case it were invited to do so, and I would act as its legal representative.
Accept [etc.]
- Handed by the Latvian Minister to Mr. Merritt N. Cootes of the Division of Eastern European Affairs, on March 19. Mr. Cootes stated in an attached memorandum: “In handing me the attached note, the Latvian Minister stated that he knew it would be difficult to comply with the request contained in his note but that he was sending this note to the Secretary as indication of his desire to do everything possible for the Latvian people.” In a note of April 2, not printed, the Secretary acknowledged receipt of the Latvian note.↩
- See memorandum of January 6, 1942, by the Assistant Secretary of State (Berle), Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. i, p. 29.↩
- For documentation on the occupation of the Baltic States and their incorporation into the Soviet Union, see ibid., 1940, vol. i, pp. 357 ff.↩