Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

081.60m/8–747

Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Eastern European Affairs (Thompson)

[Washington,] August 7, 1947.

There is referred to you¹ herewith a group of six representative letters² concerning notarial services in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

In administering the Department’s policy of non-recognition of the incorporation into the Soviet Union of the Baltic states,³ the question frequently arises as to how far the Department can go in assisting American citizens with interests in those countries without implying recognition of Soviet jurisdiction. In view of the extent of state control in the Soviet Union EE assumes that it will not be possible for an Officer of the Foreign Service to authenticate any documents issued in the Baltic States since Soviet occupation without implying recognition of Soviet sovereignty in that area. However, it is desired to take care of requests for notarial services in the Baltic States if it is at all possible. EE would therefore appreciate Le’s opinion whether any type of notarial service involving the Baltic States may be handled through the American Embassy in Moscow without countervening the Department’s policy of non-recognition of the incorporation of those countries into the Soviet Union.

L. E. Thompson

1. This memorandum was referred to the Office of the Legal Adviser.
2. None printed.
3. For the statement by the Acting Secretary of State on July 23, 1940, see Foreign Relations, 1940, vol. i, p. 401; see also ibid., vol. iii, pp. 329–530, 358, and 377–578.