Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Central and Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

611.60A/7–2750

Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Valdemar N. L. Johnson of the Office of Eastern European Affairs

confidential

[Washington,] July 27, 1950.

Participants:	Mr. Povilas Zadeikis, Lithuanian Minister
	Mr. Jules Feldmans, Chargé D’Affaires of Latvia
	Mr. Johannes Kaiv, Acting Consul General in Charge of Legation of Estonia
	Mr. George W. Perkins, Assistant Secretary for European Affairs
	EE—Mr. Johnson

The three Baltic Chiefs of Mission called on Assistant Secretary Perkins today at their request. They noted that the occasion had particular significance as the twenty-eighth anniversary of the day on which recognition had been granted by the United States to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania on July 27, 1922.

On behalf of his colleagues, the Lithuanian Minister handed Mr. Perkins an aide-mémoire¹ which emphasized the following points: (1) the appreciation of the Baltic countries for the policy followed by the United States during the past ten years of refusing to recognize the incorporation of the Baltic States into the Soviet Union; (2) the request that the United States support the consideration in the United Nations of the “genocidal mass deportations and the appalling situation in general in the Baltic States so that the offender may be exposed and the victims be given adequate satisfaction in their heroic struggle for independence”; and (3) the approval by the Baltic representatives of the course of action taken by the United States and the United Nations in Korea.

Mr. Perkins stated that the Department was pleased to note the appreciation expressed for United States policy followed toward Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as well as the approval voiced of United States policy with respect to the situation in Korea. He added that this Government continues to be opposed to aggression in every form as well as the domination of one country by another, and desires in cooperation with other nations to establish a world order in which all peoples will have the right and the opportunity to choose freely the form of government under which they wish to live. Mr. Perkins observed further that our continued recognition of the Baltic States and our efforts in cooperation with member states of the United Nations to oppose the present aggression in Korea offer ample evidence of our policy in this regard.

Mr. Perkins informed the Baltic representatives that their request with respect to consideration by the United Nations of the deportation of Baltic peoples and the general situation in the Baltic States would be referred to the Department’s representatives directly concerned with United Nations affairs.

Mr. Feldmans introduced the subject of the failure of various European countries to recognize the independence of the Baltic States. This matter is discussed in a separate memorandum of this date.²

[Valdemar Johnson]

1. Dated July 27, 1950, not printed.
2. In a separate memorandum of conversation of July 27, not printed, Valdemar Johnson noted that during their call on Assistant Secretary Perkins, the Baltic Representatives brought up the subject of the failure of various European countries to follow a policy of nonrecognition with respect to the Soviet incorporation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. They pointed out that the situation varied considerably in different countries. The representatives indicated that they would appreciate any possible efforts on the part of the United States Government to approach informally the governments involved and “suggest” to those governments that they change their policy to one of overt nonrecognition of the incorporation of the Baltic States. Assistant Secretary Perkins stated that the request would be taken under advisement (760D.02/7–2750).