The Times | February 25, 1928
INDEPENDENCE DAY IN ESTONIA. FINNISH INTEREST.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.) RIGA, FEB. 24. Estonia today is celebrating the tenth anniversary of her independence. At Reval the festivities began yesterday and were continued to-day with great animation. The Government has received numerous telegrams of congratulation from foreign States. The. Latvian Minister is personally taking part in the ceremonials, and the diplomatic representatives attended a solemn sitting of the Diet this morning. All the houses in Riga [Latvia] are displaying the Latvian and Estonian flags.
HELSINGFORS, FEB. 24. The tenth anniversary of Estonia's independence has occasioned here a remarkable display of official rejoicing, intended to demonstrate the intimate political and racial relations which obtain between Finland and Estonia. In a message to Estonia the President of Finland, M. Relander, a.assures Estonians that the Finnish nation also celebrates Estonia's holiday and rejoices that the sister nations have found each other. Similar feelings were expressed by the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, and the President of the Diet, who all drew attention to the great affinity between the Finns and Estonians. The public buildings are beflagged and an official delegation has been sent to Reval The Finnish newspapers do honor to Estonia in articles and poems.
The Times | June 15, 1939
BALTIC STATES AND RUSSIA FEARS OF A SOVIET PROTECTORATE
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES Sir,-The formula which, according to your Diplomatic Correspondent, should set at rest the minds of the Baltic States and also satisfy the U.S.S.R. will not necessarily bring Europe nearer to a peaceful settlement. The diffidence of the Baltic States towards the expressed desire of the U.S.S.R. to guarantee their independence, achieved 20 years ago with German aid at, the expense of Russia, is perhaps in- sufficiently understood here. The following facts deserve to be well weighed.
On March 28 last the U.S.S.R., in a note verbally addressed to Estonia, said that it would regard as a violation of Russo- Estonian treaties " for which Estonia must take the consequences " any agreement concluded by Estonia with a third Power, of her own free will or otherwise, which (a) diminished Estonian independence, (b) granted exclusive privileges to such Power, or (c) resulted in the economic, political, or military domination of Estonia by such Power. In other words, Estonia was warned not to make any pact for her protection against an invasion by Soviet naval or military forces, on the pretext of protecting Estonian sovereignty. The U.S.S.R. thus seeks to establish a form of protectorate over the Baltic States, whose reply has been (a) in Estonia, Latvia, and Denmark, the conclusion of pacts of non-aggression with Germany; (b) in Finland, a joint arrangement to refortify the Aland Islands, despite the attempted veto of the U.S.S.R. at Geneva, for which the Finnish Government and Press hold us also responsible. These Baltic States might be of cardinal importance to us in case of war; our negotiations with the U.S.S.R. have pushed them into " reinsurance " agreements with- Germany. They clearly fear that, inspired by the desire to protect them against Germany. Britain may give involuntary assent to a Russian protectorate which they are determined to resist, preferring the prospect of German protection in case of war to an incursion of Soviet troops under any pretext that diplomatic ingenuity can devise. Their fears are not vain, for the form of pact desired by the U.S.S.R. enables that Government to declare aggression to be " threatened" by a third Power, and on this ground to embark upon a war which must involve us and from which no " formula," however skillfully worded, would save us. A pact with Moscow would be too dearly bought at the cost of losing the good will of the Baltic States, a courageous and determined body of neutrals. Delicti poeniteat illos, nos non credidi nus. " Let the guilty repent, we have never believed." Instead of pressing the Government to conclude at all costs a pact with the U.S.S.R. we should urge' it to make a firm stand against any attempt on the part of Russia to encroach upon the sovereignty of the Baltic States. They are the best judges of their interests, which in the ultimate resort are also ours.
Your obedient servant. ARNOLD WILSON. House of Commons, June 12.
The Times | February 27, 1928
GERMANY AND ESTONIA. OBJECTION TO "OFFENSIVE" PROCLAMATION.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.) RIGA, FEB. 26. An acute conflict between Germany and Estonia has developed in connection with the celebrations on Friday of Estonian independence. The German Government has objected to certain passages in the Estonian Government's proclamation to the people, and the German diplomatic representatives re- fused to take part in the festivities with the representatives of the other Powers. Tension had already existed in connection with the amount of compensation paid to German landowners for alienated property. The Germans consider as most offensive a passage in the proclamation referring to the German occupation of Estonia in the War as " a time of hard trials for the Estonian people. The country was oppressed more than even in Russian times. We learned what would be our lot if fate bound us to the German Empire." The Soviet representatives also abstained ; apparently they were offended by the references to their past deeds.
The Times | June 12, 1947
BALTIC DISPLACED PERSONS
The following are extracts from two letters received by the Editor: - Kindly permit us, the undersigned, to draw the attention of your readers to the anxiety which we feel concerning the fate of tens of thousands of Estonians now interned in displaced persons' camps in Western Germany. There is no need to stress that these D.P.s are uninvited guests in Germany. They have no material support, no work suited to their qualifications, and no prospects for the future. It is, therefore, perfectly natural that they should return to their own country and take their places among their own people. Their continued, internment is due entirely to the abnormal situation in the camps: instead of accelerating repatriation, camp authorities are conducting propaganda against any such desire. They also take other measures to prevent repatriation, including actual physical prohibition. Those responsible for this dangerous political game are persons of Baltic descent who were compromised by collaboration with the enemy during the occupation. In 1946 these individuals set up the " committee of Baltic Peoples " at Detmold, which is doing its best to assume political leadership of all regional, Laider. and youth committees. The whole trend of their activities runs counter to the agreement reached by the Moscow conference of the Council of Foreign Ministers.
Those who wish to return home are terrorized, and if this does not help they are forcibly restrained. Soviet Estonia is now going through a period of all-round reconstruction. All branches of national economy are working at full speed; activities in fields of science and culture have reached unprecedented dimensions. Everywhere there is shortage of labor. The country can guarantee work for everybody at his own trade or profession with pay and other conditions in accordance. Those who have returned are already working in factories, on farms, or in cultural and scientific institutions. These facts expose the ridiculous rumors spread by former Nazis to the effect that repatriates are sent to Siberia.
Estonian public opinion deems it essential to put an end to an abnormal state of affairs in D.P. camps, to stop all propaganda against repatriation, and to help D.P.s to return home as speedily as possible. We also believe it essential to dissolve the reactionary " Committee of Baltic Peoples," its branches and camp committees that only serve as asylum for war criminals. J. NUUT. Secretary of Estonian Academy of Sciences; R. LEETOJA, Chicf Agro, nomist, Ministry of Agriculture, Esto- nian S.S.R.; AINO BACH, artist; RIHO PATS, Professor of Tallinn State Con- servatory; E. MURDMAA, merited teacher, Estonian S.S.R.; BETTY Kuus- KEMAA, actress of " Estonia " State Theatre; F. TUGLAS, People's writer of Estonian S.S.R., corresponding member of Estonian Academy; 0. MADDISON, merited scientific worker, member of Academy of Sciences, secretary of its physics and mathematics section; F. RAUDKEPP, Head Doctor of Republican Neurosurgical Hospital; R. KLELS, Dean of Faculty of History and Philo- logy, Tartu University, Acting Director of Academy's Institute of History, J. KARNER, merited writer, Estonian S.S.R. Moscow (by Cable).
On the occasion of the meeting of the Moscow Conference the Baltic D.P.s in Melle (Province Hannover, Germany) laid down their work on March 11 for a one-day general and hunger strike. The aim of this action was to draw the attention of the world public to the still unsettled question of restoration of the independence of the Baltic States. At a meeting representing Melle D.P.s it was unanimously decided to appeal to the United Nations, and to submit the following claims:--(I) Immediate withdrawal of Soviet occupation forces from the Baltic States. Restoration of the sovereignty of the Baltic Democratic Republics. (2) Release and return of those citizens of the Baltic States who were deported to the Soviet Union. (3) Guarantee of freedom and human rights for all small nations, and resistance to every form of violence impartially and-without exception. More than 6,000,000 Baltic people are desperately waiting for this settlement A. KbDAR, K. SEPPEk, Estonian Repre- sentalives; A. AUZINS, E. BAKUZIS, Latvian Representatives; J. MIKELENAS, A. PETRAUSKAS, Lithuanian Repre- sentatives. Baltic D.P. Camp " Daugava," (23) Melle in Hann., Germany, British Zone.
The Times | October 7, 1939
RUSSIAN GRIP ON BALTIC FATE OF BORDER REPUBLICS PRESS COMPLACENCY
From Our Own Correspondent MOSCOW, Ocr. 6
M. Munters left Moscow for Riga last night after a dinner at the Kremlin celebrating the Soviet-Latvian Treaty of mutual assistance. M. Stalin, M. Molotoff, Marshal Voroshiloff, and other leaders attended the dinner, which, according to the official announcement, was held in an extremely friendly atmosphere. Observers here are surprised that the Latvian Treaty, unlike the Estonian, does not provide for special facilities for the transport of Soviet goods to the Baltic, especially since Riga is a larger and better equipped port than Tallinn. It is thought that this matter has been reserved for a later settlement in concert with Lithuania, whose Government are also engaged in negotiations with the Soviet Union. It is expected that the Soviet Union will desire to send goods from Vilna through Kaunas towards the Latvian ports.
The newspapers make no apology for having deprived Latvia and Estonia of their independence. They claim rather that the Soviets have conferred an in- calculable benefit upon these countries by protecting them and thereby also on the Soviet Union, preserving her from becoming involved in the European war. While aggressive and imperialist Powers are seeking means to extend and continue the war, the Soviet Union, it is claimed, has alone sought and found ways of consolidating and keeping peace in the larger part of the European Continent. Russia's neighbours understand that the peaceful life of labour they enjoy is due to the efforts of the " Great Government of Socialism " and therefore show a natural desire to improve their relations with the Soviet Union. "RESPECT FOR THE WEAK" Thus Izv'estia. The newspaper also claims that the Estonian and Latvian pacts are the fruit of the trust felt in the Soviet Union, which has never exploited its great power to the detriment of small, weak countries, and always respects the forms of Government chosen by other nations. This startling statement will doubtless carry conviction in Russia, where the general public have not had an opportunity of studying fully the circumstances which attended the making of the treaties. Pravda refreshingly had less to say about the Soviet Government's benevolence towards other countries than towards the Soviet Union itself. If, says Prai'da, some Great Plowers nursed a desire to involve countries neighbouring with the Soviet Union within the orbit of their imperialist policy, if some Powers hoped to use Latvia as an instrument against the Soviet Union, the pact. of mutual assistance finally ends such machinations.
The newspaper also attacks the League of Nations. The Soviet Union (it is stated) tried to construct peace through even " that mess " before resorting to other more effective methods. The newspaper expatiates on the approval that Soviet citizens feel for the wise policy of Stalin, " great leader of nations," which ensures firm, calm, and fruitful socialist labour in Russia, while a second imperialist war is enveloping the capitalist world. The imperialist world may try to pervert the significance of Soviet policy, but (says Pravda) truth is so strong that it must penetrate the conscience of all nations and particularly of the workers in capitalist countries, whose shoulders bear the burden of the new war for the predatory personal interests of imperialist Governments. It is noteworthy that the newspapers, despite Soviet-German friendship, do not distinguish between the Reich and Great Britain and France, but appear to characterize all belligerents as imperialist and capitalist Powers. It is understood that some 12 British and six Swedish steamers with cargoes of timber for England are at present delayed in Archangel-not Murmansk, as previously reported. The difficulty of their release is connected with the Russian demand for advance payment in dollars, deposited in a neutral country. Negotiations are in progress to overcome this difficulty.
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