Office of the Historian

Paris Peace Conference 861 E.00/30

The Chief of the Esthonian Delegation at Paris (Poska) to the President of the Paris Peace Conference (Clemenceau)52

[Translation]
Paris, undated.

Mr. President: On January 2253 last the Peace Conference adopted a resolution by which the representatives of the Governments established within the limits of Russia as it was before the war were called to a conference with the representatives of the Allied Powers on the Island of Prinkipo the coming 15th of February. The resolution closed with a request for a reply to this invitation from the interested parties.

Therefore, the Esthonian Delegation, in the name of the Esthonian Government, considers it a duty to bring the attention of the Peace Conference the following:

The Esthonian people, by the intermediary of its National Council, which springs from universal suffrage, has determined to separate from Russia and has proclaimed its country an independent republic. Its Government has been provisionally recognized by the English, French, and Italian Governments. Not only does it govern the country independently of any Russian Government, but after [Page 53] having organized a regular army it has for three months been at war with the Communist Republic of Soviet Russia.

We in no wise consider ourselves, therefore, a part of Russia and in accepting the invitation of the Allied Powers and of the United States to go to the Island of Prinkipo we consider that the participation of the representatives of Esthonia in that conference will only have for its purpose the conclusion of peace between Esthonia and the Communist Republic of Soviet Russia and to confer on the future relations between Russia and the Esthonian Republic.

However, in order to avoid any future misunderstanding, our Government wishes to state now that if any decision is taken regarding the independence of Esthonia by the Conference, it will not consider itself as bound by it.

It considers that it is exclusively within the jurisdiction and competence of the Peace Conference to recognize the independence of Esthonia and it insists upon this point before the Conference at Paris in order that its Delegation here present may be received and heard.

In the name of the Esthonian Delegation:

Chief of the Delegation and Minister of Foreign Affairs:
J. Poska
  1. A copy, in French, of this note was transmitted by the chief of the Esthonian Delegation to the Secretary of State accompanying a letter dated at Paris, Feb. 12, 1919 (Paris Peace Conference 861E.00/36, 26, and 27 A).↩
  2. Ante, p. 30.↩