Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1919, Russia

Paris Peace Conference 184.01502/5: Telegram

The Chargé in Denmark (Grant-Smith) to the Commission to Negotiate Peace

Copenhagen, April 17, 1919.
[Received in Paris April 18, 12:30 a.m.]

319. Following from Greene.

“Greene 8, April 16. By coup d’état executed about 4 p.m. Wednesday 16th, Germans overthrew Provisional Government Latvia, imprisoned Premier and other Cabinet ministers, disarmed and confined Lettish troops, seized treasury notes of Latvian Government, and now remain in complete control of situation. Will telegraph full details when known. Pretext for coup d’état apparently suppression Bolsheviki. Real motive embarrass Allied powers. Greene”.

Grant-Smith