740.0011 European War 1939/4250: Telegram
The Minister in Latvia (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:05 p.m.]
167. I have just had a long private interview with the person mentioned in my 97, May 16, 1 p.m.55
[Page 382]The Soviet complaints against Latvia and Estonia were bogus fabrications. Last September Molotov specifically acquiesced in the continuance of the Latvian-Estonian alliance. On March 29 he publicly paid tribute to the excellence of Soviet relations with the Baltic States. On the eve of the Soviet ultimatum Molotov in two Tass interviews confirmed to General Berkis that the Soviet Union had no complaints against Latvia. Simultaneously, my informant queried General Loktionov in Riga both officially and off the record and was told that everything was in perfect order.
My informant confirmed the accuracy of my No. 146, June 22, 3 p.m.,56 second paragraph, reporting threats against the President “who aged 10 years in 30 minutes”. The informant does not believe that foreign diplomatic and consular representatives will be permitted to remain in Latvia for more than another month at the outside.
He anticipates public trials for himself and other leaders of the regime.
I queried him with regard to the future of German-Soviet relations. He said that a change in [the relationship?] between them was inevitable. If Germany now made a big colonial “grab” the conflict might be long deferred. If not, it might come very quickly.