123W644/582: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Latvia (Wiley)
90. Your 197, July 16, noon.82 Please proceed to the Department for consultation as soon as possible either across Soviet Union or via Atlantic.
[Here follow travel instructions, not printed.]
Your suggestion as to whether, pending further developments, the offices in Riga and Tallinn should continue to function as Legations or Consulates would be appreciated. Department inclined to believe that if practicable it would be preferable for the moment not to take formal step of closing Legations.
We consider, however, that it would be easier for you as Chief of Mission to avoid the necessity for making any official calls upon the authorities of the new governments set up in consequence of the recent elections if you were in a position to announce that you have been called home for consultation and are leaving for Washington immediately. The diplomatic officers remaining should also avoid making official calls upon the new authorities until authorization is received to do so.
Any steps which might be necessary for the protection of American interests or property should be taken by appropriate officers in their consular capacity. Please instruct Leonard in this sense.
The contents of this telegram, with the exception of your instructions to proceed to Washington for consultation, are confidential.
- Not printed.↩