Paris Peace Conference 861 C.00/12
The President of the Lettish Delegation at Paris (Tschakste) to President Wilson
[Received in Paris February 15.]
Mr. President: The great Allied Powers assembled in the Peace Conference issued an invitation on January 22, 1919,47 by wireless to [Page 50] the representatives of every organized group which exercises, or which attempts to exercise, political authority or military control anywhere in Siberia or within the boundaries of European Russia as they existed before the war just ended (except in Finland and Poland) to go to Princes Island February 15, 1919, to confer with the representatives of the great Allied Powers. Although from a political point of view the Provisional Government of Latvia is in a situation identical with that of Poland and Finland, it nevertheless considers itself invited, in accordance with an official statement made by the Secretary General of the Peace Conference on February 10, 1919.
In the name of the Lettish Provisional Government the Lettish Delegation has the honor to bring to the attention of the Paris Peace Conference the following declaration:
The Lettish Provisional Government will send three delegates to Princes Island “provided that in the meantime a truce is established between Latvia and Russia, and that all the armed forces sent or directed by Russia against the Lettish nation be in the meantime withdrawn from Latvia and that all offensive action cease.”
Whereas,
- (1)
- Latvia proclaimed its separation from Russia and announced in the month of January, 1918, in the Constituent Assembly of Russia the constitution of an independent and sovereign Lettish state,
- (2)
- The Lettish Provisional Government has addressed to all the great Allied Powers and to the Peace Conference in Paris its request that they recognize Latvia as an independent and sovereign state,
The Lettish Delegation sent to the Peace Conference will take part in the Prinkipo Conference in order to
- (1)
- Conclude peace with Russia which will be recognized by the great Allied Powers,
- (2)
- Settle, under the auspices of the great Allied Powers, the political and economic affairs that arise from the separation of Latvia and Russia, and
- (3)
- Conclude treaties and take appropriate measures with a view to establishing normal relations between the two states.
Kindly accept [etc.]
President of the Council of the State of Latvia
President of the Lettish Delegation