Evening star., 1942-06-13
Treaty
Viewed as SoIvinq
Baltic Problem
Diplomats Here Consider
Poet Has Wiped Out
TickIish Issue
BY BLAIR BOLLES.

One of the most difiicult prob
lens confronting the United States,
Great Britain and Russia-the fu-
ture of the three Baltic republics
has been wiped out. at least for
the wars duration, by the Anglo
Soviet treaty. diplomats in WASH
ington agreed today.
The U. S. S. R. wanted her allies
to approve now the prospective in
corporation of Lithuania. Latvia
and Estonia within the Soviet. The
United States opposed the move.
Some high-placed Englishmen, like
Anthony Eden, Foreign Secretary,
and Sir Stafford Cripps. the Lord
Privy Seal, agreed to the Soviet
desires.
Although the three nations are
tiny, 1t was considered here that
they symbolized, like no other coun-
tries, the aspirations of the men
who subscribed to the Atlantic
/ Charter. which urges that pepoles
be permitted to choose their own
governments. They were helpless
W dIG lOl tllCflloClNCS. Vii julio
IS, 1910. the Baltic republics were
annexed to the Soviet. In July,
l941, they were occupied by Ger
man armies,
Welles Attacked Annexation.
They have no governments In
exile. They have no military forces
abroad They have no membership
in the United Nations. But the
record shows that the United States
Government. through then Acting
Secretary OF State Welles, bitterly
denounced their annexation In a
press conference statement July 23
1910. The denunciation has not
been retracted.
The embarrasSmentS over the
status of the Baltic states grew in
creasingly acute after Russia en-
tered the war and began to dem
| onStrate by its resistance that it
was a formidable ally for Great
Britain. Some elements in the Brit
ish government were willing that
Russia should have the territorial
rewards she wished.
The question has been sharpen
ing in acuteness since last Decem-
Der when the United States entered
the war and gained a strong voice
in the political counsels of the Axis
foes. The Russian desire was based
on a wish to be strategically safe
from aggression originating within
Europe, and it was argued that the
extension of Russian boundaries
westward by incorporation of the
Baltic states and a part of Poland
would render Russia safer.
Cripps Favors Russia's Plan.
This theory of the strategic from
tier gained vigorous advocate in
Sir Stafford Cripps, who wrote an
article in an American magazine on
its worth. Foreign Secretary Eden
visited Moscow in December and
gave the Russians announcement in
their ambition.
The Russians, concerned lest they
be fighting a fruitless fight now un-
less they could arrange for a ter
ritorial settlement that would pro-
tect them from future fights, wanted
immediate guarantees from their
Allies about their western boundar-
les. They pressed their desire in
London. where John Winant, Amer
lean Ambassador. aware of the
Welles' declaration and of our his
toric intention of defending the
right of peoples to rule themselves,
opposed the Russian request.
The Russian need for strategic
frontiers" apparently, according to
informed analysts, is wiped out by
article of the Anglo Soviet treaty,
which binds England to go to the
aid of Russia if it becomes in
volved in hostilities" with Germany
"or any of the states associated
with her in acts of aggression in
Europe"