Welles' Declaration on Baltic States Recognition
July 23rd, 1940
July 23rd, 1940

How Long Ago?
84 years, 7 months, 20 days ago
Location
Washington, D.C., United States
Category
Politics & Government
People
- Sumner Welles
Links & References
- United States Under Secretary of State
- Sumner Welles
- Welles Declaration
- Soviet Union
- Baltic states
- Estonia
- Latvia
- Lithuania
Tags
Welles' Declaration on Baltic States Recognition
Under Secretary of State Sumner Welles issued a declaration emphasizing the U.S. non-recognition policy towards the Soviet Union's annexation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. This declaration reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to maintain legal and diplomatic principles against coercion and illegal territorial changes. The U.S. position aimed to support the sovereignty of these nations and highlight the illegitimacy of Soviet actions.
Welles affirmed U.S. non-recognition of Soviet annexation.
Emphasized legal principles of sovereignty and self-determination.
Response to Soviet occupation during World War II.
Precedent for future U.S. foreign policy in Eastern Europe.
What Happened?
Sumner Welles, the Under Secretary of State for the United States, issued a pivotal declaration outlining America’s non-recognition policy concerning the Soviet occupation and annexation of the Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. This statement was made against the backdrop of World War II, during a time when the Soviet Union had rapidly expanded its territory under the pretext of security. The Baltic states had been independent since the end of World War I, and their forced incorporation into the Soviet Union was largely viewed as a violation of international law and principles of self-determination.
Welles’ declaration served as a formal rebuke of the Soviet actions and underscored the U.S. commitment to uphold the principle of non-recognition of territorial gains achieved through coercion. Notably, the non-recognition policy was a cornerstone of U.S. foreign relations and was leveraged to support nations whose sovereignty had been compromised. It reflected a diplomatic stance that would resonate throughout wartime and into the post-war period, as the U.S. sought to establish its global leadership by promoting democratic principles.
The declaration indicated that the United States would not consider the Baltic republics as part of the USSR. This policy would have lasting implications for U.S.-Soviet relations and contributed to the narrative surrounding Baltic independence throughout the Cold War, as well as their eventual re-establishment of sovereignty in 1990.
Why Does it Matter?
The issuance of this declaration was significant as it set a precedent for U.S. policy regarding occupied territories during the broader context of World War II and the Cold War. It demonstrated the U.S. commitment to international law and self-determination, which would influence post-war geopolitical dynamics. This stance helped shape future U.S. diplomacy and contributed to the eventual recognition of Baltic independence decades later.
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