The purpose of this article is to examine the main stages on the way to obtaining recognition for the Republic of Latvia from the United States, paying specific attention to the period from 1921 to 1922. After recognition was obtained from other Western powers in January 1921, the issue became particularly relevant. The article reflects upon the reasons for the long period of non-recognition (first and foremost, the principle of an indivisible Russia), the actions of the Latvian Government and society to achieve recognition, as well as the process of recognition and reactions to this development.
1. See: Ē. Jēkabsons. The Latvian War of Independence 1918–1920 and the United States. – War, Revolution, and Governance: The Baltic Countries in the Twentieth Century. Ed. by L. Fleishman, A. Weiner. Academic Studies Press, Boston, 2018, 17–29
https://doi.org/10.1515/9781618116215-003;
Ē. Jēkabsons. Latvijas un Amerikas Savienoto Valstu attiecības 1918.–1922. gadā. Latvijas Vēstures institūta apgāds, Rīga, 2018, 831.
https://doi.org/10.22364/lviz.108.08
2. See: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Department of State (DS), Latvia, vol. 15.
3. Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS). 1921, vol. II. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, 1936, 752–753.
4. Lai dzīvo pilntiesīga Latvijas valsts! – Latvijas Kareivis, 28th January 1921.
5. A. G. Pēc de jure atzīšanas. – Latvijas Kareivis, 2nd February 1921.
6. L. Z. Latvijas politiskā orientācija. – Latvijas Kareivis, 5th February 1921.
7. Simplex. Amerika un Baltijas valstis. – Jaunākās Ziņas, 3rd February 1921.
8. Viesības pie ministru prezidenta. – Valdības Vēstnesis, 28th February 1921.
9. Amerika njedovoljna; Amerika po povodu de jure. – Segodnia, 1st February 1920.
10. Latvijas nacionālā arhīva Latvijas Valsts vēstures arhīvs (LVVA), 2575. f., 15. apr., 3. l., 91. lp.
11. See: Latvijas de jure atzīšana. – Amerikas Atbalss, 2nd February 1921.
12. W. Duranty. New States on the Baltic. – New York Times, 28th January 1921.
13. See: New Baltic Nations. – New York Tribune, 28th January 1921.
14. LVVA, 2574. f., 4. apr., 133. l., 134., 135. lp. (Report of K. Ozols to Z. Meierovics, 3rd December 1920); Latvijas tirdzniecības priekšstāvis Ziemeļamerikas Sabiedrotās Valstīs inž. K. Ozols. – Latvijas Kareivis, 9th January 1921.
15. A. Zalts. Prezidenta vēlēšanas Amerikā un Krievijas jautājums. – Latvijas kareivis, 14th November 1920.
16. Sav. Valstu Eiropas politika. – Jaunākās Ziņas, 7th March 1921.
17. LVVA, 2575. f., 15. apr., 3. l., 29. lp.
18. M. Farbman. Recognition by U.S. is urged by Latvia. Such Action is Indispensable for Growth of Border State. – Amerikas Atbalss, 21st April 1921. See: NARA, DP, Latvia, vol. 10 (M. Farbman to J. Gade, Riga, 9th April 1920); National Archives of the United Kingdom, Foreign Office, 371/3633/20 (S. Tallents to Foreign Office, 31st March 1920).
19. E. Noble. The International Practical Value of the Baltic Republics. – Amerikas Atbalss, 28th April 1921.
20. LVVA, 2575. f., 11. apr., 9. l., 62., 67. lp.; 2574. f., 4. apr., 134. l., 114. lp. (Reports of L. Sēja to Z. Meierovics, 6th August 1921; 17th, and 19th August 1921). See: France Goes to Riga; Soviet to Admit Him: Senator, With Permission to Visit Russia, Leaves Berlin With His Secretary. – New York Times, 28th June 1921; France Leaves Riga on Trip to Moscow: Special Courtesies lacking, He Travels in a Crowded Second Class car. – New York Times, 2nd July 1921.
21. See: LVVA, 2574. f., 4. apr., 135. l., 17. lp. (Report of L. Sēja, 5th October 1921).
22. LVVA, 2574. f., 4. apr., 34. l., 64.–67. lp.
23. Would Recognize Baltic Nations. – The Washington Post, 2nd June 1921; The Powers and Russia. – Washington Post, 13th June 1921.
24. Hoover Institution Archives, Latvia, Sutnieciba Sweden, box 1 (Telegram to Envoy in Sweden, 16th March 1921).
25. NARA, DS, Latvia, vol. 15.
26. Latvija un Amerika. Saruna ar Latvijas sūtni Amerikā. – Latvijas Kareivis, 10th April 1921.
27. See: Piecas „kaujas republikas”. – Latvijas Kareivis, 23rd March 1920.
28. Amerikānietis par jaunajām valstīm. – Latvijas Kareivis, 9th December 1920.
29. LVVA, 2574. f., 4. apr., 134. l., 3., 6. lp.; 293. f., 1. apr., 1., 2. lp. (Telegrams of L. Sēja to the Ministry, 30th April 1921 and 3rd May 1921); Latvijas priekšstāvis Amerikā. – Valdības Vēstnesis, 4th May 1921; Latvijas sūtnis Amerikā. Latvijas Kareivis. 10th May 1921; Latvijas sūtnis Amerikā. – Jaunākās Ziņas, 9th June 1921.
30. LVVA, 2574. f., 4. apr., 134. l., 37. lp. (Report of L. Sēja, 20th May 1921). LVVA, 293. f., 1. apr., 453. l., 1.–6., 14., 16., 39. lp.; 2570. f., 14. apr., 1353. l.; 1131. l., 178. lp.; 2574. f., 4. apr., 133. l., 199.–201., 268., 269. lp.
31. LVVA, 2574. f., 4. apr., 134. l., 88., 89. lp. (Report of L. Sēja, 15th July 1921).
32. NARA, DS, Latvia (H. Hoover to Ch. Hughes, 30th April 1921).
33. LVVA, 293. f., 1. apr., 453. l., 28., 57., 58. lp. (Reports of L. Sēja, 4th June 1921; 4th August 1921).
34. LVVA, 293. f., 1. apr., 453. l., 71. lp.
35. LVVA, 293. f., 1. apr., 453. l., 74. lp.
36. LVVA, 2574. f., 4. apr., 133. l., 322., 323. lp.
37. Amerika un Latvija. – Latvijas Vēstnesis, 14th June 1923; NARA, DS, box 6666.
38. See: T.R. Ybarra. Orientation in Baltic High Politics. – New York Times, 2nd October 1921; The Truth about the Baltic States. – Washington Post, 18th December 1921.
39. LVVA, 2574. f., 4. apr., 135. l., 57., 67. lp.
40. Ministr-prezident Meijerovic. – Segodnia, 4th January 1922.
41. LVVA, 253. f., 1. apr., 453. l., 95. lp.
42. LVVA, 2574. f., 1. apr., 76. l., 2.–6. lp. (Report of L. Sēja, 26th January 1922).
43. LVVA, 2574. f., 1. apr., 76. l., 21., 31.–35. lp. (Report of L. Sēja, 1st March 1922, 13th April 1922).
44. Ch. Seya. Baltic States and Russia. – New York Times, 16th April 1922.
45. FRUS, 1922, vol. II, Washington, 1938, 869–872.
46. LVVA, 2574. f., 4. apr., 109. l., 328. lp.
47. LVVA, 293. f., 1. apr., 1156. l., 10. lp. (L. Sēja to K. Roos, 1st February 1922).
48. LVVA, 293. f., 1. apr., 1156. l., 1.–45. lp. (Correspondence of L. Sēja with Latvian organisations in USA, 1922–1923).
49. J. Skirius. Lietuvos užatlantės diplomatija 1918–1929 metais. S. n., Vilnius, 1995, 61.
50. LVVA, 293. f., 1. apr., 989. l., 15., 16. lp.; U.S. Urged to Recognize 3 Baltic States. – New York Tribune, 12th July 1922.
51. Amerikas profesors par mums. – Jaunākās Ziņas, 12th September 1922.
52. J. Skirius. Lietuvos užatlantės diplomatija 1918–1929 metais, 61.
53. FRUS. 1922, vol. II, 873.
54. E. Medijainen. The US de jure Recognition of the Baltic States. – Trames, 2012, 16(4), 305–322.
https://doi.org/10.3176/tr.2012.4.01
55. See: FRUS. 1922, vol. II, 875–884.
56. LVVA, 2574. f., 1. apr., 76. l., 80.–85. lp. (L. Sēja to Z. Meierovics, 5th July 1922).
57. Russian Succession States. – Washington Post, 20th July 1922.
58. NARA, Latvia UD 38, Record Group 84 (C. Hughes to W. Harding, 24th July 1922).
59. NARA, DS, Latvia (C. Hughes to Mission in Riga, 25th July 1922).
60. LVVA, 2570. f., 3. apr., 1148. l., 155.–157. lp.
61. NARA, DS, Latvia (H. Quarton to Z. Meierovics, Riga, 28th July 1922).
62. Atzīšanas raksta iesniegšana; Pēc Savienoto Valstu de jure atzīšanas. – Latvijas Kareivis, 29th July 1922; Amerika priznala Latviju, Estoniju i Litvu de jure. – Segodnia, 29th July 1922; M. Rns [Rācens]. Vēl par Latvijas atzīšanu no Ziemeļ-Amer. Savienot. Valstīm. – Darba Balss, 29th July 1922.
63. NARA, DP, Latvia, vol. 17 (Z. Meierovics to Ch. Hughes, Washington, 28th July 1922). Latvia Cables “Grateful Thanks”. – New York Times, 30th July 1922.
64. De jure svinības Rīgā. – Jaunākās Ziņas, 29th July 1922; Manjifestacija. – Segodnia, 29th July 1922.
65. Latvijas de jure no Amerikas. – Kurzemes Vārds, 29th July 1922.
66. Sloka. De jure svinības. – Jaunākās Ziņas, 1st August 1922.
67. Jaunā atzīšana nodrošina Latvijas nākotni. – Latvijas Vēstnesis, 29th July 1922.
68. A. Gersons. Amerika atzinuse Latviju. – Jaunākās Ziņas, 28th July 1922.
69. J. Ozoliņš. Amerika un mēs. – Jaunākās Ziņas, 28th July 1922.
70. Elvis. Jauns ieguvums Baltijas valstu apvienībai. – Jaunākās Ziņas, 29th July 1922.
71. E. Mednis. Ministru prezidents par Savienoto valstu atzīšanas nozīmi. – Latvijas Kareivis, 29th July 1922.
72. See: Sakarā ar Latvijas atzīšanu no ASV. – Kurzemes Vārds, 29th July 1922; Amerikanskoje priznanije. – Segodnia, 29th July 1922.
73. See: Amerikas de jure atbalsis. – Latvijas Kareivis, 30th July 1922; Ziemeļ-Amerikas Savienotās Valstis atzinušas Latviju de jure. – Sociāldemokrāts, 29th July 1922.
74. NARA, DP, Latvia, vol. 17.
75. The Baltic States. – New York Times, 29th July 1922; Latvia Acclaims Our Recognition. Riga Makes Holiday in Celebration – Capt. E. E. Young Named American Minister. – New York Times, 29th July 1922.
76. Four New Republics. – New York Tribune, 29th July 1922; Four Balkan States Win American Recognition. – New York Tribune, 28th July 1922.
77. 4 War Born-Nations Recognized by U.S. – Washington Post, 28th July 1922; Latvia is Grateful for U.S. Recognition. – Washington Post, 30th July 1922.
78. LVVA, 2574. f., 1. apr., 76. l., 99. lp. (Report of L. Sēja, 19th August 1922); Celebrate U. S. Recognition. – New York Times, 4th August 1922; Baltic Envoys Thank U.S. For Recognizing Republics. – New York Tribune, 4th August 1922.
79. LVVA, 293. f., 1. apr., 453. lp., 104. lp.
80. LVVA, 2574. f., 1. apr., 76. l., 92.–100. lp. (Report of L. Sēja, 19th August 1922).
81. Amerikas sūtnis ieradies Rīgā. – Jaunākās Ziņas, 5th August 1922. Ministru prezidenta apsveikšanas telegramma Savienoto Valstu sūtnim Latvijā. – Latvijas Kareivis, 30th July 1922.
82. Latvija–Amerika. – Jaunākās Ziņas, 7th August 1922; Sakarā ar Amerikas de jure. – Valdības Vēstnesis, 9th August 1922; Uzhin u ministr-prezidenta. – Segodnia, 9th August 1922.
83. Saruna ar Ziemeļamerikas sūtni. – Jaunākās Ziņas, 8th August 1922.
84. M. J. Pie Amerikas sūtņa. – Latvijas Vēstnesis, 8th August 1922.
