 The precedent under international law established by the earlier-adopted Stimson Doctrine, as applied to the Baltics in U.S.Under Secretary of State Sumner Welles's declaration of July 23, 1940, defined the basis for non-recognition of the Soviet Union's forcible incorporation of Latvia.Despite Welles's statement, the Baltics soon reprised their centuries-long role as pawns in the conflicts of larger powers.