declaration diplomatic statement issued july acting secretary state condemning june occupation soviet_union baltic states estonia lithuania refusing recognize annexation soviet application doctrine non recognition international territorial changes executed force consistent president attitude territorial expansion soviet invasion implementation nazi_germany contained secret protocol powers agreed partition annex independent states pact soviets engaged series actions ending annexation baltic states summer area held little strategic importance united_states established diplomatic relationships united_states britain anticipated future involvement war british soviet alliance open confrontation concerned postwar border planning authorized roosevelt issue stronger public statements intervention officials familiar area kept administration informed developments henderson roosevelt worked compose declaration declaration established decade non recognition baltic states annexation document major significance overall policy europe critical year engage soviet_union militarily region declaration enabled baltic states maintain independent diplomatic missions executive order protected baltic financial assets essence supported subsequent presidents congressional resolutions baltic states established independence background 19th early 20th century status late 18th early 20th century russian empire annexed regions comprise finland national awareness movements began gain strength declared independent wake world war states recognized early 1920s age awakening expressed peoples wishes create independent states world war states declared independence lithuania established independence february estonia february november baltic countries seen unified group despite languages histories lithuania recognized state estonia emerged territories held established states admitted granted recognition baltic states july granted shift democratic administration republican administration sponsor meaningful political economic initiatives region interwar period consider states strategically important maintained normal diplomatic relations states suffered deaths world war pursued policy determined avoid involvement european conflicts secretary state formally criticised japanese invasion resulting doctrine serve basis declaration situation changed outbreak world war poland invaded september great_britain involved series german victories denmark norway netherlands spring britain clearly threatened leadership discussed possibility alliance soviet_union circumstances direct british confrontation baltic issue difficult roosevelt wish lead war speech denouncing aggression italy japan met mixed responses felt regard looking postwar border issues establishment international body intervene disputes roosevelt saw stronger public statements experiments test public mood regard foreign policy secret protocol contained pact germany soviet_union relegated estonia lithuania soviet sphere influence course late early soviet_union issued series baltic governments eventually led illegal annexation states time soviet_union similar pressure finland soviet troops entered baltic states june followed arrests leaders citizens elections people assemblies held states mid july soviet sponsored received vote june sent coded washington reporting developments reports influenced responded july amendment executive order assets baltic states grouping german occupied countries issuing declaration declaration written consultation roosevelt participate creation stated territorial adjustments accordance wishes peoples concerned increasingly served acting secretary state illnesses henderson director married woman opened office lithuania world war served years conversation morning july asked henderson prepare press release expressing sympathy people condemnation soviet action reviewing statement initial draft expressed opinion strong presence henderson called roosevelt read draft roosevelt agreed needed strengthening sentences added apparently suggested president according henderson president roosevelt manner soviet_union annexed personally approved statement issued secretary subject declaration public moscow later day text declaration statement read past days processes political independence territorial integrity small estonia lithuania deliberately annihilated powerful neighbors rapidly drawing conclusion day peoples gained independent democratic form government people united_states watched admirable progress self government deep sympathetic interest policy government universally known people united_states opposed predatory activities matter carried use force threat force likewise opposed form intervention state powerful domestic concerns sovereign state weak principles constitute foundations existing relationship sovereign new world rests united_states continue stand principles conviction american people doctrine principles inherent relations nations rule reason justice law words basis modern civilization preserved impact impact world war announced government continue recognize foreign ministers baltic countries envoys sovereign governments time instructed representatives withdraw baltic states new_york_times described exceptional diplomatic documents issued years declaration source contention subsequent alliance great_britain ussr defended discussion media asserted ussr odor legality acts aggression purposes record memorandum describing conversations british ambassador lord halifax stated preferred characterize supporting faked april wrote annexation moral standpoint likewise stupid interpreting concession baltic issue precedent lead border struggles eastern poland war intensified roosevelt accepted need soviet assistance reluctant address postwar territorial conflicts conference jokingly assured soviet forces baltic countries intend war soviet_union point explained question referendum right self determination constitute matter great importance despite work soviet representatives early 1940s forward alliance saw roosevelt churchill lack commitment dangerous postwar impact declaration linked policy baltic states doctrine recognize japanese german italian 1930s broke policies supported strong russian presence german power cold war baltic issue point leverage relations sir judge international law described basis non recognition doctrine founded principles non construction non recognition based view acts contrary international law invalid source legal rights view applies international law general principles law recognized nation principle non fundamental rule source legal right like doctrine declaration largely symbolic nature offered material benefits conjunction executive order enabled diplomatic representatives baltic states countries fund operations protected ownership ships flying baltic flags establishing non recognition policy allowed postwar displaced persons baltic states avoid soviet_union advocate independence abroad position baltic states forcibly annexed remain official stance following years subsequent presidents congressional resolutions reaffirmed substance declaration president asserted right baltic states independence address united_states congress january confirming july united_states house_of_representatives passed resolution final act affect continuity recognition sovereignty baltic states july 61st anniversary recognition baltic countries president ronald_reagan declared recognition independence estonia lithuania declaration read united_nations years followed events official maps publications mentioned baltic states included statement non recognition soviet occupation independence movements states 1980s succeeded united_nations recognized states went members european_union nato development independence generally regarded successful post soviet stories commenting declaration anniversary secretary state described tribute countries commitment ideals freedom democracy july commemorative plaque inscribed text english lithuanian formally dedicated capital lithuania
Welles Declaration