Memorandum of the Latvian Central Council, Riga, March 17, 1944

Memorandum of the Latvian Central Council,

Riga, March 17, 1944

INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE LATVIAN LEGION MR. R. BANGERSKIS

The Honourable General,  

 An enemy from the East is once again ominously approaching Latvia. This is the same enemy whose armed forces had occupied the Republic of Latvia on 17 June 1940; this very power that as if on behalf of Latvian nation then had issued the Parliament of the Republic of Latvia (Saeima) Election Law and afterwards did not even bother to observe this very Law which by its form alone was sort of democratic; it was brutally breached by admitting only one – the communists’ and their collaborators’ – list of candidates; besides the results of balloting were forged. The outcome from such elections, of course, could not and did not provide nation’s true representation just the puppets selected by the Russian occupying power.

 These henchmen afterwards had taken a decision requesting to accept adhesion of the independent Republic of Latvia to the Soviet Union. Later the world was notified that the Republic of Latvia had voluntarily aligned with the Soviet Union. The same scenarios were carried out concerning the independent Republics of Estonia and Lithuania.  

 Latvia’s incorporation in the Soviet Union was a brutal violation of the Constitution (Satversme) of the Republic of Latvia; it breached bilateral treaties signed by the Republic of Latvia and the Soviet Union, the Covenant of the League of Nations as well as various international treaties. Latvia’s incorporation in the Soviet Union is not being recognized according to provisions of international law.

As the result from the above mentioned and according to provisions of international law, the Republic of Latvia has not lost its sovereignty and thus legally still exists. The official position of Government of the Soviet Union and its press agencies as well as point of view of some foreign newspapers that Latvia supposedly had become a part of the Soviet Union and as such should be once again incorporated in the Soviet Union has absolutely no legal grounds. In the same way unfounded is present position taken by the German occupation authorities as if Latvia had been a part of the Soviet Union. Disclosure of this position is apparent in the German occupation authorities’ everyday political and economic life. This attitude is not consistent with mobilization of Latvian residents for service in the German armed forces that was carried out on behalf of the German occupation authorities. Our nation is deeply hurt and expresses its justified discontent with such behaviour from the German occupation authorities.

 Latvian nation’s legal consciousness and national self esteem would agree to mobilization in the Latvian Army announced for Latvia’s defence and on behalf of legitimate Latvian state authorities. Only such a mobilization would make full use of our military potential and would greatly enlarge our soldiers’ combat power.

 We consider that at this stage of World War II events our nation’s existence is being imperilled; for Latvians this is a fatal time – to be or not to be.

 No one, according to all the laws of nature and humanity, could question the right for self defence, especially when life of a nation is being threatened.

 Based on the above mentioned we hereby declare the will and readiness of Latvian nation to defend Latvia’s borders against an assaulting enemy with all our potential and resources.

 On behalf of Latvian nation the below signatories of this memorandum pronounce the following unified will:

1. Immediate renewal of the Republic of Latvia de facto independence.

2. Formation of Latvian coalition government with our nation’s full representation based on the Republic of Latvia existing Constitution (Satversme) of 1922.

3. The Latvian government instant main tasks should be: renewal of state apparatus and Latvian Army, defence of Latvia against the imminent invasion of the Soviet Union’s armed forces and, as far as it is feasible during the time of war, establishing of diplomatic relations with foreign states, primarily with those who might recognize this will of our nation and would support our military task – defence of Latvia.  

We believe that establishment of a close union with Estonia and Lithuania should be promoted and that such a union, with approval from the above mentioned states, should be transformed into Baltic States’ Confederation.

By declaring our nation’s unequivocal stance on Latvia’s de jure sovereignty and willingness to renew our state’s de facto independence as well as our strong commitment to defend Latvia against its enemy with all our strength and possible resources, we plead You, the Honourable General, to pass this Latvian nation’s stance and firm volition to those international powers who might objectively understand the importance and necessity of renewal of the Republic of Latvia de facto independence and who might wish and could assist the Republic of Latvia in a fight for regaining state independence and securing of its territory.

 The Honourable General, please accept our most sincere regards.

In Riga, the capital of Latvia on March 17, 1944.