The coup of December 17, 1926 in Lithuania in the Talks of Soviet and Latvian Diplomats and Politicians: a View from Riga

Abstract

The author analyses the reflection of the events of December 17, 1926, in Lithuania in the conversations of Soviet and Latvian diplomats and politicians. Soviet diplomats (charge d’affaires S. Borkusevich, consul general V. Shenshev) usually compiled a record of interviews for timely reports on the current political situation in Latvia and when the coup had occurred carried out the records of conversations with representatives of various Latvian political circles in connection with Lithuanian events. These materials were written in an atmosphere of extreme uncertainty and lack of reliable information, based even on gossips. Soviet diplomats, first, sought to find out whether the coup had been mounted under “foreign influence” (the possibility of Polish and German influence was discussed) and, secondly, to realize if the risk of a similar “far right” coup was real in Riga, especially when left cabinet had just come to power. The reports that were sent to Moscow (People’s Commissariat of International Affairs) demonstrate both the attitude of various representatives of the political spectrum of Latvia to the Lithuanian coup and the complex international situation. The events of December 17, 1926, in Lithuania influenced the formation of the Soviet policy in Latvia. During the negotiations conducted with the center-left government of Latvia on a trade agreement the Soviet side had also take into account interests of the right-wing opposition — representatives of the Peasants’ Union of Latvia. A trade agreement with Latvia was concluded on June 2, 1927, and the representatives of the Peasants’ Union gained certain benefits — thus, certain lessons from Lithuanian coup were drawn.