SOVIET ACTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 July 1940, Page 5

SOVIET ACTION

! AGAINST THE BALTIC STATES DENOUNCED BY AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. PRINCIPLES TO BE UPHELD. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.0 a.m.) WASHINGTON, July 23. Mr Sumner Welles, Under-Secretary of State, denouncing the occupation of the Baltic States, made a statement: “The devious _ processes under which the independence and integrity of the three Baltic States were to be deliberately annihilated by one of their more powerful neighbours have been rapidly drawing to a conclusion. The policy of the United States is universally known. The American peoples are opposed to predatory activities, no matter whether carried out by force or by threat. They are likewise opposed to any form of intervention on the part of one State, however powerful, in the domestic concerns of any other, however weak. The United States will stand by these principles.” The Berlin news agency says that the Estonian President, M. Pats, has resigned in consequence of the State’s request for its incorporation in the Soviet Union, and that Professor Vares.' the new Prime Minister, has taken over his duties. A message from Tallinn states that M. Roeuk, leader of the former Estonian Fascist Party, committed suicide after the announcement of the decision to incorporate Estonia in the Soviet. The Berlin agency states that the Latvian Parliament has macle an order that all land is to become the property of the nation. Each peasant will be limited to 30 acres. Banks and commercial undertakings are also to be nationalised.