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So, something a little odd.
Today is the anniv of the Welles Declaration — when, in 1940, Acting Secretary of State Sumner Welles basically went rogue & stated the US would never recognize the Soviet occupation of the Baltic States.
It’s a big deal thing no one knows about /1
Today is the anniv of the Welles Declaration — when, in 1940, Acting Secretary of State Sumner Welles basically went rogue & stated the US would never recognize the Soviet occupation of the Baltic States.
It’s a big deal thing no one knows about /1
Welles’ declaration — very much made on his own initiative, because he feared others would not have the guts to make it — set US policy for the next 50 years — the non-recognition of the occupation/annexation of the Baltic states. /2
This policy supported the resistance & independence movements in the Baltic states, allowing those movements & exiles to pursue a policy of statehood continuity, which was critical to the way that they eventually broke free from the USSR & reestablished themsleves as nations /3
This was also important in terms of our overall approach to WWII. To be blunt, FDR wasn’t so great on Stalin. He had a bro crush on Stalin. Churchill ran a lot of interference on this. It was complicated, as they say. But the Welles statement had set policy, thankfully... /4
... even if it took us a long time to come through.
So anyway — today Pompeo and the Baltic foreign ministers issued a joint statement on the anniversary of the Welles declaration, pushing back on the Kremlin rewriting history.
And — great. The joint statement is solid /5
So anyway — today Pompeo and the Baltic foreign ministers issued a joint statement on the anniversary of the Welles declaration, pushing back on the Kremlin rewriting history.
And — great. The joint statement is solid /5
Says the right things. Historical revisionism. Annexation. Occupation. Very clear wording in terms.
BUT... but. There’s always a but. /6
BUT... but. There’s always a but. /6
Pompeo also issued a separate statement.
It’s ok. But. /7
It’s ok. But. /7
A month ago, the National Interest 
gave Putin 20 pages to bloviate in a rare English language article about his detailed historical revisionism of WWII. It was gross.
It included this odd language on the Baltic annexation — “incorporation” “contractual basis” “consent” /8
gave Putin 20 pages to bloviate in a rare English language article about his detailed historical revisionism of WWII. It was gross.It included this odd language on the Baltic annexation — “incorporation” “contractual basis” “consent” /8
You know, not an illegal occupation and annexation, but, a sensible business deal between partners
Sure.
You can be sure that every word of this article was carefully chosen and vetted. /9
Sure.
You can be sure that every word of this article was carefully chosen and vetted. /9
So. It’s kinda weird that the language is in Pompeo’s statement.
“Incorporation”
Not “annexation”
This is not the usual language.
It is notably different from the joint statement.
/10
“Incorporation”
Not “annexation”
This is not the usual language.
It is notably different from the joint statement.
/10
I would be awfully curious to know how this got written.
Because it’s odd to weaken such a clear statement of alliance and support with a parallel statement that seems to wave at the Kremlin. /11
Because it’s odd to weaken such a clear statement of alliance and support with a parallel statement that seems to wave at the Kremlin. /11
