tions by joining in the establishment of commissions must be taken as born in substantial part out of the suspicion that such a tribunal would seek and find a way to obtain evidence which these governments prefer to conceal.

In submitting its material, the United States Government is guided by the legal meaning of the word "evidence" used in the General Assembly resolution; that is, as denoting testimony which is logically probative of issues of fact raised by charges made and the replies thereto, and which is acceptable for consideration under standards for the conduct of judicial proceedings generally prevailing in civilized countries.1

Travel of American Citizens in Iron Curtain Countries

9. STATEMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
MAY 1, 1952 2

The Department of State announced today that it was taking additional steps to warn American citizens of the risks of travel in Iron Curtain countries by stamping all passports not valid for travel in those countries unless specifically endorsed by the Department of State for such travel.

In making this announcement, the Department emphasized that this procedure in no way forbids American travel to those areas. It contemplates that American citizens will consult the Department or the Consulates abroad to ascertain the dangers of traveling in countries where acceptable standards of protection do not prevail and that, if no objection is perceived, the travel may be authorized. All new passports will be stamped as follows:

THIS PASSPORT IS NOT VALID FOR TRAVEL TO ALBANIA, BULGARIA, CHINA, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, HUNGARY, POLAND, RUMANIA OR THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS UNLESS SPECIFICALLY ENDORSED UNDER AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE AS BEING VALID FOR SUCH TRAVEL

All outstanding passports, which are equally subject to the restriction, will be so endorsed as occasion permits.

1 The word "Government" in the second paragraph of this quotation does not appear in the original document.

2 Department of State press release 341; the text in Department of State Bulletin, May 12, 1952, p. 736, reads on May 1 instead of today in the first sentence. See also statements of Feb. 27, 1950, regarding travel in Bulgaria and Hungary (ibid., Mar. 13, 1950, p. 399); May 1, 1951, regarding travel in Hungary (ibid., May 14, 1951, p. 770); and June 2, 1951, regarding travel in Czechoslovakia (ibid., June 11, 1951, p. 932).

10. STATEMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
OCTOBER 31, 19551

The Secretary of State announced today in Geneva that United States passports will henceforth not require special validation for travel to the following countries in the European Soviet bloc: Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Rumania, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Instead of the previous endorsement necessitating special validation for travel in those areas passports will now carry the following stamp:

"This passport is not valid for travel to the following areas under control of authorities with which the United States does not have diplomatic relations: Albania, Bulgaria, and those portions of China, Korea and Viet-Nam under Communist control."

B. ALBANIA

11. STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE,
NOVEMBER 27, 1954 2

November 28 marks the anniversary of the two historic events most cherished by the Albanian people: the first proclamation of Albanian independence in 1443 and the reemergence of Albania as an independent nation in 1912.

The traditional friendship of the United States for the people of Albania has sprung from a natural American sympathy with Albanian aspirations for liberty. Since World War I, this sympathy has expressed itself in important actions of support by the United States for the sovereign independence of the Albanian nation and for the welfare of its people. Whenever contacts between Americans and Albanians occur, we are reminded that the Albanian people retain a keen appreciation of past evidences of U. S. interest and that, in consequence, a special bond of understanding between the peoples of the two countries has been firmly established.

The present sufferings of the Albanian people under Communist oppression and their strong desire to be rid of this alien yoke are matters of deep concern to the United States. The American Government and people recognize the right of the Albanian people to a sovereign national status, to genuinely democratic institutions, and to a government of their free choice. During the past few years,

2

! Department of State press release 630.

Department of State Bulletin, Dec. 6, 1954, p. 862. See also letter of Aug. 27, 1953, from the Secretary of State to the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the National Committee for a Free Albania (ibid., Oct. 19, 1953, p. 530) and statement of Nov. 28, 1953, by the Department of State (ibid., Dec. 14, 1953, pp. 819-820).

the United States has noted with satisfaction declarations by official spokesmen of the neighboring countries in support of a free and independent Albania. Americans look forward to the ultimate resumption by Albania of its rightful place in the community of nations, and the U. S. Government will not cease its advocacy of this goal.

C. BALTIC STATES

12. AIDE-MÉMOIRE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE MINISTER OF LITHUANIA,1 THE CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES OF LATVIA,2 AND THE ACTING CONSUL GENERAL OF ESTONIA IN CHARGE OF LEGATION, AUGUST 9, 1950 4

5

With reference to the aide-mémoire of July 27, 1950, which was presented to the Department of State by the Honorable the Minister of Lithuania, the Chargé d'Affaires of Latvia, and the Acting Consul General of Estonia in charge of legation and in confirmation of the conversation of that date, the Secretary of State informs the abovenamed representatives of the Baltic States as follows:

The Department of State is pleased to receive the expression of appreciation tendered by the representatives of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania on behalf of their respective countries for the policy followed by the United States Government toward the Baltic States. The Department is also pleased to note the approval expressed by the representatives of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania of the policy followed by the United States and the United Nations with respect to the recent developments in Korea. As is well known, these policies conform with the traditional views of the United States Government concerning the rights of all peoples to self-determination and freedom from aggression.

The request of the representatives of the Baltic States that the United States support consideration by the United Nations "of the genocidal mass deportations and of the appalling situation in general in the Baltic States" will be brought to the attention of the Department's representatives who are directly concerned with United Nations affairs.

1 Povilas Zadeikis.

2 Jules Feldmans.

3 Johannes Kaiv.

* Department of State Bulletin, Aug. 28, 1950, p. 334.

5 Not printed.

13. STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE BEFORE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE AND STUDY THE SEIZURE AND FORCED INCORPORATION OF LITHU ANIA, LATVIA, AND ESTONIA BY THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS AND THE TREATMENT OF SAID BALTIC PEOPLES, NOVEMBER 30, 19531

Chairman Kersten and Members of the Committee, I appreciate having this opportunity to talk to you of the Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. I shall speak of their past, their present, and their future. Each of these phases is full of meaning.

The Baltic peoples proclaimed their independence of Russia in 1918. In 1920, Soviet Russia made peace treaties with them.2 By these treaties Soviet Russia recognized, without reservation, the independence and sovereignty of the Baltic States. It declared in these treaties that it voluntarily and forever renounced all sovereign rights over the Baltic peoples and the territories of the Baltic States.

On July 28, 1922, the United States extended diplomatic recognition to the Baltic governments. We did so in application of our traditional concepts.

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania had shown, by four years of existence as independent states, that their independence had a solid reality. They had successfully maintained internal stability, both political and economic. They had conducted themselves internationally in accordance with good practice. Therefore, they were entitled to our recognition. Indeed, their independence fulfilled the kind of hope for all peoples which our Nation had entertained since its own beginning. For two decades the Baltic republics showed the good fruits of freedom. Their creative accomplishments were impressive. Their natural resources were meager. But the peoples were skilled in agriculture and by their hard work they achieved a good measure of economic well-being. National arts and crafts flourished. They established a high standard of social justice and won worldwide respect as exemplary members of the family of nations. Their spiritual and moral strength, their love of liberty, their energy, and their selfdiscipline showed that they possessed those qualities which, more than mere numbers, area, or wealth, make for national worth.

The Baltic republics, during this period, gave the whole world an ever-needed demonstration of the creative power of self-disciplined freedom.

The present dark period began in 1939. It was begun by the

1 Department of State Bulletin, Dec. 14, 1953, pp. 818-819.

Treaty of Feb. 2, 1920, with Estonia (League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. XI, pp. 29-71); treaty of Aug. 11, 1920, with Latvia (ibid., vol. II, pp. 195–231); treaty of July 12, 1920, with Lithuania (ibid., pp. 105–147).

'Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1922, vol. II, pp. 873-874.

ostensibly friendly embrace of the Soviet Union, which pressed "pacts of mutual assistance" upon these Baltic countries.

1

The Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs carefully explained the innocent and protective nature of these pacts in a major address of October 31, 1939.2 I quote his words:

The Soviet Union has concluded pacts of mutual assistance with Esthonia, Latvia, and Lithuania which are of major political importance. The special character of these mutual assistance pacts in no way implies any interference on the part of the Soviet Union in the affairs of Esthonia, Latvia, or Lithuania, as some foreign newspapers are trying to make out. On the contrary, all these pacts of mutual assistance strictly stipulate the inviolability of the sovereignty of the signatory states and the principle of non-interference in each other's affairs. . . . We declare that all the nonsensical talk about the Sovietization of the Baltic countries is only to the interest of our common enemies and of all antiSoviet provocateurs.

Scarcely had these passionate and authoritative words been uttered when the "Sovietization" began. The concluding acts occurred about eight months later when the Soviet Union marched its Red Armies into the Baltic territories, set up puppet governments, and caused them to apply for admission into the Soviet Union, an admission that was graciously granted. The "nonsensical talk" of the "foreign newspapers" had come true.

The free nations of the world were shocked by this aggression. The United States promptly made its position known. On July 23, 1940, our Government described and denounced the "devious processes whereunder the political independence and territorial integrity of the three small Baltic republics-Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania-were to be deliberately annihilated by one of their more powerful neighbors."3

The "devious processes" still went on until today over 15 once independent nations, representing much of the human race, have been "Sovietized."

Today the Soviet leaders still ask the free peoples to accept and rely on Soviet mutual security pacts. We should know by now that when the Soviet rulers use the word "security" they mean an opportunity for the Soviet Union to secure new victims.

What of the future? First of all, let us never lose hope that there is a future.

I recall some of the earliest history recorded in the books of the Old Testament. The nations there mentioned are such as Israel, Arabia, Egypt, and Lebanon. How many times have these nations of many thousands of years ago been submerged, to rise again?

1 Pact of Sept. 28, 1939, with Estonia (League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. 198, pp. 223-229); pact of Oct. 5, 1939, with Latvia (ibid., pp. 381-387); and pact of Oct. 10, 1939, with Lithuania (Department of State Bulletin, Dec. 16, 1939, pp. 705–707).

Soviet Peace Policy: Four Speeches by V. Molotov (London, 1941), p. 36. 3 Department of State Bulletin, July 27, 1940, p. 48.