The first step in Estonian-US diplomatic relations: the case of Ants Piip

ABSTRACT

It took Estonia more than four years to achieve de jure recognition from the United States. Therefore, it was surprising that American pressure was needed to appoint a plenipotentiary representative. Ants Piip became the first envoy with high hopes and, thanks to him, in 1924–1925 several agreements were signed between Estonia and the United States. Unfortunately, Estonian politicians were not satisfied with the results because no concessions were made regarding debt and no loan was granted. Unlike its neighbors, the Estonian legation did not remain in Washington, although Piip worked hard for a deal until the end of Estonia’s independence in 1940.

KEYWORDS:

• Estonia
• foreign policy
• United States
• diplomatic history

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Eesti Rahvusarhiiv (National Archives of Estonia, hereafter RA), ERA.1583.1.189. Piip to fellow citizens and comrades in America, 2 September 1918; Murley to Kopvillem, Secretary of the London Embassy, 15 October 1919.

2. United States National Archives and Records Administration (hereafter NA), 860i.00 P. R./1 - 860i.0159/- 1910–1929. Piip to President Wilson, 3 September 1920.

3. NA, Office of European Affairs, U.S.S.R. Section, General Records 1911–1940, Box 3 NARS A-1. Young memorandum, 3 March 1921.

4. NA, 860i.01. Young to the Secretary of State, 25 March 1921.

5. NA, 860i.50/8. Memorandum of Russian division, 18 March 1921.

6. RA, ERA.1608.1.99. Leoke to Akel, 25 August 1923.

7. NA, American Consulate, Reval, Correspondence 1922, 811.4–865.12. Parker to Young, 1 November 1922.

8. NA, 760i.1126A. Coleman to the Secretary of State, 31 August 1923.

9. NA, 701.60F11/171. Coleman to the Secretary of State, 23 October 1923.

10. RA, ERA.1608.1.167. Piip to Hughes, 7 January 1924.

11. RA, ERA.957.12.379. Piip’s diary.

12. RA, ERA.957.12.379. Piip to Pusta, 6 November 1924.

13. RA, ERA.957.12.531; ERA.1578.1.119. See Piip’s lectures in 1924–1925.

14. RA, ERA.957.12.379. Piip to Pusta, 6 November 1924.

15. RA, ERA.1578.1.84. Piip to the editor of Chicago Daily News, 10 October 1925.

16. NA, 860i.00 P. R./1 - 860i.0159/- 1910–29. Speek to the Department of State, 8 March 1919.

17. RA, ERA.957-12-379. Piip’s diary.

18. 69^th US Congress, Senate, 1^st Session (1925), Document No. 7. ‘The Esthonian Debt Settlement.’

19. RA, ERA.957.5.291. Piip to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, 25 December 1925.

20. RA, ERA.957.12.379. Strandman to Piip, 12 September 1924.

21. See RA, ERA.1578.1.74.

22. RA, ERA.957.12.379. Piip’s diary.

23. NA, 760i.1126A. Kelley to Grew, 9 December 1925.

24. NA, 701.60F11/171. Piip to the Secretary of State Kellogg, 24 December 1925.

25. NA, 701.60F11/171. Kelley to Wright, 8 February 1927.

26. RA, ERA.957.3.373. Mutt Piibule, 11 December 1939.

27. RA, ERA.957.3.373. Mutt Piibule, 11 December 1939.

28. RA, ERA.957.12.74. Pusta to Piip, 24 October 1941.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Eero Medijainen

Eero Medijainen is Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Tartu.