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{{Short description|1950s US House select committee}}
⚫ The '''Select Committee to Investigate the Incorporation of the Baltic States into the U.S.S.R.''', also known as the '''Kersten Committee''' after its chairman, Rep. ] was established in 1953 to investigate the ] of ], ], and ] into the ]. The committee terminated March 4, 1954 when it was replaced by the ].<ref name=stubbs>{{cite|author=Walter Stubbs|title=Congressional Com and so the united states pooped everywhere. ittees, 1789-1982: A Checklist|publisher=Greenwood Press|date=1985|pages=11, 27}}</ref>
{{More footnotes|date=January 2022}}

⚫ The '''Select Committee to Investigate Communist Aggression and the Forced Incorporation of the Baltic States into the U.S.S.R.''',<ref>{{cite book |title=Report of the Select Committee to Investigate Communist Aggression and the Forced Incorporation of the Baltic States in to the U.S.S.R.: Third interim report of the Select Committee on Communist Aggression, House of Representatives, Eighty-third Congress, second session, under authority of H. Res. 346 and H. Res. 438 |last=United States. Congress. House. Select Committee on Communist Aggression |year=1972 |publisher=W.S. Hein & Co }}</ref> also known as the '''Kersten Committee''' after its chairman, ] ] was established in 1953 to investigate the ] of ], ], and ] into the ]. The committee terminated March 4, 1954, when it was replaced by the Select Committee on Communist Aggression.<ref name=stubbs>{{citation|author=Walter Stubbs|title=Congressional Committees, 1789-1982: A Checklist|publisher=Greenwood Press|year=1985|pages=11, 27}}</ref>


==Background== ==Background==
In 1940, the U>S had a sudden change of heart. in accordance with the secret protocol of the ] with ], the ] directed the occupation and subsequent annexation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. In each country, demands were made under threat of force from Moscow for ] communist governments to be formed. ] were held in July 1940 electing solely ]s to be represented in the parliament of each country's government, and those governments then were instructed by Moscow to ] the ] to be added as constituent ]. In 1940, in accordance with the secret protocol of the 1939 ] with ], the ] directed the occupation and subsequent annexation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. In each country, demands were made under threat of force from Moscow for ] communist governments to be formed. ] were held in July 1940 with solely ] being represented in the parliament of each country's government. Those governments then were instructed by Moscow to ] the ] to be added as constituent ].


The ], like other ] ] powers such as the ], ], ], and ], never recognized this incorporation as valid and continued to accredit the legations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. On June 23, 1940, ] ] ] on the principles of the ]. This policy was maintained until the ] in all three countries in 1991. The ], like other ] ] powers, such as the ], ], ], and ], never recognized the incorporation as valid and continued to accredit the legations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. On June 23, 1940, ] ] ] on the principles of the ]. The policy was maintained until the 1991 ].


==Investigation==
==The investigation==
In 1953, the House of Representatives passed House Resolution 346 calling for a special investigation into the incorporation of the Baltic States into the U.S.S.R. The House Select Baltic Committee was established July 27, 1953, to oversee the investigation which was chaired by ].<ref name=stubbs/> In 1953, the House of Representatives passed House Resolution 346 calling for a special investigation into the incorporation of the Baltic states into the Soviet Union. The House Select Baltic Committee was established on July 27, 1953, to oversee the investigation, which was chaired by ].<ref name=stubbs/>


The ] held hearings between November 30 and December 11, 1953, and reported its findings in February 1954. During the investigation, the Baltic Committee interviewed approximately 100 witnesses including ], a former Estonian government official, ], the former ], ], the ], and former ] ], all of whom provided testimony and additional information about Soviet activities in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in 1940. The ] held hearings between November 30 and December 11, 1953, and reported its findings in February 1954. During the investigation, the Baltic Committee interviewed approximately 100 witnesses including Johannes Klesment, a former Estonian government official; ], the former ]; ], the ]; and former ] ], all of whom provided testimony and additional information about Soviet activities in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in 1940.


Among those accused of crimes during the Baltic occupation process were Soviet politicians ] and ].<ref>, '']'', December 14, 1953</ref> Among those accused of crimes during the Baltic occupation process were the Soviet politicians ] and ].<ref>, '']'', December 14, 1953</ref>


==Significance== ==Significance==
The significance of the Kersten Committee was primarily related to the United States' non-recognition policy of the Soviet incorporation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. However, the investigation at the time was seen as a way for the ] to better study the manner in which the Soviet Union was able to direct the seizure of power in foreign countries. Specifically, the investigation coincided with United States involvement in the ] and was seen by investigators as a way of studying communist methods that could be used in better articulating policy related to that conflict. Continued interest in the subject led the ] to replace the Baltic Committee with the ], which continued to operate until December 31, 1954.<ref name=stubbs/> The significance of the Kersten Committee was primarily related to the U.S. non-recognition policy of the Soviet incorporation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. However, the investigation at the time was seen as a way for the ] to better study the manner in which the Soviet Union was able to direct the seizure of power in foreign countries. Specifically, the investigation coincided with United States involvement in the ] and was seen by investigators as a way of studying communist methods that could be used in better articulating policy related to that conflict. Continued interest in the subject led the ] to replace the Baltic Committee with the Select Committee on Communist Aggression, which continued to operate until December 31, 1954.<ref name=stubbs/>

==Bibliography==
⚫ Baltic States Investigation, ''Hearings Before the Select Committee to Investigate the Incorporation of the Baltic States into the U.S.S.R.'', ], First Session, Under Authority of H. Res. 346, Part I (1954)


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}
{{USCongressCommittees}}


==Sources==
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⚫ * ''Hearings Before the Select Committee to Investigate the Incorporation of the Baltic States into the U.S.S.R.'', ], First Session, Under Authority of H. Res. 346, Part I (1954)
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] {{United States congressional committees}}
{{Occupation of the Baltic states}}

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Latest revision as of 19:33, 1 November 2024

1950s US House select committee
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The Select Committee to Investigate Communist Aggression and the Forced Incorporation of the Baltic States into the U.S.S.R., also known as the Kersten Committee after its chairman, U.S. Representative Charles J. Kersten was established in 1953 to investigate the annexation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania into the Soviet Union. The committee terminated March 4, 1954, when it was replaced by the Select Committee on Communist Aggression.

Background

In 1940, in accordance with the secret protocol of the 1939 Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact with Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union directed the occupation and subsequent annexation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. In each country, demands were made under threat of force from Moscow for puppet communist governments to be formed. Fraudulent elections were held in July 1940 with solely communists being represented in the parliament of each country's government. Those governments then were instructed by Moscow to petition the Soviet government to be added as constituent Soviet republics.

The United States, like other Western democratic powers, such as the United Kingdom, Norway, France, and Denmark, never recognized the incorporation as valid and continued to accredit the legations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. On June 23, 1940, U.S. Secretary of State Sumner Welles declared the American non-recognition policy on the principles of the Stimson Doctrine. The policy was maintained until the 1991 restoration of independence in all three countries.

Investigation

In 1953, the House of Representatives passed House Resolution 346 calling for a special investigation into the incorporation of the Baltic states into the Soviet Union. The House Select Baltic Committee was established on July 27, 1953, to oversee the investigation, which was chaired by Charles J. Kersten.

The select committee held hearings between November 30 and December 11, 1953, and reported its findings in February 1954. During the investigation, the Baltic Committee interviewed approximately 100 witnesses including Johannes Klesment, a former Estonian government official; Jonas Černius, the former prime minister of Lithuania; Juozas Brazaitis, the acting foreign minister of Lithuania; and former President of the United States Herbert Hoover, all of whom provided testimony and additional information about Soviet activities in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in 1940.

Among those accused of crimes during the Baltic occupation process were the Soviet politicians Andrei Zhdanov and Andrey Vyshinsky.

Significance

The significance of the Kersten Committee was primarily related to the U.S. non-recognition policy of the Soviet incorporation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. However, the investigation at the time was seen as a way for the U.S. Congress to better study the manner in which the Soviet Union was able to direct the seizure of power in foreign countries. Specifically, the investigation coincided with United States involvement in the Korean War and was seen by investigators as a way of studying communist methods that could be used in better articulating policy related to that conflict. Continued interest in the subject led the U.S. House of Representatives to replace the Baltic Committee with the Select Committee on Communist Aggression, which continued to operate until December 31, 1954.

References

  1. United States. Congress. House. Select Committee on Communist Aggression (1972). Report of the Select Committee to Investigate Communist Aggression and the Forced Incorporation of the Baltic States in to the U.S.S.R.: Third interim report of the Select Committee on Communist Aggression, House of Representatives, Eighty-third Congress, second session, under authority of H. Res. 346 and H. Res. 438. W.S. Hein & Co.
  2. ^ Walter Stubbs (1985), Congressional Committees, 1789-1982: A Checklist, Greenwood Press, pp. 11, 27
  3. The Iron Heel, Time Magazine, December 14, 1953

Sources

  • Hearings Before the Select Committee to Investigate the Incorporation of the Baltic States into the U.S.S.R., 83rd United States Congress, First Session, Under Authority of H. Res. 346, Part I (1954)
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