The Public Diplomacy Efforts of Latvian Representatives in the US, 1921–23

• In Event: The Development of Baltic Public Diplomacy: Transitioning from Uncoordinated to Coordinated, 1915–23

Abstract

The first representation of the Latvian Government in the United States was established in 1921. The main goal was to facilitate gaining recognition by the US. To reach this goal, the Latvian delegation engaged in active public diplomacy, cooperating with the diaspora, American supporters, and media. The difficulties and successes of these public diplomacy efforts are examined.

The main diaspora partner to the Latvian official representative, Ludvigs K. Sēja, was the nationally-oriented American National Lettish League (ALTS), which was established in 1919 by then Latvian organizations. The members of ALTS took part in a meeting with President Warren Harding on May 31, 1921. They continued actively petitioning for recognition. In autumn 1921, the festival “America’s Making” was utilized to the fullest extent to introduce American society to Latvian culture and art, Sēja was active in publishing articles where he engaged in polemics about Russia, and its ability to survive without, for example, the Latvian ports, and the future of the Baltic states.

Furthermore, there was coordinated public diplomacy activity by Latvian, Lithuanian, and Estonian representatives seeking to facilitate support for recognition within American society. In 1922 they succeeded, and the Baltic American Society was established, which also sent petitions demanding recognition. After recognition was achieved, both organizations were short-lived, and the Latvian Legation was disbanded in 1923. The research on public diplomacy efforts is based on primary sources, such as the reports and correspondence of Sēja in the collection of the National Archive of Latvia, and periodicals.

Author

• Marika Selga, University of Latvia