The failure of Esthonia to live up to its guarantees of the rights of the minorities and its refusal to sign a declaration pledging itself in this respect was taken up by the Council of the League of Nations.
The delegate from Esthonia, pleading before the Council insisted that such a guarantee from Esthonia was inadvisable and suggested that the Council be satisfied with a verbal undertaking instead.
Lord Robert Cecil taking issue with the Esthonian delegate insisted that verbal promises would not suffice and that the pledge must be written and regularly signed.
It was impossible to compromise on this question, Lord Cecil pointed out. In order to avoid such precedents, Esthonia must sign as Latvia did, he declared.
A subcommittee consisting of delegates from Britain, France, Sweden were appointed to grant a hearing to the Esthonia delegates and endeavor to find a solution.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
