Чапенко, А. А. Взаимоотношения между Латвией и Финляндией в период советско-финляндской войны 1939-1940 гг. // Международные отношения на Севере Европы и Баренц-регион: история и историография : материалы российско-норвежского семинара, Мурманск, 19-20 мая, 2007 / Мурм. гос. пед. ун-т, Ин-т истории ун-та г. Тромсе (Норвегия), Баренц-институт (Киркенес, Норвегия). – Мурманск, 2008.

including trench mortars and ammunition for them. In august 1939 the countries signed an agreement about the repairing o f artillerist guns o f the Latvian army. Nevertheless after the beginning o f “Winter War” relations between Latvia and Finland started transforming. It happened mainly because o f a mutual aid pact subscription on the 5th o f October 1939 between Latvia and the USSR which Finland ignored. According to that pact Soviet military bases and the great part o f the Red Army were placed on the territory o f Latvia by the end o f 1939. And Latvia became a state-partner o f a military union with the USSR, without a special vector, however. A formal Soviet-Latvian agreement signed on the 5th o f October, in conditions o f a beginning war, suddenly made Latvia (as well as Lithuania and Estonia, who signed those documents either) an ally to the USSR. As a result Latvian leaders found themselves in a very difficult position: on one hand they were afraid o f worsen relations with Moscow, and took a distance from the Soviet-Finish conflict; on the other hand people, military and ultra right politicians in particular sympathized Finland openly. Latvian leaders also thought about their citizens left in Finland. They were also afraid o f result o f Helsinki bombing which could be quite would be destructive for Latvian council-house. Being afraid o f Moscow reaction during voting in the League o f Nations on the 14th o f December 1939 Latvia (together with Lithuania and Estonia) abstained. During the first weeks o f “Winter War” Minister o f Foreign Affairs, V. Munters was very active in consulting the leaders o f the Soviet Union and Finland, trying to become the main peacemaker, but his initiatives were mentioned neither by Moscow nor by Helsinki. In the end o f December, 1939 Soviet Council in Riga, I. Zotov suggested the peacemaker Munters that the USSR should agree to make Terrioki government o f O. Kuusinen the legal government o f Finland (Finish Democratic Republic). After this the leader o f the Latvian Ministry o f Foreign Affairs did nothing to make peace between Moscow and Helsinki, as he was afraid o f requests concerning the government o f O. Kuusinen mentioned above. Still it is not clear why the Soviet Union didn't make Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania recognize the Terrioki government as the legal Finnish government. In Latvian press o f that period there were some articles, criticizing actions o f the Soviet Union against Finland. Some people from the Latvian Republic secretly went to Finland, took part in the war against Red Army. The intelligence service o f the Latvian army radiographed Finnish Secret Soviet. Some generals and officers also put their word for Finland. But that was not all, as Latvia had secret trade relations with Finland, but without the USSR participation. They tried to do it through third countries; Sweden, first o f all. In 1939 Latvia, completely dependent politically on the USSR, tried to be politically neutral at most, not irritating Moscow. Such politics could be clearly seen in the actions o f the political elite and personally o f the president K. Ulmanis. But in press the vast majority o f politicians revealed their support for Finland. Position o f Latvia in the period o f “Winter War” could influence the loyal attitude o f Finland to the process o f its state independence loss in 1940. 178