LETTONIE - RUSSIE, Traités et documents de base

N° 3408. Treaty of Non-Aggression between Latvia and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, signed at Riga February 5th, 1932. (F)

N° 3408. Treaty of Non-Aggression between Latvia and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, signed at Riga February 5th, 1932.

The President of The Latvian Republic and The Central Executive Committee of The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics;

Having in view the Peace Treaty concluded on August 11th, 1920, between Latvia and the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, the effect of which extends to the entire territory of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and all the provisions of which remain invariably and permanently the firm foundation of the relations between the High Contracting Parties:

Being convinced that it is in the interests of both High Contracting Parties to adopt certain provisions which may contribute to the development and consolidation of the friendly relations between the two States;

Being firmly resolved to respect mutually and unreservedly each other's sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity and inviolability;

Being guided by the desire to contribute to the consolidation of world peace;

Declaring that none of the obligations so far assumed by either of the Parties hinders the peaceful development of their mutual relations or is incompatible with the present Treaty;

Being desirous of confirming and supplementing in their relations he General Pact of Renunciation of War of August 27th, 1928, which continues to retain its effect as in the past between the High Contracting Parties, independently of the duration or the normal expiry of the present Treaty or its possible denunciation before the date provided for;

Have decided to conclude the present Treaty, and have for that purpose appointed as their Plenipotentiaries;

The President of The Latvian Republic:
Margers SKUJENIEKS, Prime Minister, acting Minister for Foreign Affairs;

The Central Executive Committee of The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics:
M. Bons Spiridonovitch STOMONIAKOV, Member of the Council of the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, and
M. Alexis Ivanovitch SVIDERSKI, Plenipotentiary Representative of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics;

Who, having communicated their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed as follows:

Article 1.
Each of the High Contracting Parties undertakes to refrain from any act of aggression directed against the other, and also from any acts of violence directed against the territorial integrity and inviolability or the political independence of the other Contracting Party, regardless of whether such aggression or such acts are committed separately or together with other Powers, with or without a declaration of war.

Article 2.
Each of the High Contracting Parties undertakes not to be a party to any military or political treaties, conventions or agreements directed against the independence, territorial integrity or political security of the other Party, or to any treaties, conventions, or agreements aiming at an economic or financial boycott of either of the Contracting Parties.

Article 3.
The obligations provided for in the present Treaty may not in any way limit or change the international rights and obligations devolving on the High Contracting Parties from treaties concluded by them before the coming into force of the present Treaty and duly published in the official publications of each Party, in so far as such treaties do not include any elements of aggression within the meaning of the present Treaty.

Article 4.
In view of the obligations assumed in the present Treaty, the High Contracting Parties undertake to submit all disputes, whatever their kind or origin, which may arise between them after the signature of the present Treaty and which cannot be settled within a reasonable period by ordinary diplomatic procedure, to a procedure of conciliation in a joint conciliation commission of which the composition, powers, and procedure are to be fixed by a special Convention which the two Parties undertake to conclude as early as possible, and which shall come into force at the same time as the present Treaty.

Article 5.
The present Treaty is drawn up in duplicate in the Latvian and Russian languages, both texts being equally authentic. It shall be ratified and the instruments of ratification shall be exchanged between the High Contracting Parties in Moscow.

Article 6.
The present Treaty shall come into force at the moment of the exchange of the instruments of ratification and shall remain in force for three years. Each of the High Contracting Parties shall be entitled to denounce the Treaty by giving notice six months before the expiry of this period, or without giving notice if the other Contracting Party commits an aggression upon any third State. If the Treaty is not denounced by either of the High Contracting Parties, its period of validity shall be automatically prolonged for two years; in the same manner, the Treaty shall be deemed to be prolonged on each occasion for a further period of two years, if it is denounced by either of the Contracting Parties in the manner provided in the present Article.

In faith whereof the above-mentioned Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Treaty and have thereto affixed their seals.

Done at Riga, in duplicate, in the Latvian and Russian languages,
February Sth, 1932.

(Signed) Margers SKUJENIEKS.
(Signed) B. STOMONIAKOW
(Signed) A. SVIDERSKI.

Protocol.1
Modifying the Conditions of Validity of the Above Agreement.

The President of The Latvian Republic and The Central Executive Committee of The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics:

Guided by the aspiration to provide the firmest possible basis for the development of the relations between their countries;

Desirous of giving each other fresh proof of the unchangeabiIity and solidity of the peaceful and friendly relations happily established between them;

Inspired by the desire to contribute to the consolidation of world peace and to the stability and peaceful development of international relations in Eastern Europe;

Noting that the conclusion, at Riga on February 5th, 1932, of the Treaty between Latvia and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics has had a beneficial effect on their relations and on the solution of the above-mentioned problems;

Have decided to sign the present Protocol and have for that purpose appointed as their Plenipotentiaries:

The President of The Latvian Republic.
Dr. Alfred BILMANIS, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Latvian Republic in Moscow;

The Central Executive Committee of The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics:
M. Maxime Maximovich LITVINOFF, Member of the Central Executive Committee of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, People's Commissary for Foreign Affairs;

Who, having exchanged their full power, found in good and due form, have agreed on the following:

Article 1.
In alteration of the period of validity of the Treaty concluded at Riga on February 5th, 1932, between Latvia and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, provided for in the first sentence of Article 6 of the said Treaty, the Treaty shall remain in force until December 3lst, 1945.

Article 2.
The present Protocol is drawn up in duplicate, in the Latvian and Russian languages, both texts being equally authentic. It shall be ratified as soon as possible, and the instruments of ratification shall be exchanged between the High Contracting Parties at Riga.

The present Protocol shall come into force on the date of the exchange of ratifications.

In faith whereof the above-mentioned Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Protocol and have thereto affixed their seals.

Done in Moscow, in duplicate, in the Latvian and Russian languages, April 4th, 1934.

(Signed) Dr. Alfr. BILMANIS. (Signed) M. LITVINOFF.

Source:
L.N.T.S vol.148, Cité p.44 dans Security and Non-aggression, Baltic States and USSR Treaties on Non-aggression de E.Krepp, édité par Estonian Inforamtion Centre & Latvian National Foundation, Stockholm 1973