The 86th Anniversary of the Sumner Welles Declaration Commemorated in Washington D.C.
Washington, D.C., July 22 – On the eve of the 86th anniversary of the Sumner Welles Declaration, representatives of the Embassies of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, members of the Baltic-American communities, representatives from the U.S. Department of State, and the Joint Baltic American National Committee (JBANC) gathered at Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the historic declaration and honor the memory of its authors, Sumner Welles and Loy W. Henderson.
In his remarks, Lithuania's Ambassador to the United States, Gediminas Varvuolis, expressed gratitude to the authors of the declaration and to the United States for its principled policy of non-recognition of the Soviet occupation of the Baltic States. He noted that this steadfast position preserved the continuity of Lithuanian statehood, offered hope to nations living under occupation, and inspired Baltic communities in the United States throughout the decades of Soviet rule.
Ambassador Varvuolis emphasized that the message of the Sumner Welles Declaration remains highly relevant today, as nations continue to seek freedom from communist rule and as Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine demonstrates attempts to redraw internationally recognized borders through force.
Ambassador Varvuolis also highlighted that the U.S. non-recognition policy enabled Lithuania to maintain its embassy in Washington, D.C., where Lithuanian diplomats have served continuously for more than a century. He noted the symbolic historical connection revealed by building archives: before departing for his diplomatic assignment to Tokyo in 1915, Sumner Welles lived in the very building that now houses the Embassy of Lithuania. Decades later, the declaration bearing his name played a crucial role in preserving the diplomatic mission during the Soviet occupation.
The annual commemoration, held in Washington since 2015, expresses Baltic States' gratitude to its ally, the United States, for its enduring commitment to freedom and the support of the Baltic States.
The event also featured remarks by Kevin Covert, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State; Estonian Ambassador Kristjan Prikk; Deputy Head of the Latvian Embassy in the United States Jānis Beķeris; and Member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania Emanuelis Zingeris.
The Sumner Welles Declaration, issued on July 23, 1940, established the United States' policy of non-recognition of the Soviet Union's occupation and annexation of the Baltic States. This policy remained in effect throughout the entire period of Soviet occupation and became one of the most important international guarantees of the continuity of Lithuanian statehood until the restoration of independence in 1990.
