Eestin silloinen ulkoministeri Karl Selter muistelee 24.91939 NL:n antamaa uhkavaatimusta.
"In the fall of 1939, Estonia could hope for no help from any overseas country. Germany was a friend of Moscow, Finland had its own troubles and Britain was politically far from us. Communication by sea could be useful for us only for trade, for keeping up connection with the Western world and for escape if necessary. The fact that Moscow moved its Baltic navy in order to get that connection under its control seems to indicate that the plan had been prepared long in advance, at a time when Moscow still had to fear that its victim of aggression, Estonia, could have some military help from overseas.
During the following days the red navy moved into Estonian waters in such a demonstrative way that nobody should have been left in doubt as to who was there the unopposed overlord. On September 20, 1939, at 6. A. M„ three Russian destroyers ("Engels", "Volodarsky", "Artem") approached the Estonian island Muhu from the north. They entered Estonian territorial waters until the Pakri meridian was reached where they turned back to sea. On the same day at 7.45 A. M., the Russian ship "Minsk" and two "G" type destroyers passed the Estonian island Ristna and entered our waters at the bay of Pidura. On September 22 from 8.12 A.M. until 10.45 A.M. three "S" type torpedo boats strayed in Estonian waters at Narva-Joesuu. The night before a Russian destroyer had entered the bay of Lcksa and had opened fire by shooting a salvo against the coast. The same day, from a passanger ship on her way from Tallinn to Helsingfors, a torpedo was observed, which almost hit the ship. Immediately after that a Russian submarine emerged, passing the ship. On September 24, 1939, the USSR expanded its aggression also over the air space of Estonia. On that day, at 7.18 A. M., three Russian aircraft appeared at the Esoonian Keri lighthouse and cruised over Kuressaare for about 20 minutes. At 9.35 A. M. they appeared over the Sorve lighthouse. On September 26, at 8.33 A. M. the Russian ships "Leningrad" and "Stremitelny" arrived at the mouth of the Muhu strait from which they turned back after a short stay. At 10.47 A. M. three Russian aircraft flew over Estonian territory from east to west and about half an hour later from west to east along a line approximately three klm. south of Narva Joesuu. At 11.23 A. M. three Russian bombers cruised over the island Muhu. At 11.50 A. M. three Russian bombers flew over the district of Tallinn and Naissaare, remaining over Estonian territory for about 30 minutes. At 12.40 A. M., and later, three Russian aircraft circled over the districts of Oru and Toila. On September 27, at 1.16 P. M. Russian aircraft were cruising over West-Estonia. Entries of the red navy into Estonian waters, nor Russian aircraft flights over Estonian territory, during nights, which were many times more numerous and which began on September 20, 1939, were not registered.
I left Tallinn in the night of September 22/23. The next morning I reached the USSR border station Kingissepp. In that town I saw Russian troops everywhere. Our coach which, according to the usual plan, should have proceeded at once to Leningrad, was unhooked and left waiting in Kingissepp. This delay showed us the concentration of troops. We saw three military trains passing by and two troop columns moving on the road with supply and arms. At the Leningrad station we were received by the commander of the local garrison, the local Party secretary and others whom I do not remember. In the afternoon of September 24, 1939, we arrived at the Moscow station. I was asked at once to the Kremlin where I went together with Minister Rei. We were received by Molotov in the presence of Mikojan. Regarding this meeting and the ultimatum presented to us by the Soviet government a special protocol was drafted.
In reply to the ultimatum of the government of the USSR I answered that I am not authorized to negotiate in this matter and that I have to go back to inform my government and parliament. After a prolonged and tenacious argument I succeeded in convincing Molotov (who in the meantime consulted somebody by phone) that I cannot discuss his demands, neither can I procure by telephone the authorization of our government and parliament."
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