Karlis Zarinš
Encyclopedia
Kārlis Reinholds Zariņš (born 4 December 1879, Ipiķi parish
— 29 April 1963, London
) (international: Charles Zarine) was Ambassador and Consul General of Latvia
in the United Kingdom
. Shortly before the Soviet occupation of Latvia, on 17 May 1940 the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers granted Ambassador Zariņš extraordinary powers. He was delegated to supervise the work of Latvia's representations abroad in time of war or other extraordinary circumstance. He served this role starting from the Soviet occupation in 1940 until his death in 1963. Since then, Arnolds Spekke
and later Anatols Dinbergs
represented Latvia as chargé d'affaires
until restoration of independence in 1991 .
Ambassador Zariņš was authorized to:
However, he never received an official order to use his powers. He only received a telegram from Minister of Foreign Affairs Vilhelms Munters on 17 June 1940 stating: "Soviet troops are entering the country and taking control over the main institutions."
Ipiķi parish
- Towns, villages and settlements of Ipiķi parish :*...
— 29 April 1963, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) (international: Charles Zarine) was Ambassador and Consul General of Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Shortly before the Soviet occupation of Latvia, on 17 May 1940 the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers granted Ambassador Zariņš extraordinary powers. He was delegated to supervise the work of Latvia's representations abroad in time of war or other extraordinary circumstance. He served this role starting from the Soviet occupation in 1940 until his death in 1963. Since then, Arnolds Spekke
Arnolds Spekke
Arnolds Spekke received a doctorate in philology from the University of Latvia in 1927. In 1932 he received a Rockefeller Foundation scholarship and went studying in Poland and Italy...
and later Anatols Dinbergs
Anatols Dinbergs
Anatols Dinbergs was one of the preeminent career diplomats of Latvia. He entered service in Latvia's Foreign Ministry in 1932. Dinbergs remained abroad when the Soviet Union occupied Latvia, serving in the Latvian Legation in Washington D.C. after World War II ended...
represented Latvia as chargé d'affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
until restoration of independence in 1991 .
Ambassador Zariņš was authorized to:
- defend Latvia's interests in all countries (except EstoniaEstoniaEstonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, LithuaniaLithuaniaLithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, FinlandFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, SwedenSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the USSR); - issue binding orders to institutions representing Latvia;
- oversee all property and handle financial resources of these institutions;
- relieve ambassadors of their duties;
- transfer or discharge employees of these institutions;
- close these institutions (except Latvia's Embassy in the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
).
However, he never received an official order to use his powers. He only received a telegram from Minister of Foreign Affairs Vilhelms Munters on 17 June 1940 stating: "Soviet troops are entering the country and taking control over the main institutions."