1938: Estonia

Estonia's new Constitution, which was expected to restore democratic liberties somewhat after 4 years of dictatorship, went into force on Jan. 1. The Constitution contains guarantees of personal rights and provides for the popular election of members of the lower houses of Parliament; for the appointment of members of the upper house by the President and by trade and professional associations as well as other groups; and for the election of the President by both houses. The elections for the lower house, held on Feb. 25 and 26, however, demonstrated that the far-reaching repressive powers retained by the government made effective opposition difficult. Provisional President Pacts, who had been the actual dictator daring the previous four years, consolidated his supporters so as to carry on intensive election propaganda. On the other hand, he hampered the campaign of the opposition, consisting of Centrists. Laborites, and Fascists, by generally restricting criticism of the Government and by censoring newspapers. Although the government forces won 63 of the 80 seats, the opposition was encouraged by its showing in the face of such serious handicaps. On April 21, the new parliament met for the first time in 4 years to prepare for the election of the first President. On April 24 it elected Provisional President Pacts, who was the only candidate, for the six-year term. Under the Constitution, the President enjoys wide powers that facilitate a continuing personal rule. Besides appointing and dismissing cabinet ministers individually or in a body as well as dissolving Parliament, he can suspend the chamber for two weeks and govern by decree during the interim. In the first session of the new parliament, on Oct. 15. the cabinet announced the continuance of its dictatorial measures, including the ban on political parties, and tightened the newspaper censorship so as to forbid all criticism of the Government by the press. The liberal opposition leader, Jaan Toenisson, attacked these measures in a widely-circulated mimeographed speech, declaring that the Government had broken its promise to re-establish democratic liberties.

Facing a growing danger of war in Europe. Estonia strengthened its defenses and gave support to moves for neutrality by the countries lying between Germany and the Soviet Union. Early in September, President Paets prolonged for 12 months the military 'state of emergency' enforced during the crisis. On June 13 Colonel Beck, Polish Foreign Minister, visited Tallinn in an effort to bring Estonia into the bloc of states reaching from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, which he was attempting to form as a barrier between the Soviet Union and Germany. The Estonian Government also took steps toward establishing a common neutrality policy with Latvia and Lithuania. Early in November representatives of the three countries met in Tallinn to draft joint measures which were to be submitted to their parliaments and made effective in case of war abroad.