Kārlis Reinholds Zariņš

Who was Kārlis Reinholds Zariņš?

Kārlis Reinholds Zariņš was Envoy 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 Envoy 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.

Envoy Zariņš was authorized to:

defend Latvia's interests in all countries;

issue binding orders to institutions representing Latvia;

oversee all property and handle financial resources of these institutions;

relieve envoys of their duties;

transfer or discharge employees of these institutions;

close these institutions.

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."