Activities of British political and military missions in Latvia after 1918 were closely linked to British policy in other Baltic states. This policy lacked definition and was marginal in the wider context of British diplomacy. However, due to the large number of mission staff and owing to the high significance attributed to these missions by the Latvians, their role was often decisive in solving local problems. A closer look at the work of Admiral W. Cowan, Colonel S. Tallents, General A. Burt, H. Grant Watson and others in Latvia reveals their inventive attempts to respond to the needs of the local population in the context of the uncertainty of British 'Baltic policy'.
