Latvian Provisional National Council

Due to German army advances, the National Council also met in Petrograd, in secrecy from the new Bolshevik regime.

Left-wing Vidzeme land council representatives and Social Democratic Menshevik faction participated as observers only.

On November 19 delegates sent three congratulatory telegrams - to the Ukrainian Central Rada, the Nationalities' Congress in Kyiv and the Parliament of Finland.

"Latvia, which includes Vidzeme, Kurzeme and Latgale is an autonomous state unit, its internal and external system will be decided by its Constitutional Assembly and a popular plebiscite.

On December 19, 1917 (Old Style), January 1, 1918, the Bolshevik dominated Iskolat, which was also located in Valka, moved to ban the National Council, and it relocated to Petrograd.

Arveds Bergs, Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics and Jāzeps Rancāns were then elected to chair the proceedings in rotating order.

The third session met in Petrograd in smaller numbers and deep secrecy between June 26–28, 1918 after which National Council already called itself as the only legitimate representative of Latvia.

It adopted resolution in which it announced that cooperation with German occupation forces should be minimal, limited to practical issues only, and that further and more active contacts with Western Allies should be pursued.

On October 23, 1918 and again on November 11 United Kingdom, represented by its Foreign Minister Arthur Balfour in a meeting with Meierovics recognized de facto Latvian independence and National Council as its government.

[5] Despite the achievement of de facto recognition from the United Kingdom, the occupying Germany refused to recognize it and preferred to deal with the Social Democrat-dominated Democratic bloc.