File No. 860d.48/24a

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page)

[Telegram]

717. Department has received representations from Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish Legations in Washington, presented through [Page 584] Swedish Minister, to import into Finland 8,000 tons breadstuffs necessary to avoid actual starvation menacing that country. Referring Department’s 78, July 6, 7 p.m., this Government does not believe that aid can be given Finland while German military forces remain in that country and make Finnish territory a base for operations against Russia and the Allied forces now at Murmansk and Archangel engaged in assisting Russia to safeguard Russian supplies and Russian interests from German aggression. Furthermore the Department is informed that Finnish troops are cooperating with Germany in these operations.

Before we make any reply to the Swedish Minister, please present these views to the Foreign Office and ascertain its attitude. The proposal of the Swedish Minister would seem to contemplate joint action by Great Britain and the United States.

Polk