860d.01/71
The Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs (Holsti) to the Secretary of State
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the letter of the 7th instant in which Your Excellency has been kind enough to inform that the United States have recognized the independence of Finland and the Finnish Government as the de facto Government of Finland.
At the outbreak of the world war the Finnish nation greeted with profound satisfaction the solemn declaration of the Allied Governments that they were fighting for the cause of democracy and the fundamental rights of all small nations. This silent joy was greatly intensified when His Excellency, President Wilson at the entering of the United States into the war laid down his noble principles of national selfdetermination and of the League of Nations capable of safeguarding the vital interests of all small States.
Since the declaration of her independence on December 6th, 1917, Finland has experienced hardships which have inflicted deep wounds in her body and soul. It is due to the confidence of the Associated Governments and especially to the humanitarian work of the American Relief Administration that since the beginning of the current year the devastation of human lives in Finland and general suffering from famine have been greatly mitigated. The Finnish nation during the course of several hundreds of years has become only too familiar with most ravaging wars and undescribable sufferings from famine. But generation after generation have endured in the hope that the struggle for existence of their race once would be lessened and Finland would attain her modest place among the independent States of Europe. Therefore Your Excellency’s letter will remain for ever one of the surest shields of Finland’s independence and a noble guide to her of the lofty ideals which have been the fundamental source of the democratic freedom of the United States themselves.
In view of all the aforesaid facts I beg leave on behalf of my Government to express to Your Excellency the sentiments of the most profound gratitude regarding the decision of the Government of the United States to recognize Finland as an independent sovereign State.
I have [etc.]