701.60d11/29
The Secretary of President Wilson
(Tumulty) to the Secretary of State
Washington, August 21,
1919.
My Dear Mr. Secretary: By the President’s
direction, I am sending you herewith a communication left with him
today by the new Minister of Finland. I also enclose a copy of the
remarks made on this occasion by the Minister, as well as a copy of
the President’s response thereto.
Sincerely yours,
[Enclosure 1—Translation]8
The Regent of Finland (Mannerheim)
to President Wilson
Great and Good Friend: Highly desirous
of manifesting to Your Excellency the importance I attach to the
maintenance of friendly [Page 221] relations with the United States of North America, I have
decided to accredit to Your Excellency, in the capacity of Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, Mr. Saastamoinen,
Armas Herman, Chevalier of the Cross of Liberty, 2nd Class;
Commander of the Cross, 1st Class, of the Order of the White
Rose of Finland, etc., etc. The qualities that distinguish this
agent, his experience, his tact, his zeal, give me the assurance
that he will devote all his efforts to obtain the confidence and
esteem of Your Excellency and of the Government of the United
States and to meriting thus my approval. In this conviction I
beg Your Excellency to receive him with good will and to place
complete faith and credit in all that he tells you on my behalf,
especially when he expresses to you, Dear and Great Friend, the
assurances of my high esteem and of the deep interest I take in
the prosperity of the United States of North America.
Written at
Helsingfors, 20 June
1919.
G.
Mannerheim
[
seal]
Leo
Ehrnrooth
[Enclosure 2]
Remarks of the Finnish Minister (Saastamoinen) on the
Occasion of His Reception by President Wilson, August 21,
1919
Mr. President: I have the honor to
tender to you, Mr. President, my letter of credence.
Being the first representative of Finland in the United States, I
beg to express to you, Mr. President, the deep and sincere
gratitude of the Finnish people for the recognition of our
independence. We now feel that we have firm ground under our
feet and although we are fully aware of the great difficulties
ahead—owing to the general unrest in the world—we are confident
that we will be able to overcome even the danger from the east
with the help of friendly nations.
We are not only thankful to the United States for the recognition
of our independence, but we are deeply grateful to this country
for the magnificent aid we have received in the form of
foodstuffs. I can say that we were saved from direct starvation
by the timely assistance of the United States, and we will never
forget this.
Mr. President. Although the official connections between Finland
and the United States are very young, the intercourse between
these two countries is in fact very old. The first Finns came to
this country over two hundred and fifty years ago. They were
among the first settlers in Delaware. Since that time there has
been a considerable influx of Finns to this country and up to
the present time several hundred thousand have made their homes
here. This has created a lively intercourse between Finland and
the United States [Page 222] and
I can say that the new ideas and impressions which we have
received from here have had markedly beneficial influence upon
the people of Finland. This is not the least of our indebtedness
to America.
Mr. President. I beg to assure you that my country wishes to
establish and maintain the friendliest and most cordial
relations with the United States and that no effort will be
spared to win the confidence and sympathy of your country.
[Enclosure 3]
President Wilson’s Reply to the Remarks of the Finnish
Minister (Saastamoinen) on the
Occasion of His Reception, August 21, 1919
Mr. Minister: It gives me great
satisfaction to receive from you the letters by which His
Excellency, the President of Finland, accredits you as Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Finland near the
Government of the United States and I greet you Mr. Minister as
the first representative of a new government destined to be a
real factor in the solution of many of the problems which now
confront the peoples of the world. One task to which we have set
our hands has been accomplished in the successful conclusion of
the greatest war in history and we can look forward with some
degree of satisfaction to a future made better through our
sacrifices.
The Government of the United States in recognizing Finland as a
de facto independent government was
prompted by sympathies for a cause similar to that which caused
our own declaration of independence in 1776. We have gained in
strength and prosperity and we are more than willing to share
the results of our efforts with a people seeking to free
themselves from a dominating power and to voice their own
principles of self government.
As you say many Finns have sought homes in our broad territory
and it is with much pleasure that I say to you that their coming
has been our gain. They have helped our new and growing country
by their industry and their zeal and many have become of the
best of American citizens.
My entire sympathy is with the people of Finland and I gladly
pledge to you my earnest cooperation in all that tends to
advance the valued friendly relations and happy intercourse
between the United States and Finland. I cannot but feel that
any question which may hereafter arise affecting our common
interests will be dealt with in an enlightened manner
satisfactory to both governments.
[Page 223]
Mr. Minister may your stay in this Capital be fruitful in results
and pleasant in the experience you will have with the officers
of this Government who will be assiduous in their efforts to
strengthen the relations so recently established.
