860d.01/48: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 8, 3.30 p.m.]
3504. Your 6247, December 6, 4 [3] p.m., regarding recognition of Finland. Announcement made in House of Commons referred to in my 2000, May 7, 5 p.m.,10 was as follows:
“His Majesty’s Government have now recognized the independence of Finland and the de facto Finnish Government.”
Foreign Office informs me that this was a loose statement but intended to convey de jure recognition of the hitherto de facto Government; [Page 224] that a telegram of recognition was despatched by the British Peace Delegation at Paris on May 4th or 5th; and that since that time British Chargé d’Affaires have [has?] functioned in Finland until the arrival there a fortnight ago of Lord Acton, the British Minister.
Ossian Donner presented his credentials as Finnish Minister here on November 14.
- Not printed.↩