760d.61/14

The Minister in Norway ( Schmedeman ) to the Secretary of State

No. 1540

Sir: Referring to my despatch No. 1533 of April 23rd last,2 in which I informed the Department that Finland and Russia had declared a truce for the purpose of discussing boundary questions, and that the Norwegian Government had informed Soviet Russia and Finland that it desired an opportunity to be heard in case the negotiations between Finland and Russia should touch on the question of boundary regulations in the Petsjenga district, I have the honor to report that the Minister for Foreign Affairs informs me that replies have now been received from the two governments.

The Russian Government states that the boundary lines on the Norwegian frontier will not be changed, and in a Note received from the Finnish Government through its Minister in Christiania it is stated that Finland maintains that the matter of boundary regulations in the north is a question which concerns only Finland and Russia, as Norway renounced all rights to the territory in question by a treaty with Russia in 1826, and that after Russia and Finland have come to an agreement, Finland will then discuss boundary lines with Norway, but not before.

I have [etc.]

A. G. Schmedeman
  1. Not printed.