711.60 d 12Anti-War/11

The Minister in Finland (Pearson) to the Secretary of State

No. 1000

Sir: I have the honor to refer to the telegram received from the American Embassy, Paris, signed Frank B. Kellogg, Secretary of State, and dated August 27, 3 p.m. in which the Legation was requested to deliver to the Foreign Office a note containing the anti-war treaty signed in Paris, together with an invitation to the Finnish Government to adhere to the pact. This note was delivered to the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs on August 28th and the Legation is now in receipt of a reply from the Finnish Government, a copy of which is enclosed herewith.

I have also been verbally assured by the Acting General Secretary of the Foreign Office that the Finnish State Council is favorably disposed to the treaty and will submit a proposition to the Diet for Finland’s adherence to the Multilateral Treaty for the Renunciation of War.

The Legation’s telegram No. 9 of August 31, 12 noon,33 was sent as an interpretation of the note based upon a conversation which I had this morning with the Acting General Secretary of the Foreign Office.

I have [etc.]

Alfred J. Pearson
[Page 168]
[Enclosure]

The Finnish Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sunila) to the American Minister (Pearson)

Monsieur le Ministre: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of August 27th 1928 in which you informed me that the Governments of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, the Irish Free State, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa and the United States of America have the same day signed in Paris a treaty binding them to renounce war as an instrument of national policy in their relations with one another and to seek only by pacific means the settlement or solution of all disputes which may arise among them. At the same time you communicated to me the text of the abovementioned treaty for the consideration of the Government of Finland, in view of its adherence.

On account of this I have the honor to inform you for the communication to your Government that the Government of Finland has received with pleasure your announcement with the invitation included in it, and that it takes a favorable attitude in the matter regarding the adherence of Finland to the treaty. While accepting this attitude in regard to the present treaty the Government of Finland has taken notice of the authentic declarations given in regard to the influence of the provisions of the treaty, inter alia, into the rights and obligations of the contracting Powers in their capacity of members of the League of Nations. In conformity herewith I have the honor to bring to your notice that the Government of Finland attaching great importance to the universality of the treaty, will in due time submit it for the approval of the Diet.

I avail myself [etc.]

J. E. Sunila
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