861.77 Chinese Eastern/765
The Minister in Finland (Pearson) to
the Secretary of State
[Extracts]
Helsingfors, December 7, 1929.
[Received
December 31.]
No. 1530
Sir: Referring to the Department’s telegram of
December 1, 4 p.m. I have the honor to report that I called at the
Foreign Office on December 4th and had a conversation with Mr. Procopé,
the Foreign Minister, stating in substance the facts set forth in the
Department’s telegram. The Foreign Minister expressed great interest in
the act and suggestions of Washington. He said he would talk the matter
over with other Government officials and would then like to see me again
if possible the next day. On the fifth I met Mr. Procopé again at five
o’clock in the Foreign Office. We talked for an hour or more about the
situation in the Far East and about Finland’s relations with Russia. Mr.
Procopé made a special effort during this conversation to impress upon
me that Finland is very happy over the fact that Washington called the
attention of Russia and China to the Pact of Paris. …
He added, “I have written an Aide Memoire which I
wish you would transmit to Washington. In this I have set forth my
Government’s earnest approval of the act and suggestions of your
Government.” A copy of the Aide Memoire is
enclosed herewith, without change, as written in English by the Foreign
Minister.93
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure]
The Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Procopé) to the American
Minister (Pearson)
Aide Mémoire
The Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs has the honor to thank Mr.
Pearson, the American Minister, most sincerely for the statement
made by him on December 4th on behalf of the Government of the
United States. Monsieur Procopé has received the statement made with
the greatest interest and has communicated the contents of the same
to some other members of his Government. We are of the opinion that
the maintenance of peace and the settlement by pacific means of all
international disputes or conflicts are of common interest to all
the civilized powers and quite specially to the States signatory to
the Paris Treaty for the Renunciation of War. In the case of a
[Page 410]
conflict those of these
States not involved are due to pay all attention to this interest,
at the same time, taking into consideration the character of the
special case as well as its own position and international
engagements.
In view of these considerations the Finnish Government pays its
earnest tribute to the noble efforts of the Government of the United
States to uphold the efficacy and scrupulous observation of the
Kellogg Treaty, which are so important to all Powers. In this view
the Finnish Government which from the beginning has followed with
close attention the development of the dispute between China and the
Union of the Socialist Sovietic Republics, will give due
consideration to the statement made on behalf of the United States
Government.
Helsinki, December 5,
1929.
