760d.61/641: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt)2c
259. For your information. The following statement was made by the President at his press conference today:
“The news of the Soviet naval and military bombings within Finnish territory has come as a profound shock to the Government and people of the United States. Despite efforts made to solve the dispute by peaceful methods to which no reasonable objection could be offered, one power has chosen to resort to force of arms. It is tragic to see the policy of force spreading, and to realize that wanton disregard for law is still on the march. All peace-loving peoples in those nations that are still hoping for the continuance of relations throughout the world on the basis of law and order will unanimously condemn this new resort to military force as the arbiter of international differences.
[Page 800]“To the great misfortune of the world, the present trend to force makes insecure the independent existence of small nations in every continent and jeopardizes the rights of mankind to self-government. The people and government of Finland have a long, honorable and wholly peaceful record which has won for them the respect and warm regard of the people and Government of the United States.”
- The same message was sent to the American Legation in Sweden as telegram No. 99, December 1, 1939, for repetition to the Legation in Finland as Department’s No. 179, December 1, 1939.↩