711.60d2/2

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

[Extracts]
No. 376

Sir: Pursuant to telegraphic instruction No. 2, January 29, 5 p.m., I visited the Foreign Office yesterday and talked informally with the Assistant Foreign Minister in order to learn the wishes of the Finnish Government in regard to the draft of a Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Consular Rights, proposed by Washington in August 1923.

I thought it advisable to talk with the Assistant Foreign Minister rather than with Mr. Voionmaa himself, who has been in office as Foreign Minister only a few weeks and who would not be familiar with the past history of the case; and for the additional reason that Mr. Artti, the Assistant Foreign Minister, has much to do with directing negotiations relative to foreign treaties. I will, however, seek an early occasion to talk with the Foreign Minister also in order to secure his co-operation and good will in the matter.

[Page 135]

Mr. Artti said that the question of a treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Consular Rights had been held in abeyance for two reasons; first, because a temporary trade agreement (modus vivendi) for which the notes were exchanged in Washington on May 2, 1925,2 and which was ratified by the Diet, December 2, 1925 had served the purpose for immediate commercial relations; secondly, because the Government has been extremely busy negotiating treaties with nations in closer geographical proximity. At the present time commercial treaties are pending with Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Lithuania and a beginning has also been made with Jugoslavia.…

Continuing the topic of conversation with the Assistant Foreign Minister, regarding a treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Consular Rights with America, I can report that he stated that there is a commission of foreign treaties appointed by the Diet which handles all of these matters. He will be glad to bring the question to the notice of this commission and he promised to give me information within 10 days or two weeks as to what can be done.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I have [etc.]

Alfred J. Pearson