711.00 Statement July 16, 1937/257
The Finnish Foreign Office to the American Legation in Finland28
The Secretary of State of the United States, Mr. Cordell Hull, having given on July 16th to some newspaper correspondents an official statement concerning the foreign policy of the Government of the United States, the Finnish Government have, on request, forwarded the Government of the United States the following answer.
“Faithful to the traditions of the Republic, the Finnish Government declare themselves desirous to give their continuous support to the noble ideals so eminently interpreted by Mr. Cordell Hull on the 16th July last. By its acceptance of the Covenant of the League of Nations, the Kellogg-Briand pact, the convention of Oslo and other similar arrangements, as well as by the active part the country has taken in international collaboration in general and specially in the co-operation of the Scandinavian States, Finland has already shown in many instances its willingness to support activities and aspirations of this kind.
General international development has unquestionably led to such a state of things, that armed conflicts or even an impendent threat thereof affect the peace-interests of all nations. The Finnish Government, therefore, consider it also very important that all countries, which value the safeguarding of the peaceful achievements of mankind as a condition and a guarantee for human progress, should do their utmost to preserve international peace. One such condition is, as stated in Mr. Cordell Hull’s statement, selfrestraint as well in national as in international matters and, likewise, in the settlement of [Page 785] unsolved international questions through peaceful discussion and compromise.
The peaceful development of international relations require also international law to be revitalized and to be applied more consequently in practice. In this regard, the Finnish Government wish to refer to the fact that they have, at the League of Nations, given their support without exception to the proposals aiming at the improving of the internal structure of this international organization and at the strengthening of its external influence in the stabilization of peace and at the furthering of general progress.
The Finnish Government also greet with great satisfaction the principle of improving the economic situation of the world and of realizing the liberty of international trade.
The Finnish Government recognize the want for restricting armaments, agreeing however with the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, regarding the necessity of maintaining sufficient armed forces as a guarantee for national security. The attitude of each nation towards armaments must naturally decisively depend upon whether other nations and especially those which may endanger the inviolability of its own territory, increase or decrease their armaments.
Commitments which are liable to exerce (exercise) a disturbing influence upon international relations ought to be avoided, and at the same time, peace-promoting collaboration of the nations of the world should be maintained and reinforced as well at the League of Nations as outside that organ.
In thus expressing their opinion of the above-mentioned statement of the Secretary of State of the United States, Mr. Cordell Hull, the Finnish Government feel the necessity to emphasize, specially as regards their own foreign policy—their desire to maintain and to further to their best ability the most cordial relations with all nations.
Highly approving of the principles thus stated by Mr. Cordell Hull, the Finnish Government express their earnest hope that the endeavours to realize these principles would result in the gaining of these aims.”
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Minister in Finland in his despatch No. 39 (Diplomatic), August 13; received August 26.↩