860d.24/29: Telegram (part air)
The Minister in Finland ( Schoenfeld ) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 20—5:30 a.m.]
133. My despatch No. 1081, February 18; and Department’s instructions 163 and 166 and other correspondence.10 Minister for Foreign Affairs today confirmed press announcement of appointment of Colonel Per Zilliacus as Military Attaché to Finnish Legation at Washington. He expressed gratification at understanding shown by the Department of Finland’s political position in having undertaken to facilitate acquisition of needed supplies. This understanding attitude would strengthen determination of Finland to maintain alignment with other neutral states in the north and would render more difficult any attempt to make a breach in the peace front by cutting off Finland from it.
The Minister said that Governor of Bank of Finland11 and Minister of Finance12 were now studying financial aspects of acquisition of American supplies, the need for which he said had been listed by Field Marshal Mannerheim and his Defense Council, in such quantities as to be quite beyond the capacity of the Treasury.
New Military Attaché would probably leave for his post very soon and other representatives to deal with proposed purchases in the United States would probably be necessary later.