Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1939, General, Volume I

760d.61/314: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union ( Steinhardt ) to the Secretary of State

Moscow , October 19, 1939—5 p.m.
[Received October 19—1:55 p.m.]

775. The Soviet press up to the present time has not reported the departure of the Finnish representatives last Saturday⁵¹ for Helsinki and has since that date made no reference to the negotiations with Finland. The meeting of the northern countries at Stockholm⁵² which opened yesterday was reported in a brief despatch today which gives no indication of the subjects to be discussed.

I am informed in strict confidence that no decision will be taken by the Finnish Government in respect of the negotiations with the Soviet Government until after the termination of the Stockholm Conference. The Finnish representatives are expected to leave Helsinki on Saturday and to arrive in Moscow Monday morning.

Steinhardt

51. October 14.
52. For the text of the message sent by President Roosevelt to the King of Sweden on this occasion, and for the reply by the King on October 19, 1939, see Department of State Bulletin, October 21, 1939, p. 403.