760d.61/411: Telegram
The Minister in Finland (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 6—11:02 a.m.]
311. See my telegram No. 288, October 26. Minister for Foreign Affairs informed me today that following conversations between Finnish delegation and Soviet Russian representatives November 3 and 4, in last of which Stalin participated, improvement in the Soviet attitude was noticeable. The Russians receded from their claim of naval base on mainland and at Hango and would be satisfied with certain islands there, but Finnish Government does not intend to concede this. Further instructions which had been requested would probably go forward to the Finnish delegation tomorrow and would also touch upon frontier rectification in Karelian Isthmus, where there had likewise been further approach to Finnish position in that Kuokkala district and possibly Terijoki, neither with military importance to Finland, might be ceded. Russians were also showing more amenable attitude with reference to Fisher’s Islands off Petsamo where Finnish claim to the whole was still being held out for, but where most northerly point might be conceded. As for Repola and Porajärvi offered by the Russians as compensation, the Minister was of the opinion that this area, which is largely marshland and barren, would be inadequate. Tone of conversations whenever Stalin participates is much better than with Molotov.
See my despatch [telegram] No. 295, October 28. The Minister for Foreign Affairs told me he had yesterday received visit of Finnish citizen lately resident in Germany and an old personal friend of Field [Page 995] Marshal Goering who had asked him to convey personal message from Goering to the effect that Finland would do well to concede Soviet demand for naval base at western end of Gulf of Finland and that Germany could render no assistance at this time, with veiled intimation that situation in this respect might eventually change. Comment of Minister Erkko to me was that he had asked for no assistance from Germany and that this message was evidently related to the incident mentioned in my telegram last cited.
The Minister concluded that telephone conversations with Finnish delegates at Moscow showed they remained calm and confident and were being treated with deference. I may add that in my opinion they are also showing consummate skill as negotiators.