704.60d61/4b: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt)
270. The Finnish Foreign Minister has now renewed the request that you be authorized to take charge of Finnish interests or at least of Finnish Legation Building. Although the inference is fairly clear from your 1024 that in refusing Sweden the right to assume charge of Finland’s interests, Molotoff was enunciating a general policy, you may nevertheless in the course of your routine conversations at the Foreign Office inquire whether the Soviet Government would permit any foreign government to take charge of Finnish interests, or at least of the Finnish Legation Building. If the answer is negative, you may inform Schoenfeld that no useful purpose would be served by making a direct request; if the answer is affirmative, you may then inquire whether the Soviet Government would agree to your assuming charge of Finnish interests, or at least of the Finnish Legation Building.