760d.61/879: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
2. Your 158, December 29, 10 a.m. You are requested to address the following note to the Secretary General of the League of Nations:
“I have the honor to inform you that I have been instructed by my Government to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of December 28, 1939 concerning the resolution adopted by the Assembly of the League of Nations on December 14, 1939, following the appeal of the Government of Finland for material and humanitarian assistance, and inquiring whether my Government would enable you to inform the Finnish Government whether, and if so, to what extent my Government is willing to help.
“In reply I am instructed to state that the Government of the United States has from the outbreak of hostilities given tangible indication [Page 1041] of its sympathy for the people and Government of Finland in the present situation.
“Furthermore the American Red Cross and private organizations in the United States have already extended medical, financial, and other aid to the Finnish people and are in consultation with agencies of the Finnish Government with regard to the most effective manner in which such aid may be continued and expanded. This assistance is no doubt reflected in the reports of its needs which the Finnish Government is understood to be submitting to the Secretariat of the League of Nations, and my Government considers that the direct consultations undertaken by it, and by the American Red Cross and private agencies, with the Government of Finland will adequately meet the necessity for avoiding confusion of effort.”