Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1940, General, Volume I

760D.61/1077: Telegram

The Minister in Sweden (Sterling) to the Secretary of State

Stockholm, February 8, 1940—5 p.m.
[Received February 8—2:53 p.m.]

66. Legation’s 50, February 1, noon. In conversation today Erkko⁵⁶ stated that to date nothing had come of the movements for a Russo-Finnish peace. Apparently the Soviet Minister here (who is half Finnish) has had frequent interviews lately with the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister⁵⁷ with the idea of Swedish mediation. Germany, he said, also had recently sounded out the Soviet Government as to the possibility of renewed negotiations but without success. The question of the cession of Hango⁵⁸ was vital to Finland, Erkko commented; if the Soviet Government would withdraw that demand there would be a chance of a successful outcome.

Sterling

56. Eljas Erkko, Finnish Chargé in Sweden, formerly Minister for Foreign Affairs.
57. Christian Günther.
58. Hangö; Khanko.