760D.61/1242: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9 p.m.]
258. Department’s 150, March 7, 9 p.m. I have just returned from a conference of an hour and a half with Molotov for the purpose of conveying to him the substance of the Department’s telegram under reference. He was effusively cordial and expressed great appreciation for the friendly interest now and heretofore shown by the President and the United States Government in the restoration of peace between Finland and the Soviet Union. He said that by reason of that interest he was now prepared to “communicate” to me the terms on which the Soviet Government would be prepared to conclude peace with Finland which are as follows:
- (1)
- Hango and the islands immediately surrounding the peninsula on a long term lease;
- (2)
- The Karelian Isthmus, including Viborg and the Bay of Viborg;
- (3)
- The northwest shore of Lake Ladoga including Sortavala and thence northeast along the railroad to the present frontier.
He then said “these are the main points” and stopped.
I thereupon inquired concerning the Rybachii Peninsula and Petsamo. He laughed and said, “We are interested but not insistent,” and added “Rybachii is of secondary importance.” I asked him what territory his Government proposed to give the Finns in exchange. He replied “After a war we cannot give any territory in exchange.” He added, “There must be no delay in the negotiations; they must not be dragged out as they were the last time.”
He then told me that when his Government had been asked through Stockholm whether it would receive a Finnish delegation the Soviet Government had made it a condition that the Finns must be prepared to cede Hango and the Karelian Isthmus.
I asked him whether the Soviet Government expected to dictate the composition of the Finnish government. First he avoided a direct answer, but when I pressed him and reminded him of his statement to me that the Soviet Government did not desire to affect or impair the independence of Finland in the slightest degree (see my telegram No. 734, October 12, 4 p.m.88), and that the American public would not regard a Finnish government dictated by Moscow as consistent with national independence as understood in the United States he hesitated a moment and then said, “The Soviet Union is not [Page 306] interested in the composition of the Finnish government.” I then pressed for a definite statement by inquiring, “Do I then understand that the Finns are free to have any government they choose?” He replied, “Yes, they may have their own government. We are not interested.”
After a further general discussion our conference concluded with a renewed expression on his part of appreciation for the interest of the President and the American Government.89 He said he would ask me to come to see him if any serious difficulties developed in the course of the negotiations.
I received the impression this afternoon for the first time that the Soviet Government is really desirous of negotiating peace with Finland; but I am by no means convinced that in the course of the negotiations the Soviet may not endeavor to go beyond the terms outlined to me, particularly in respect of the composition of the Finnish government. In this connection the publication this morning of the article by Kuusinen (referred to in my telegram 256, March 8, 3 [5] p.m.90), demanding the removal of the present Finnish Government, including Ryti, who is now in Moscow as one of the Finnish delegates, may be significant.
I gained the impression that Molotov wishes the terms so specifically outlined by him to me conveyed to the Finnish Government in Helsinki, doubtless by reason of the alleged failure of Tanner, during the previous negotiations, to avail himself of the full limit of the concessions concerning Hango which he had been authorized to make by his Government.
- Foreign Relations, 1939, vol. i, p. 968.↩
- As reported in despatch No. 1746, April 26, from the Minister in Finland, the Prime Minister of Finland later on declared that “this démarche of the United States was the only influence which had served to moderate the Hussion terms.” (760D.61/1433)↩
- Not printed.↩