758.60D11/17: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Sterling) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 4—9:53 a.m.]
164. Erkko, who has just returned from Helsinki, told me today strictly confidentially that the Finnish Government will not press the Swedish and Norwegian Governments for an open defense alliance but that the matter will be thoroughly explored. As little as possible will be said about it openly but it is hoped that practically the same effect may be brought about through an unwritten, unpublicized gentlemen’s agreement. An official of the Swedish Foreign Office implied yesterday that the Government is clearly opposed to an open alliance since the Soviet views were made known officially.