740.0011 European War 1939/2278: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State

[Extract]22

392.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5)
The Minister23 said that in view of persistent rumors that the Soviet Union had taken advantage of the present situation to make new demands on Finland he had asked Paasikivi whether there was any truth to these reports and that Paasikivi had replied categorically in the negative stating that all matters connected with the demarcation of the new boundary line between Finland and the Soviet Union as well as all other matters awaiting settlement between the two countries were progressing entirely satisfactorily and that he had no reason to anticipate any new demands upon Finland by the Soviet Union. Paasikivi pointed out to him that the return of Petsamo to Finland, the removal of mines and the steps which are being taken daily towards restoring normal relations between the two countries were inconsistent with any present intention on the part of the Soviet Union to make new demands of Finland.
(6)
The Minister said that the Swedish Government had requested an indemnity of Swedish kroner 49,000 of the Soviet Government for the aerial attack of Pajala during the Finnish war. After some [Page 328] bargaining the Soviet Government agreed to pay 40,000 kroner and has instructed the Soviet Minister in Stockholm to effect the payment of that amount.
Steinhardt
  1. Another portion of this telegram is printed on p. 550.
  2. Per Vilhelm Gustaf Assarsson, Swedish Minister in the Soviet Union.