760D.61/1497: Telegram
The Minister in Finland (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:13 p.m.]
385. My telegram No. 305, July 8. Minister for Foreign Affairs informed me this morning that formulation of agreement with the [Page 341] Soviet Union regarding Åland Islands was not yet completed and that Finnish Government was hopeful of obtaining consent of the Russians to retention of the gun emplacements built there before and during the recent hostilities on the grounds that their demolition with explosives would cause renewed alarm in the Islands and undesirable speculation elsewhere. In the meantime withdrawal of all troops and military equipment from the Islands had been completed.