760D.61/1528: Telegram
The Minister in Finland (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:30 p.m.]
429. In response to my inquiry today as to the truth of rumors of new Russian demands on Finland in recent weeks with reference to possible naval bases at Abo and Vasa as well as regarding Hango, the Minister for Foreign Affairs told me this morning that there was no truth in the former rumors and that with reference to Hango the only possible foundation for such rumors might be the desire of the Russians for control of a small skerry in Lappvik Bay to facilitate communications there and regarding which there was no difficulty. The Minister for Foreign Affairs told me that there was no present tension in relations with the Soviet Union73 and that progress was being made in the only remaining question involving compensation and restoration for property removed from the ceded areas.
Repeated to Moscow. Copy by mail to Stockholm.
- The Ambassador in the Soviet Union reported in telegram No. 1328, October 10, 6 p.m., that his Swedish colleague “had reason to believe that the recent relaxation in tension in Soviet-Finnish relations had been due to an indirect warning conveyed by the German Ambassador in Moscow to Molotov some weeks ago to the effect that it would be wise for the Soviet Union not to make any further demands on Finland.” (860D.00/899)↩