760D.61/1538: Telegram
The Minister in Finland (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:26 p.m.]
466. Minister for Foreign Affairs informed me today that he now expected pending matters with the Soviet Minister of Propaganda to be cleared up by the 20th of this month including ratification of boundary protocol and final formulation of agreements regarding restoration and compensation for property in the areas ceded to the Soviet Union last March which he said would cost the Finnish Government about 250 million Finnmarks.
In general, according to the Foreign Minister, relations with the Soviet Union had given the Finnish Government little concern for the past month or more except for the question of the nickel ore from Petsamo. The situation was now as follows: The British were prepared to give up their concession to the Finns for disposal in their discretion but in the hope that no nickel would go to Germany; the Russians want the concession and would be prepared to give the Germans 60 percent of the ore; the Germans who point out that in normal times their nickel requirements are obtainable from the American continent are interested in obtaining ore only for the duration of the present war. In response to my inquiry as to the Finnish position Witting made no definite answer and I assume he had in mind the suggestion of Prime Minister Ryti reported in my No. 461, November 6,78 as to direct agreement between the Russians and other powers [Page 355] concerned. Meanwhile, I understand, Soderhjelm,79 representing Petsamo company, is returning to Moscow very soon for further conversations.