701.60D11/228

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State (Long)

The Finnish Minister came in at his own request and said that he had communicated with his Government and had obtained an answer to the effect that no restriction was placed upon the movements of American diplomats in Helsinki which was not placed upon all other diplomats. In other words, there was a universal application of the restriction in Helsinki on the theory that Helsinki was a “war area”. I pointed out to the Minister that it was hardly pertinent that they were confined to a war area because supposedly the whole [Page 24] of Finland was a “war area”. He replied that Helsinki was a special war area in that there were many war activities there and movements concerning the war which involved the safety of Finland. I mentioned the fact that they were allowing the diplomats to move around the city where there were these particular movements which the Minister mentioned.

The Minister said that he felt that we should relieve the restrictions placed upon him because many missions in Washington were allowed to move around the country at liberty and the American mission in Helsinki was not encumbered with any restrictions which were not applicable to all other members of the diplomatic corps. I told him we would communicate with him in due course.

B[reckinridge] L[ong]