701.0060D/7: Telegram
The Minister in Finland (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 19—7:49 a.m.]
585. Considerable comment has been rendered in the Diplomatic Corps on the pointed omission of the Finnish Government to extend invitations to members of this Legation and to the Brazilian Chargé d’Affaires to a reception for the Diplomatic Corps given on June 29 last on the occasion of the 60th birthday of the Speaker of the Diet Mr. Hakkila. Speaker ranks next to the President of the Republic in precedence here. He did however make cordial acknowledgement of the receipt of cards from me and officers of the Legation.
I have refrained from reporting this incident earlier as it was suggested in diplomatic circles that possibly Finns intended to give a later reception to which the Brazilian and American Legations might be invited together with neutral diplomats as was the case last year when [Page 73] President and Mrs. Ryti received the Diplomatic Corps in two separate functions. Under the circumstances since this possibility has not materialized it would appear that the Hakkila reception and pointed omission of this and the Brazilian Legations from list of guests was another pinprick of possible political significance.