125.0060D/61: Telegram
The Minister in Finland (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:55 p.m.]
645. Secretary General of Foreign Office24 said yesterday to member of Legation staff who is old friend of his that our recent action in breaking consular relations with Finland was strongly reminiscent of methods used by Soviet diplomacy in dealing with this country and he seemed to be correspondingly resentful. Matter is of interest in that Pakaslahti probably reflected his chief’s feeling on the subject.
On other hand Turkish Minister25 told me today that Witting had recently said to him emphatically that Finnish Government is most anxious to avoid any difficulties with United States. I gathered, however, that Witting may also have intimated to my Turkish colleague that our action was thought to be due to Soviet pressure upon us.