740.0011 European War 1939/27143: Telegram
The Chargé in Finland (McClintock) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:17 p.m.]
73. Ivalo’s19 reference to a possible break in relations with us in the event of war between Japan and USSR reported in my 6420 yesterday is the second which has come to our attention (see our 326, May 220). This harping on Finland’s position vis-à-vis United States in case of war between Japan and Russia is curious and in this connection the fact that President Ryti for no apparent reason conferred Finland’s highest decoration on Emperor of Japan last July,21 as well as Japanese honors conferred here December 5,22 should be kept in mind. I recall also the apparently pointless “message to the Finnish people” sent by Japanese Foreign Minister23 last February (see our 158, February 27) .20
Certainly for the one track minded Finns whose obsession is fear of Russia a Japanese attack on their adversary would be welcome—possibly more welcome than enmity of United States would be feared. It is not impossible that some sort of agreement exists between Finland and Axis foreseeing such contingency. Such a pact would probably not be signed today but it might have been signed in the heady atmosphere of early 1941.
These may be merely straws in the wind, but it is an east wind.
- Asko P. Ivalo, Chief of the Political Division in the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Not printed.↩
- On July 9, 1942, the Tokyo newspaper Asahi reported that on July 7 Japanese Emperor Hirohito received a telegram from President Risto H. Ryti of Finland conferring on him the “Finnish Order of the White Rose”.↩
- In its issue of December 8, 1942, Asahi reported that on December 5 Emperor Hirohito sent a message to President Ryti congratulating him on the occasion of Finland’s independence day (December 6) and bestowing on him the “Grand Order of the Grand Cordon of the Chrysanthemum”.↩
- Shigenori Togo.↩
- Not printed.↩