711.60D/198a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Finland (McClintock)
75. Your 597 April 26.68 We realize the uncertainty which our recent instructions must have caused you as to our immediate course of action. Our decision to break relations with Finland was based upon considerations applicable only to Finland. The postponement [Page 273] of our action was to prevent German propaganda and diplomacy linking our Finnish policy with other international developments in Eastern Europe.69
We shall cable you the result of our reflections in the light of the new situation probably the end of the week.
- Not printed: McClintock stated he was “entirely in the dark” as to the motives behind the sending of telegram No. 74, April 24, supra. He reported that in Finland “the hope is almost universally expressed that by some miracle the Legation will remain in Helsinki.” The Chargé also advised that, if indeed relations were broken, there would very likely be a Finnish military offensive against Soroka (Belomorsk) on the Murmansk–Leningrad railway. (124.60D/102)↩
- The developments referred to were the decision, and consequences thereof, by the Soviet Government to break diplomatic relations with the Polish (London) Government on April 25, 1943, a decision which Soviet Ambassador Litvinov communicated to the Under Secretary of State on April 24. See memorandum by the Under Secretary of State, April 24, and telegram from the Secretary of State to President Roosevelt, April 25, pp. 389 and 390, respectively.↩