740.00119 European War 1939/1522: Telegram
The Chargé in Finland (McClintock) to the Secretary of State
[Received 12:54 p.m.]
819. With reference to my most secret telegram 810, June 23,96 which will be transmitted by direct cable from London it is of interest to report a conversation with Erkko relating to last time Finns made a direct approach to Russians seeking peace. This was in January and February 1940 when Erkko was head of Finnish Legation in Stockholm.97
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The former Foreign Minister said the first Soviet demands in January 1940 did not include cession of Viborg by Finland. They did, however, include lease of Hangö. At that time Finnish Government and particularly Marshal Mannerheim were so confident following results of Suomussalmi, and other battles that they flatly rejected Soviet offer. Then final great Russian offensive on Karelian Isthmus began and with its increasing impetus Soviet political demands became more imperative. By first of March they included all terms later incorporated in Treaty of Moscow except demand for the salient at Salla; and Finnish Government was finally given a 24 hour ultimatum which was answered with only minutes to spare. Negotiations by this time were being handled through intermediary of Swedish Foreign Minister.98
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History may not repeat itself but fact Russians did not at first regard Viborg as an essential concession by Finland in 1940 seems instructive.
Repeated to Stockholm.
- Not printed; it reported that according to an unofficial Finnish source the Foreign Minister was considering the possibility of making direct contact with the Soviet Government to feel out the prospects for peace (740.00119 EW 1939/1518).↩
- For correspondence on the events leading to Soviet-Finnish peace negotiations in early 1940, see Foreign Relations, 1940, vol. i, pp. 269 ff.↩
- Christian Günther.↩