760D.61/1672: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:54 p.m.]
2709. McClintock last night met Vinogradov at latter’s request. See my 2393, August 3, 2 p.m.
Vinogradov asked McClintock’s opinion as to the bona fides of a Finnish desire to conclude peace with USSR but answered his own question by saying “We don’t believe the Finns want peace. In any case, we are not interested”.
McClintock replied that on first count he thought Mr. Vinogradov was mistaken; Finns very much wanted peace and in his opinion would agree at once to stop fighting if they were assured of a boundary similar to that of 1939 with possible rectifications on Karelian Isthmus in favor of Russia. However, retention of Viborg and Hango by Finland were still basic points. As for Vinogradov’s comment that his Government was not interested McClintock was unable to make any comment other than that to him it still seemed of interest from a Russian point of view to pry open Axis structure by getting satellite states away from Germany.
Vinogradov, who said on several occasions that he had been studying dossier on Finland and seemed obviously to be speaking under instructions, three times emphasized his Government was not interested in peace with Finland. He said, “Perhaps we shall consider Finnish proposals when they come under a white flag at front”.
Paraphrase to Helsinki by courier.