740.00119 European War 1939/1641: Telegram
The Chargé in Finland (McClintock) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:20 p.m.]
1071. During my recent trip to Stockholm the Jugoslav Chargé19 told me he had recently had a long conversation with Soviet Chargé, Semenov,20 on question of possible peace terms for Finland. Russian Chargé quoted an alleged statement of Peter the Great to effect that “Viborg is the cushion of Petersburg”21 and said that he thought Soviet Government would insist on retention of Viborg as a condition of peace with Finland but might be willing to give up Hangö. This is the first time I have heard of any Russian disposition to relinquish this port but such an intention, if true, would go far to allay opinion in Sweden and might make it difficult for a Finnish Government to refuse a peace embodying the retention of Hangö by the Finns. On other hand loss of Viborg as suggested in my 942, July 2822 would gravely cripple economy of eastern Finland and as indicated in my 305, February 1822 would have severe domestic repercussions following [compelling?] another evacuation of the 450,000 Karelians and their forced quartering on the rest of the Finnish population.
Repeated to Stockholm as my 280, today.
- Nicola Naditch, Yugoslav Counselor of Legation and Chargé in Sweden.↩
- Vladimir Semenovich Semenov, Soviet Chargé in Sweden.↩
- In a peace settlement concluded with Sweden at Nystad (Uusikaupunki), Finland, on August 31, 1721, Tsar Peter the Great acquired for Russia the province of Vyborg (Viipuri) as a protective strip to the northern approaches of St. Petersburg, and other territory in Karelia.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Not printed.↩