Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, Europe, Volume IV

740.00119 Control (Finland)/3–545: Telegram

The United States Representative in Finland ( Hamilton ) to the Secretary of State

Helsinki , March 5, 1945—6 p.m.
[Received March 6—10:45 a.m.]

76. In a talk with Captain Howie, Senior British representative on Control Commission, he told me there were no Soviet troops in Finland, except about 100 in Helsinki connected with the Control Commission and, of course, Soviet forces in Porkala.²⁵ (Associate Foreign Minister Svento said there were some Soviet forces in far north.) Captain Howie thought that on the whole the Finns were genuinely trying to carry out armistice provisions. They had been slow in some respects, especially at the beginning, and had had to be prodded by Control Commission.

He said Control Commission did not have formal meetings. When British or Russians wished to discuss something, each got in touch with the other. The British got along well with Soviet members of Commission. He thought Finns did not realize how well off they are, considering that they have fought two losing wars. The British economic expert²⁶ here thought that Finns could carry out reparation provisions. Some assistance from abroad might be required. Shepherd, British political representative, stayed 4 hours when he called on Zhdanov.²⁷ Part of the time they looked at moving pictures which Shepherd had brought and presented to Zhdanov.

When I mentioned Orlov’s comment (see my telegram 65, February 27, noon)²⁸ that the Finns had not been fighting energetically in the north against the Germans, Captain Howie remarked that he understood the terrain in that area was exceptionally difficult. He thought the Control Commission had probably made a mistake in not having sent someone up there.

Department please repeat to Moscow as my no. 24.

Hamilton

25. The Porkkala peninsula, which under the terms of the armistice agreement of 1945 was to be leased by the Soviet Union for 50 years.
26. Possibly Herbert A. N. Bluett, British Commercial Counselor in Helsinki.
27. Andrey Andreyevich Zhdanov, Chairman of the Allied Control Commission in Finland, who held the military rank of Colonel General, was also Secretary, and member of the Politburo, of the Central Committee of the All Union Communist Party.
28. Not printed.